What is a Waterless Car Wash? Everything You Need to Know

Apr 15

Introduction

A waterless car wash is the newest type of wash that has ramped up in popularity over the past decade or so. This involves using a highly lubricated soap solution ironically in a bucket of water and using clean microfibers to dip into the bucket and wipe onto the exterior of the car. We’ll talk about the process, the price, the water savings, and if it will scratch your car? Let’s talk about it!

The Process of a Waterless Car Wash

There are 2 methods of a waterless car wash.

The bucket and towel method
- Start with 2oz’s of Optimum No Rinse in 1-2 gallon bucket of water
- Fold some new microfiber towels into quarters and throw them in the bucket.
- Wash the vehicle with the wet towel section by section
  - Example of one section: one door panel and window.
- Dry the vehicle with a dry microfiber towel section by section
The towel and spray bottle method
- Fill a 32 Oz spray bottle of distilled water with 2 oz of Optimum No Rinse.
- Spray each section liberally with the soap solution
- Dry each section with a dry microfiber towel

Generally I recommend still using water for the wheels with lots of break dust and for very muddy vehicles as some types of dirt and grime needs to be blasted away.

Link to Optimum No Rinse:

1 gallon size ($44.99): https://amzn.to/3UqEIwt

32 oz size ($21.73): https://amzn.to/3GB7MeS

The Price of a Waterless Car Wash

The price is very low. A waterless car wash will only require about 2 oz’s of soap solution per usage. If purchasing in larger quantities there is even bigger savings. Generally, you will spend about 50 cents to 1 dollar per vehicle.

The Water Savings of a Waterless Car Wash

The average car wash uses 30-40 gallons of water. The average mobile car wash uses 10-20 gallons of water. The average waterless car wash will use 1-2 gallons of water.

Will a Waterless Car Wash Scratch Your Car?

No! Contrary to popular belief, as long as a car isn’t super muddy or has lots of grime on it, it actually is as safe and arguably safer when using the bucket method. When using a clean and new microfiber towel folded into quarters, when you use a quarter and proceed to clean a new area of the vehicle, you’re actually switching to a new quarter of the towel which means none of the dirt you picked up will be rubbed against the vehicle’s paint. This means that a waterless car wash will not scratch your paint.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a waterless car wash is a convenient and eco-friendly way to keep your vehicle clean. The process is simple and can be done with just a few products and a couple of microfiber towels. It is cost-effective and can save a significant amount of water compared to traditional car wash methods. Furthermore, the misconception that a waterless car wash will scratch your car is untrue, as long as the vehicle is not excessively dirty. With all these benefits, it's no wonder that the popularity of waterless car washes continues to grow.