Waterless Car Washes - Trustworthy ?

[PhreshhWun]

Hey all, Did a quick search and didn't really come up with an actual answer or anything to this question so I'll put it out there. Sincerely apologize if there was a thread on this and I have missed it.

Now, I've seen a few companies come out with this waterless car wash stuff and they demonstrate by using it on some really dirty cars. My question is, can we really trust using them on our new paint ? From my general cleaning knowledge, I would never spray anything at all on really dirty paint and just start wiping it off until it was clean for the sole reason that it would scratch the hell out of the paint.

Do these chemicals actually work and can they be used without worries ?

[m.wood0213]

Ive used Meguiars wash and wax and its great $15 at Autozone and it can get off fairly thick dirt off the car. one bottled lasted me about 5 washes. you can use some quick detailers, or cleaner spray wax like Mothers and Zymol if there it light sand dust and dirt. Just make sure you have GOOD microfiber towels like the cobra microfibers. these chemicals lubricate the dirt and raises the dirt away from the paint. A good microfiber towel will pick it up not push it around.

[Perfections]

With common sense they can be used with great success. Optimum opti clean and ultima waterless wash are both a concentrate, work great and get you a lot more value for your money, but if you like local pickup then Meg's is probably your only option.

[David-Fermani.com]

I've been using a Waterless wash almost exclusively on my Opti-Coated black vehicle for 3 years and there's zero marring. I actually do a hybrid Garry Dean version and have yet to see any loss of shine or beading. It's also Veritas Certified too.

[PhreshhWun]

Hmm ... well, I do have to send my car out to get opti-guarded quite soon so clay bar and buff and polish and all that will be needed. I'll give it a try and see how I do. Thanks for the advice and opinions though, they're really helpful especially product recommendations. So generally speaking, meguiars would be one of the best bets for local pick up ?

[Perfections]

Meg's will most likely be your only local pickup. Possibly griots, but the others I mentioned would need to be ordered unless you have a distributor in your city, which is very possible.

[PhreshhWun]

Hmm .. okay sounds good, one more question though.. the result and "safety" of detailing the outside of my vehicle with this also greatly depends on the microfibers I use? Generally I buy the regular microfibers I see selling at the local canadian tire (the huge package with the orange,yellow,blue, and green cloths) but would it make a better and "safer" difference if I were to use I guess a "better" microfiber ?

[Paul_S]

Technique of using the microfiber is as important as which wash product you are using.Remember you are wiping the car off and not sanding it down. A light wipe and frequent re-folding of the towel to a clean side will go far in preventing marring of your painted surface. Folding the towel in half and then in half again will give you eight clean surfaces to work with. A good quality towel is a plus. Remember that not all paint surfaces are alike. Some are so soft almost any towel will scratch and others quite a bit harder that aren't bothered by say a Sam's Club type of towel.

[Kamakanani0]

I use Chemical Guys Eco Smart Waterless wash product and it works wonders, lifts dirt off easily and gives it a nice shine.