Rinseless car wash soaps are a relatively new innovation and create quite a bit of flexibility in terms of washing conditions. Due to rinseless washes not requiring a hose car washing can be done conveniently in the garage during winter, at an apartment complex, on a road trip in a parking lot, or in an area with water use restrictions.
Additionally, rinseless wash soap combined with water in a spray bottle makes an excellent, cost effective clay lube spray and quick detailer.
Keep in mind that when using a rinseless wash you do not want foam in your wash solution as it will make the drying phase more difficult. Rinseless wash soap typically will not foam much. However, to avoid having any foam at all be sure to fill your bucket with water first and then add the soap.
Never ever place your wash mitt on the ground.
What you’ll need . . .
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Water – you’ll need approximately 4-6 gallons of water. -
(2) 5 gallon buckets – be sure your buckets are clean. Buckets which have been used for other uses may have chemical residue on their surface which could enter the wash solution and be harmful to the LSP or paint.
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Grit Guard(s) – at least one grit guard will be needed. The Grit Guard will help to assure dirt stays in your rinse bucket and does not get trapped in your wash mitt where it would be rubbed against the paint. One Grit Guard in your rinse bucket is good, but one in your rinse bucket and one in your wash bucket is even better.
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(2) Genuine sheep skin wash mitts – synthetic wash mitts are not as soft and will cause marring in your paint. So, be sure to buy genuine sheep skin mitts. Sheep skin mitts do a great job cleaning and have knap which will hold dirt particles away from the paint during washing. However, sheep skin mitts also release dirt better than any other type of wash tool once placed in the rinse bucket. Use one mitt for the top half of the car and a second mitt for the bottom half of your car to help prevent marring. Boar’s hair brushes are also popular but cost quite a bit more than a sheep skin mitt.
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Rinseless car wash soap – your choice of rinseless car wash soap. There are three rinseless car wash soaps currently available Protectall’s Quick & Easy Wash, Optimum No Rinse Wash & Shine, and Detailer’s Pride 4-in-1 Rinseless Wash.
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Microfiber waffle weave towel – while any type of microfiber towel will work for drying, waffle weave towels are the most absorbent type of microfiber towel. There are many great waffle weave towels available such as the Cobra Ultimate Guzzler and Big Blue II.
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32 oz. Spray bottle – mix together some of the rinseless wash soap, 1-2 ounces of Quick Detailer, and some water (preferably distilled water) in a clean spray bottle. Never re-use a spray bottle that has been used for a different chemical as harmful residue may remain in the sprayer.
How to get it done . . .
1. Fill two buckets with 2-3 gallons of water and place your Grit Guard at the bottom of the bucket which will be the rinse bucket. If you have two Grit Guards place one in each bucket.
2. Add the rinseless car wash soap to the wash solution bucket. Please note: rinseless wash soap does not foam. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions of how much soap to add to the wash bucket.
3. Spray the panel to be washed with the water/rinseless wash/QD solution in the spray bottle. Pre-treating the panel with this solution will help to float the dirt away from the paint and therefore reduce marring.
4. Dip your wash mitt into the wash bucket. If you are washing indoors give the mitt a light squeeze to remove excess water. This will prevent the excess water from ending up on the floor.
5. Using the mitt wash one panel of the car. Move the wash mitt in straight lines following the direction air flows over the panel. Start with sections at the top of your car and work toward sections at the bottom.
6. Place the wash mitt in the rinse bucket after washing a panel.
7. Dry any water on the area just washed using your waffle weave microfiber towel. Do not drag the towel over the car’s paint. Instead, blot the water with the towel. This will help to reduce marring caused by the drying process.
8. When you are ready to wash the next section of the car take the wash mitt out of the rinse bucket and squeeze some of the water out.
9. Continue to wash the car using the technique outlined in steps 3-7 until the entire car has been cleaned. If using two wash mitts be sure to switch to the second wash mitt when cleaning the lower half of the car.