Reddit mentions: The best waterless car washing treatments

Ok, after four months with the car, here goes...

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Charging

• Wall Connector $500. Not necessary but I'd recommend biting the bullet before taking delivery, so you can keep the mobile charger in the car. The electrical work took 2 hours of time, at $130/hr. I highly recommend installing a dedicated 60-amp breaker and an efficient gauge wire which will give you 45 mi/hr of charge.
  
• Charging Adapters $35. Car comes with the 5-15 and 14-50. I strongly recommend buying the 5-20. If you plan to charge at someone else's house on a roadtrip, ask them to send you a picture of their dryer plug. So far, I've needed the 10-30 and 14-30.
  
• NEMA 5-15P to 5-20R Adapter $20. Strongly recommended in combo with Tesla's 5-20 adapter to "cheat" a 16-amp charge (33% faster charging). Must-watch this video, and must-read here, here, here, and here.
  
  Tesla OEM
  
  
• Cargo Mats for Frunk & Trunk $70 & $130. Must-have some sort of trunk mat, since the trunk material is generally poor quality for heavy use.
  
• Front Sunshade $75. Living in Florida, this is a must-have if you dont plan on tinting the top glass panel. The "front" is acutally the middle of the three glass panels, not the windshield.
  
• Paint Repair Kit $55. Nice to have so you're ready for rock chips. So far I've had one that made it through the black paint and silver primer.
  
  Detailing
  
  
• Aero Cosmetics Complete Car Kit $40. Highly recommended. Pricey but saves time for amazing results. Cheaper and better quality than CarGuys products. I liked it so much that I ended up buying this also.
  
• Invisible Glass Spray Cleaner $4. Recommended that you have some glass cleaner that's not Windex. This brand is one of the best.
  
• Wash Mitt 2-pack $16. Highly recommended compared to a wet rag.
  
• Tire and Wheel Brush $8. It's important to segregate parts you use on wheels from parts you use on paint. This product is solid.
  
• Grit Guard $8. Totally optional. Helps separate dirt in the bucket when cleaning. You'll see a difference in the water.
  
  Third-Party
  
  
• Tough-Pro Interior Mats $80. My opinion is that all-weather mats are a must-have. The stock mats are crappy, and all-weather mats make cleaning easier. These are cheaper than Tesla's all-weather mats. I'm happy with them but I'd buy the OEM Tesla ones if I could do it again.
  
• Upgraded White LED Lights $13-$77. Must-have for the trunk. Optional for others. I replaced all 7 non-footwell. Easy install with a credit card. As a bonus, I have one left over, so PM me if you want it.
  
• Kenriko Matte Wrap for Center Console $30. Must-have. Watch his install videos first. Customer service is excellent if you screw up the install like I did. The matte black matches the black leather interior perfectly. I'm sure the matte white is nice too.
  
• Pet Cover for Trunk $45. I couldn't find anything better for driving my dogs, so I use this one with the back seats down, along with Tesla's rubber trunk mat. I'd say my setup prevents 90% of dog wear, and keeps any dog smell to a minimum.
  
• Nomad Wireless Charger $130. Nice to have. Not available until end of November, but battery is integrated unlike the comeptitor's.
  
• Rubber Cupholder Liners $25. Optional, helps with cleaning.
  
• Drop Stop $20. Optional, makes life easier.
  
• Air Compressor $25. Optional but recommended. Look for one with automatic shutoff.
  
• Tire Plug Kit $8. If you're handy, this is a cheap solution to be ready for a flat. If you're not handy, get Tesla's tire repair kit.
  
• Card Holder $5. Optional. Keep in your center console so valet has a way to hang your card key.

Heres how I detail both of my DR650s. As some of you might know I'm 100% rinseless. I don't think theres a good way to clean a chain with out water so I have always done a 2BM wash on my motorcycles. Now for motorcycle customers I don't clean their chain that is on them. That is a primary maintenance item that I will not do. The risk is far greater then the reward. Hope you enjoy the video! Edit: Side note took me about an hour for one of the bikes so about 2 hours for both.


List of everything I used:

• Lusso Auto Bathe: Not much suds but pretty good lubricity. I wouldn't use it again. I have filtered water so the water it self feels slippery.
  
  
• Meguiars Wheel\Tire Cleaner: Used for chain/wheels/tires. Really great cheap cleaner for wheels and tires.
  
  
• EZ Detail Brush: The blue brush in the video isn't sold anymore but this is still good.
  
  
• Boar's Hair Detailing Brush: Pretty good brush. Its a hit or miss on quailty. 1 of 3 that I have just keeps dropping fibers.
  
  
• Chenille Wash Mitt: Standard wash mitt works great.
  
  
• Ultima Waterless Wash Plus Concentrate: Amazing waterless wash. Great for drying as well.
  
  
• Double Mist Trigger Sprayer: Nothing special. Fun to play with.
  
  
• CarPro HydrO2: Works great 3 to 4 months of protection.
  
  
• Ryobi 40-Volt Blower: Great for yard work not so much blowing water. Get a corded blower mine was in the truck didn't feel like getting it out.
  
  
• Maxima Chain Wax: Works great but I would recommend DuPont Teflon Chain Wax Last longer. Just using up the last of the Maxima Chain Wax.
  
  
• Grunge Brush: Cleans the chain really well. Cleans 3 sides at a time means less work.
  
  Think thats everything. Enjoy!!

I have used most of the more famous waterless washes. Ammo FROTHe is great I really like the lubricity of the foam however, keep my car clean is my hobby and Im not sure how cost effective FROTHe is even thought Larry says it will last about 20 to 30 cars thats a bit more than 1 USD per wash. That being said, Ultima waterless wash was my favorite and go to Waterless Wash I keep a bottle of it on my car in case I need to clean something real quick, it is far more economical Ultima Waterless Wash lubricity is really good, smell is great althought im not sure we should be smelling those lol. Wolfgang rinseless has a waterless dilution and is crazy good I use it to remove bird poop, actually sometimes I just spray it and the poop falls right off. Ultima has one version with additional protection and is very good too but is not as dilution friendly as the other one, still very good too. ONR is not made to be a waterless wash but Optimum has Opticlean for that and it works as well. About technique, Paaaaaaan the organizer has a good Waterless Wash tutorial.

I think getting good microfiber towels is as important as the technique

Congratulations on your business. I wish you all the success anyone can have.

I'm a complete psychopath when it comes to the detailing of my car. My home set-up costs literally $900 not including my back-up product.

In your situation, I would go to Obsessed Garage's Youtube channel and watch his waxing process. You can't use all of his tips but what you can do is use his guide on Collinite 845 + Jescar Power Lock waxing and that will put a great seal on your car.

https://www.amazon.com/Collinite-Liquid-Insulator-Wax-845/dp/B000JK2D06/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1504300193&sr=1-1&keywords=collinite+845

https://www.amazon.com/Jescar-Power-Polymer-Paint-Sealant/dp/B0050IQH9K/ref=sr_1_2?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1504300205&sr=1-2&keywords=jescar+power+lock

Beyond that waxing, I would strongly recommend putting in an Amazon order for some Optimum Opti-Clean which is the best waterless wash on the market.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003CH9KCM/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GG9FCW0/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

It will be a pain the first time around but that wax lasts an easy 6-8 months and is better than most detailing shops will give you.

If you have any other questions I'd love to help anymore that I can!

Completed my first week with 28 rides and I'm surprised how nice everyone has been so far! I creeped on this sub for a few weeks now for tips/tricks and it has really helped. PAX also really like the interior lights of my car. Some materials I want to share:


Waterless Car Wash - I work in the city and didn't know there was such a thing. I can wash my car in my parking spot or on the street with a little bucket of water.


LED Interior Lights - This is a little flashy, but it was only $10 and I hard wired it into my interior dash so there are 0 wires and I'm not using up my outlet for power. Plus PAX can see if they dropped anything and we're not driving completely in the dark. I can control the brightness and usually have it very dim for some atmospheric lighting


Vaccum - This thing works great and has a very long cord to reach through my entire Jeep. It's not for heavy duty jobs, but vacuuming once a week should do the trick


Phone Holder - The Jeep has circular air ducts so this is a great alternative - if you do not use your CD player. This does cover your CD port and has worked great so far. Since it's in my center dash, PAX can see where I'm going.


Battery Powered Uber Sign - Again, flashy but it draws attention and since it's battery powered I do not have to worry about cords running through my car or dash. I found mine on Ebay.


Water - I have a small compartment to keep ice-packs and small water bottles. With every PAX I pickup I offer a bottle of water. 9/10 say no thanks but everyone is very thankful for the offer.

Hey all,

So I just bought a new to me 2016 f150 with blue jeans color paint. Since this car was more expensive than anything I've ever bought besides my house I want to take care of it as best as I can. For context I live in MI and during the winter will have a garage (that isn't heated) and will have space to clean the car, but no access to a hose or whatever for hosing down the car in the winter.

As far as I can see there is one paint chip on the hood and a few very small scratches by the door handle (they aren't very deep at all). There is some swirls on the window pillars, but there doesn't appear to be any swirling in the paint itself.

I'm having a hard time figuring out how to keep it clean and looking good outside of taking it to a mechanical car wash and then touching it up with some chemical guys vintage quick detailer to prevent water spots.

I don't know if I should do the whole wash, clay bar, and then wax, or if I can just wash and then use a waterless wash/wax combo.

I don't want to do any polishing/cutting work if I don't have to to get the car up to snuff as I don't really trust myself with that.

Basically my idea was to use a regular car wash on the car, and then use something like this: Aero Cosmetics Waterless Car Wash/Wax. to protect it.

Is that not right? Should I wash, claybar and then apply a dedicated wax? I've never waxed a car and am a bit worried about doing it wrong.

Any advice on keeping this as simple and budget friendly as possible? I have a lot of microfiber cloths (Kirkland) as well as window waffle cloths. Just wondering about what else to do and what else to buy.

Thanks for the help and sorry for asking something so simple, this stuff is just so confusing to me!

Thanks for the feeback about my recent criticisim of "Rinseless Washing" - positive or negative.

TLDR - I'm now sold on Post-Pressure Wash Rinseless Washing, but not full rinseless.

The Rinseless Wash (or Waterless Washing), as I understand it, is one where there is no pre-rinse or post-rinse. There are some pertinent points at The Detailing Wiki about Rinseless Washing. Amongst the Risks, it quite rightly points out that:

• it is not suitable for a surface covered in mud, dirt and other caked on contamination
  
• only when the surface is only moderately contaminated, it is safe to use the rinseless wash.
  
  And, it advises that:
  
  
• using a pre-wash (like snowfoam) or blasting off the largest amounts of dirt with a pressure washer
  
• fold your MF towel over after each panel to use a clean side on the next panel
  
• rinse your washmitt carefully to remove any dirt trapped in the fibers
  
  AutoGeek further advises that:
  
  
• you can safely wash cars, trucks and SUV's with light dirt accumulation
  
  I agree that if you followed this good advice, you'd proabbaly be able to affect a pretty good clean, but no car gets evenly covered exclusively by a superfine layer of "dust" - arches get splattyered with sand and lower sections are closer more likely to have sand adhered to them - my concern therefore is more about the suggestion by manufacturers of these products are suitable for an all-over clean.
  
  Even this Bentley which is undergoing a waterless wash is probably too dirty to prevent scratches being formed by the action of dragging dust across the surface - although at least this guy adds the smarter technique of rolling the towel up as he moves through each pass.
  
  Although I do call BS on this oversimplification of the way ONR works, this is a great video which acknowledges my point that it's "commmon sense" to pre-rinse your car if you need to. "What rineless means is that you're not rinsing at the END" ... and "you're leaving the ONR on the surface as lubrication as you dry the car" (whatever the hell that means :o) and "you pre-rinse, you don't post rinse". The second guy in this video also states that what he likes to do "pressure wash the car first", THEN use ONR to wash the surface - now that makes a lot more sense!
  
  Possibly a good additional prerequesitie is to ensure that the the duco has a existing wax/seal - that way any 'scratching' action imparted by dragging the fine grit affects only the wax layer, and not the actualy paint.
  
  So, the very definition of Rinseless Washing (without pre-rinse) is that you are removing dirt from a surface by sandwiching it between a cloth and the duco, aided by the use of a fluid (probably a emulsifier and surfactant which is very effective and releasing the bond between dirty and duco) and dragging it along the panel. It's no surprise then that people like Warren M report that:
  
  >I noticed some light scratches in random areas on my car a few days after I used this stuff
  
  IMHO, the advocacy any sort of panel cleaning without the important step of a pressure washing to remove sand, grit and abrasive clays is tantamount to cleaning your duco with a very fine wet/dry paper considering that any grit your sandwich between the cloth and the paint surface (irrespective of the use of a surfactants which don't completely and/or magically lift dirt away from the panel surface) cannot miraculously escape until the cloth is turned over.
  
  As per the wiki,
  
  >Rinseless washing is therefore more suited for a “quick wipe”
  
  After all my reading, I am actually kind of sold on the idea of Rinseless Washing, or should I say Post-Rinseless Washing - I will always pressure pre-wash to remove the most coarse abrasives from the surface of my before washing.
  
  Thanks all for pointing out these great articles!

Since I'm kind of known for keeping my car clean, I'll share what I have learned over my journey. Let me preface this by saying I live in a condo with a shared underground garage, just like most apartments. Due to this, I have no hose access, unless I go to the self car wash spots.

My favorite product by far is Chemical Guys EcoSmart waterless wash.

For glass, I love Stoner Invisible Glass.

For wheels, I'm a big fan of Chemical Guys Diablo Gel.

For exhaust tips, Mother's Chrome Polish.

This next one may not be for everyone, but I like it. Stoner Trim Shine.

Those are my highlights. The other products I use are pretty generic.

Here you go. It works pretty awesome and it makes your car look all shiny. 😀😊

I configured 2 months ago and edit button is still
there. Probably because I ordered AWD (non performance) with white seats. It also depends on your reservation number, if you were a previous owner and your location. Some people order long range models are getting them way faster than expected due to so many folks opting for AWD variants since they became available in late July (pent up demand).

As for car washes, everything I’ve read in the forum says only if it’s a laser no touch car wash. Most people recommend hand washing with two bucket method or something like this product below. The issue with traditional car wash machines is it leaves micro abrasions in the paint. Some people care, others don’t. Also, many folks are also paying a premium for paint protection film and/or ceramic coating. I’m planning to use the wash mentioned below and likely get paint protection film only on the front half of the car body.

Aero Cosmetics Wet or Waterless Car Wash Wax Kit 144 Ounces. Aircraft Quality for Your Car, RV, Boat, Motorcycle. The Best Wash Wax. Anywhere, Anytime, Home, Office, School, Garage, Parking Lots. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X04JRMU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_SJvLBbV9TYKZ0

Honestly, I just use this stuff, Aero Cosmetics Wash Wax All

Spray on, wipe with damp microfiber, wipe with dry microfiber. Takes me 4 cloths to clean my whole car. Granted, I live in Las Vegas and rarely get anything than dust on my vehicle. It’s really easy and looks great, every time.

I enjoy Collinite 845, Optimum soap, drying aid, for my dash, doors interior, and vinyl on the outside , wash mitt , drying towel , interior and exterior microfibers great for buffing wax and dust on the interior. And if you want that shine and to keep the integrity of your clear coat I would wax every couple months, depending the quality of the wax you decide to go with.

http://www.amazon.com/Ultima-Waterless-Wash-Plus-Concentrate/dp/B00D7LTNW0

This stuff is awesome. Obviously use your best judgement, if there is too much dirt and grime on the car it is a lot easier to swirl that around. Very good and efficient for quick touch ups, especially here in SoCal trying to conserve water.

Thanks. Sounds like it's not going to damage the car, so it's definitely worth trying. FYI, both ONR and Aero do, in fact, claim to be wax. So it's good to know that they, in fact, are not.

Try an anti static quick detailer like [FK425] (http://www.amazon.com/31oz-Finish-Kare-Extra-Slick/dp/B002NZJEHK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1464139717&sr=8-1&keywords=fk425) or [CG Speed Wipe] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FALVU9Y/ref=sr_ph_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1464139743&sr=sr-1&keywords=speed+wipe). I have both and absolutely love the FK425. Its amazing and leaves so much slickness behind. My second favorite is [Optimum Quick Detail and Gloss Enhancer] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GG9FJKU/ref=twister_B00GN1PXVG?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1). Idk if the Optimum has anti-static in it though.

I just do the Aero Wash Wax All once a week and sometimes spot clean when kids get their prints on the doors.

With my silver cars I barely ever did anything but I also cared a lot less. The black is a total finger print magnet. There aren’t any touchless washes close enough to me that I’d go to all the time. For now the 15 mins per week wash seems to work ok :)

It's a waterless wash.

3D Waterless Car Wash - 1 Gallon | Spray On Easy Express Clean | Environmentally Friendly & Biodegradable Auto Care | Made in USA | All Natural | No Harmful Chemicals https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004BG7RVO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_MxjqDbVMYSJ9W

There’s waterless car wash products you can use. I can’t do a hose wash at my place either, but I found this stuff and it works really well. My car gets super dirty and it does a good job, but it takes a bit longer than a traditional wash. There’s a bunch out there, but here’s the one I use: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X04JRMU/

I used Wet or Waterless Car Wash Wax Kit (I did waterless) from Amazon and then CarGuys Hybrid Wax Sealant, also waterless.

I copied the links into this post, hopefully they work.

Wet or Waterless Car Wash Wax Kit 144 Ounces. Aircraft Quality for Your Car, RV, Boat, Motorcycle. The Best Wash Wax. Anywhere, Anytime, Home, Office, School, Garage, Parking Lots. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X04JRMU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_GN0rDb4FJCA5N

CarGuys Hybrid Wax Sealant - Most Advanced Top Coat Polish and Sealer on the Market - Infused with Liquid Carnauba for a Deep Hydrophobic Shine on All Types of Surfaces - 18 Ounce Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y5KQSKF/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ZO0rDbWMKN0YR

Yeah, the waterless stuff is great. Here’s what most people recommend: amazon link

I use this similar product as well: https://www.amazon.com/Waterless-Ounces-Aircraft-Motorcycle-Anywhere/dp/B00X04JRMU/ref=pd_cp_263_1?pd_rd_w=8Sjr4&pf_rd_p=ef4dc990-a9ca-4945-ae0b-f8d549198ed6&pf_rd_r=DNBK8RZ46BJESWMTEZ5J&pd_rd_r=e01d83bc-a4fa-470f-9045-0bb026fa8fda&pd_rd_wg=vqHoF&pd_rd_i=B00X04JRMU&psc=1&refRID=DNBK8RZ46BJESWMTEZ5J

It does a really nice job and smells nice while applying it.

There is a pretty good explanation video on this Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X04JRMU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_zyEWBbR304ERW

Sure,

Here’s the best Leather soap

Best conditioner

And ceramic coating for the leather seat is no longer available on Amazon for some odd reason but here’s the link from a different site

ceramic coating for leather

This is of course based on 5 years or detailing my own cars and trying bunch of products. When I’m on the go I use this waterless car wash

Thank you! Are we talking Turtle wax or something like this?

​

What about this:

Waterless Car Wash Wax Kit 144 oz. Aircraft Quality Wash Wax for your Car RV & Boat. Guaranteed Best Waterless Wash on the Market https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X04JRMU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_LU9wzbMKHS002

Aero Cosmetics Wet or Waterless. Whether full wash or not. This is what I use. Works great. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X04JRMU?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Also, this stuff is amazing. It takes about 10-15 minutes to keep up the shine and can be used on all surfaces.

link!

For exterior and glass, I've been using Aero Cosmetics waterless wash and wax, absolutely amazing slick results. Just wipe on and wipe off.

Aero Cosmetics Wet or Waterless Car Wash Wax Kit 144 Ounces. Aircraft Quality for Your Car, RV, Boat, Motorcycle. The Best Wash Wax. Anywhere, Anytime, Home, Office, School, Garage, Parking Lots. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X04JRMU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_PTFJBbS9FW3SZ

Can't recommend enough.

You can wash anywhere. Try this. It's the best car wash I've ever used and requires no water.

I have this, which you can use with this stuff or any other ONR product really and keep them with you. Just spray it on, let sit for a few seconds, and use the bug sponge to wipe off. Should come off easy.

Buy many microfiber towels - noted. How do you think something like this would work? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00X04JRMU/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A1SUA7J0YAZSHI&psc=1

I use AeroCosmetics waterless... so convenient.

Wet or Waterless Car Wash Wax Kit 144 Ounces. Aircraft Quality for Your Car, RV, Boat, Motorcycle. The Best Wash Wax. Anywhere, Anytime, Home, Office, School, Garage, Parking Lots. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X04JRMU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_1VZrDbHP4H0K3

Of course, if heavy dirt, I wash with foam cannon and 2 bucket. But that’s a rarity. Sometimes I just quickly power wash the exterior, bring the car in the garage and use the AeroCosmetics.

I wash/wax mine every weekend with the Aero waterless solution.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00X04JRMU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I use that for everything except the interior upholstery.

I use this one from Chemical Guys and also on others' vehicles.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X04JRMU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_W7bRCbKPMN7GC

https://www.amazon.com/Ultima-Waterless-Wash-42-Concentrate/dp/B011L8QZHG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1539210422&sr=8-3&keywords=ultima+waterless+wash+%2B

I live in an apartment. I use this : Wet or Waterless Car Wash Wax Kit... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X04JRMU?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Touchless washes and waterless washes.

This stuff is magic:

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00X04JRMU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_S2rDDb0JFKA8H

Adding one more not mentioned yet:

ultima waterless wash plus+ concentrate

https://www.amazon.com/Ultima-Waterless-Wash-Plus-Concentrate/dp/B00D7LTNW0

There are varies brands but my detailer uses this so that is what I use too.

Some say even touchless is dangerous (due to grit being recycled through). I either do two bucket or use Wash Wax All with microfiber cloths (1 to apply and 1 to dry). I keep a kit in the well in the trunk particularly for wiping bugs off.

How about this? Seems like you can cut the bucket:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X04JRMU