Rinse-less and Waterless Washing

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While I have been detailing cars in some form or another since I was all of 14 years old, so about 24 years, I’m relatively new to rinse-less and waterless washing. While I’ve sampled over 45 different car wash soaps during those 24 years, I’ve only used about 11 rinse-less and waterless products to date. I also have a very low threshold as to when I feel comfortable using rinse-less. But after much trial and error, rinse-less is now an important part of my detailing skill set.

While I certainly knew about these wash methods, I was never comfortable using them on my cars. I was definitely of the opinion that using lots of soap and lots of water was the only safe way of cleaning my cars. And in some cases, that is true, I personally would not even entertain the idea of rinse-less washing a muddy or even a winter driven daily driver.

But for a garage queen that never gets truly dirty, like mine lol, a rinse-less wash is more than acceptable. In this case, you will save a lot of time setting up your buckets and wash media, setting up your hose or pressure washer, and then packing it all up at the end. It took me a very long time to trust rinse-less washing, so if someone as fastidious as me can be confident using rinse-less, then so can you.

What I love about rinse-less wash products is the versatility. In addition to rinse-less washing, I’m using these products as a detail spray, waterless washing of door jambs and engine bays, interior quick detailer, drying aid and windscreen washer additive. Of course, you can also use these products as a clay lubricant, glass cleaner, to soften water, as a pad cleaner, and a compound residue remover.

But before I go any further, while the terms "rinse-less" and "water-less" might sound like the same thing, there not one and the same........................

Waterless Washing – this method is the least safe of all car washing methods and best reserved for dusty cars only. In this case, no bucket and no water are used at all, the washing and lubrication is supplied buy a singular product. This is a spray and wipe action, and best done with plenty of product and plenty of fresh towels. Most of these products are quick detailers, some with additional lubrication and emulsifiers, however rinse-less wash concentrates can be mixed at a waterless dilution ration.

Rinse-less Washing – this method does indeed involve water and a bucket, the difference here to using soap is that no final rinse is performed, hence “rinse-less”. This method is safer than waterless, and in some cases can be safer than a normal two-bucket wash method………………more on that later. Rinse-less products are sold in concentrate form, which are then diluted into a bucket and spray bottle, making them very economical.

For this post, I’m going to concentrate on rinse-less washing as there is more to understand in terms of technique compared to a spray and wipe waterless process.

Rinse-less Wash Product Types

Rinse-less wash products are designed to soften and break down surface contamination while providing sufficient lubrication for safe and effective removal. By and large, there are two types of rinse-less wash concentrates –

Surfactant based – these products are similar in concept to a soap, generally without the foaming agents. These products tend to feel “stickier” across the paint and seem to offer slightly better cleaning ability. There is also suggestion that they don’t “leave anything behind” after use, as in a polymer or wax. McKee’s N-914, Bowden’s Dry Spell and DIY Detail Rinse-less Wash are examples of surfactant-based products.

Polymer based – these products use polymers to emulsify and encapsulate contamination, while providing a slick and lubricious barrier between the paint and dirt itself. Polymer products often feel slicker to use and leave a glossier end result. It’s that last point that some don’t like, as in leaving behind a polymer, in theory masking the wax/sealant/coating underneath. I don’t subscribe to that, and even if they do leave something behind, it’s way less than using a drying aid for example.

Rinse-less Wash Technique

There are a few different variations in rinse-less wash methods, so I will cover the two that I use.

Multiple Towel / Garry Dean Method –

This method uses multiple towels that are soaked in a bucket of rinse-less wash solution. As each towel is used, it never re-enters the bucket, ensuring that you don’t contaminate the wash solution. This is the process –

1/ Mix up your wash solution in a bucket.

2/ Fill a sprayer for the pre-soak, by either pinching some from the bucket or by mixing up a separate dilution. (Some products have separate dilutions for pre-soak and wash solutions, some use the same for both)

3/ Add your towels to the bucket to soak. How many you use will depend on the size of the car, for a Mustang you would need about 6 towels, a Falcon perhaps 8 towels, a single cab Ranger needs only about 4 towels. (More on towel choice later on)

4/Working in sections or the whole car, apply the pre-soak using your sprayer. Be generous, being sure to thoroughly soak any bug, bird or tree deposits.

5/Remove a towel from the bucket and squeeze until just dripping. Fold the towel in half, then in half again to effectively create eight different sides.

6/Working in straight lines, gently wipe across the panel. Inspect the towel and flip to a fresh side of the towel as needed. Once each side of the towel has been used, put it aside and grab another from the bucket.

You can do the above panel by panel, drying each panel as you finish. Otherwise, wash each section and then dry the whole car afterwards.

7/ You will need a largish drying towel to remove the remaining wash solution, which I use in the drop and drag method, followed by a final wipe using a drying aid and a secondary towel. You can also use your blower if desired.

8/You can then repeat the same process for the wheel face. I would be sure to use a different set of towels for this.

Variation – if the car is dustier than you would like, wheels in particular, you can actually pre-rinse the car with a hose before applying the pre-soak. If your car is coated, this will end up removing the bulk of the dust, which the rinse-less collecting the remaining and providing a streak free finish.

Single Wash Media Method –

The difference here is that one wash pad/mitt/sponge is used to wash the car, much like a regular soap and bucket wash. Unlike the Garry Dean method, you do end up re-introducing the wash media to the bucket, so be sure to have a grit guard installed. This method is quicker, but somewhat less safe. The basic procedure mimics the above –

1/ Mix up your wash solution in a bucket.

2/ Fill a sprayer for the pre-soak.

3/Add you wash mitt/pad/sponge to the bucket to soak.

4/Working in sections or the whole car, apply the pre-soak using your sprayer. Again, paying attention to any bug, bird or tree deposits.

5/Remove mitt/pad/sponge from the bucket and squeeze until just dripping.

6/Working in straight lines, gently wipe across the panel. Flip and rinse in the bucket often.

Again, work panel by panel, drying each panel as you finish. Otherwise, wash each section and then dry the whole car afterwards.

7/Use a large drying towel to remove the remaining wash solution, which I use in the drop and drag method, followed by a final wipe using a drying aid and a secondary towel. You can also use your blower if desired.

8/For wheels, I revert to the multiple towel method to avoid contaminating my good wash sponge.

Again, you can pre-rinse the car if needed.

More to follow -

Over the following posts, I will cover some key product options in the water-less and rinse-less sector.

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Rinse-less Wash Products

There are countless option in the rinse-less and waterless space these days. For the most part, they all do a similar job, with only minute differences separating them.

The very first product I tried in this category was DP Waterless Auto Wash Concentrate in mid-2017. I hated this product, all it did was create a smeary mess, so much so that it put me off waterless and rinse-less washing for many years. It also smelt weird, clearly not scented, just a chemical aroma that further contributed to my hesitation with this wash method. The DP product sat mostly full at the back of the cabinet until only last year, where it ended up being used to clean my rubbish bins. By the way, this product no longer exists.................that says it all really.

Optimum No Rinse (ONR) – this product started development in 2005 and was brought to market in 2006, making it the original rinse-less wash concentrate. Updates to the formula have been made in 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2021. The latest formulation launched in early 2023, which is said to offer increased slickness, encapsulation ability and easier drying.

This is a product that has grown on me massively, especially that signature synthetic blueberry aroma. I probably use this more for interior cleaning, engine bay wipe downs and door jamb cleaning than rinse-less washing. As an interior cleaner, it’s ultra gentle and safe for all surfaces, making it brilliant for dusting or mild cleaning of plastic, vinyl, glass, gloss trims, screens and even leather. In terms of rinse-less washing, ONR is like no-frills workhorse, a reliable option that just works. Being a polymer-based product, I appreciate the added feeling of lubrication that ONR brings to the table.

Formulation Type – Polymer

Dilution Ratios –
256:1 (Rinse-less and Interior Cleaning)
16:1 (Quick Detailer / Presoak / Interior Cleaning)
64:1 (Clay Lubricant)

Scent – Mild Blueberry
Usage Notes – Mixes easily, no streaking
DFB Score – 8/10



McKee’s N-914 – this has become a popular option over the last couple of years. For many, this surfactant-based product is preferred over ONR owing to a slight edge in cleaning ability and the lack of residual polymers being left behind. The big difference N-914 has over its competitors is that it can also be used a paint prep spray, although the dilution ratio is extremely rich for it to be effective. McKee’s make mention of N-914 being a suitable water softener, suggesting that 30ml can be added to your wash buckets to limit the potential for water spotting when using hard water.

Again, a product that has grown on me and initially, I preferred good-old ONR over N-914. My first uses felt as if it was tacky or sticky underneath the towel. Most of that feeling was owing to the surfactant base rather than the polymer feel from ONR. The finished result is not ultra slick, which makes using an additional drying aid more justifiable.
I’m also using N-914 as a windscreen washer fluid, mixed at 256:1 and then added to the reservoir bottle. This has the effect of reducing water spots and aids in cleaning/removing bugs, without destroying any glass coating you may have.

Formulation Type – Surfactant

Dilution Ratios –
256:1 (Rinse-less and Interior Cleaning)
128:1 (Waterless Washing and Clay Lubricant)
8:1 (Paint Prep Spray)

Scent – Sweet
Usage Notes – Good for slightly dirtier vehicles, easy mixing
DFB Score – 8/10



P&S Absolute – this is the product that made me fall in love with rinse-less washing. Relatively new to the market, Absolute was a co-development between P&S and The Rag Company. Think of it as a more refined version of ONR, of which it shares a polymer-based formula and the same dilution ratios.

Absolute is a joy to use, the Coconut-lime scent is what gets you first, backed up by exceptional slickness, meaning it gets a 10 out of 10 for user experience. On its own., the gloss and slickness are very pleasing, but teaming it with Bead Maker as a drying just takes it to a whole new level. Absolute and Bead Maker were designed to go hand in hand.
Owing to the thick consistency of the concentrate, be sure to gently sway the bottle before measuring out your quantity. I have also found Absolute mixes better in your bucket with the use of warm water.

Formulation Type – Polymer

Dilution Ratios –
256:1 (Rinse-less, Pre-soak, Glass and Interior Cleaning)
64:1 (Quick Detailer/Drying Aid)
128:1 (Clay Lubricant)

Scent – Coconut-lime
Usage Notes – My favorite rinse-less wash. Team with Bead Maker for more gloss and slickness
DFB Score – 10/10



Carpro ECH20 – from the outset, ECH20 was not originally designed for rinse-less washing, Carpro created it with waterless washing and quick detailing in mind. But it has since been adopted for use as a rinse-less wash. Think of ECH20 as waterless/rinse-less “wash-n-wax”, the formula containing a blend of ceramic and traditional wax components to deliver supreme lubrication, gloss and slickness. Of all the products here, I’m going to go out on a limb and say that this product has the least cleaning ability, but easily the most gloss and slickness of the finished result.

For rinse-less washing, the accepted wisdom is to dilute ECH20 out to 200:1, with a presoak using the same mixture or the quick detailer ratio at 25:1. The scent of ECH20 makes it a pleasure to use, although I would ensure you have a secondary drying towel to limit streaking. Another plus for ECH20 is the ability for it to be used across all surfaces, including rubber and plastic, unlike a lot of wax containing products. I often use this for wiping over engines bays and door jambs.

Formulation Type – Si02 / Wax

Dilution Ratios –
200:1 (Rinse-less)
15:1 (Water-less)
25:1 (Quick Detailer)
40:1 (Clay Lubricant)

Scent – Addictive!
Usage Notes – Use a secondary drying towel
DFB Score – 8/10



Bowden’s Dry Spell – this is the companies first attempt at a rinse-less wash and is one of the very few available at a big box store (in Australia at least). I give Bowden’s a lot of credit for taking the gamble on this product, committing to selling a relatively unknown wash technique to the Australian and NZ markets only. The decision to make the product a vivid shade of pink is clearly so that it looks like something other than water when mixed up, in theory giving confidence to those new to the technique. Bowden’s also went with a surfactant base, again being more visible when agitated in the bucket.

My first use of this product was pleasant, very similar in feel and performance to N-914, and compatible with all surfaces. The pink colouring will also show up on lighter colored paints, again a form of reassurance. The finish result is streak free, and I also team it up with a drying aid like P&S Paint Gloss or Meguiar’s Last Touch.

Formulation Type – Surfactant

Dilution Ratios –
200:1 (Rinse-less)
40:1 (Pre-soak)

Scent – Sweet apple/pineapple
Usage Notes – The pink colouring helps with mixing
DFB Score – 7/10



DIY Detail Rinse-less Wash – this is another surfactant-based product, with DIY also suggesting you can use it in a foam sprayer for the pre-soak. For someone new to rinse-less, the ability to foam the product could be a nice visual aid to help get familiar with the method.

Again, a similar user experience to the other surfactant-based products here, although I haven’t used this in a foaming format though. From what I have noticed from other users, the DIY product offers an edge in cleaning ability. For me in Australia, the pricing is not as economical as most of the other products here, but I love the apple scent and when teamed with DIY Ceramic Gloss, this is a formidable combo.

Formulation Type – Surfactant

Dilution Ratios –
250:1 (Rinse-less)
6:1 (Foam sprayer or cannon)

Scent – Apple
Usage Notes – The pre-soak can be foamed
DFB Score – 7/10



Opti-Coat No Rinse – there are actually 3 different versions of ONR, the original blue version listed above, the green version that contains wax, and this, the yellow version with added Si02. The first two are sold under the Optimum brand, this yellow version sold under the Opti-Coat maintenance line. As such, this product was designed to work hand in hand with Optimum and Opti-Coat ceramic coatings, but it can be used on any LSP.

This is one of my favorite rinse-less washes, I love the mango scent of this product and the feel and finished result mimics ECH20 for gloss and slickness. Because of the added Si02, a drying aid is not needed but Bead Maker plays well with it. The only drawback I can see is it only being offered in 16-oz bottles, so its an expensive indulgence. But in terms of the user experience, it doesn’t get much better than this.

Formulation Type – Polymer & Si02

Dilution Ratios –
256:1 (Rinse-less)
128:1 (Waterless)

Scent – Sweet Mango
Usage Notes – Excellent slickness and gloss
DFB Score – 10/10



Gyeon Eco Wash – this is Gyeon’s first attempt at a rinse-less wash, and for the most part, they have created a very nice product. It’s also a relatively new product, having only gone on sale earlier this year. Unlike most rinse-less wash products, Eco Wash joins Carpro ECH20 and Opti-Coat No Rinse in having Si02 in the formula to boost gloss and slickness. Eco Wash and Carpro ECH20 share a lot in common, in fact I wouldn't be surprised if they are the same base formula. The only thing I can't nail down is if Eco Wash is polymer or surfactant based, probably the former.

Like most rinse-less wash coventrates, the dilution ration can be changed to suit different roles. Unlike most, Gyeon don't suggest using Eco Wash as a clay lubricant, which is probably down to the Si02 it leaves behind.

At this point in time, I don’t have much experience with Eco Wash. However, it is very pleasant to use, with that lovely Gyeon signature scent, the final result being ultra slick and glossy. I could see this product being a great remedy for ceramic coatings that lack natural slickness, think Gyeon Pure EVO.

Formulation Type – Polymer? & Si02

Dilution Ratios –
150:1 to 256:1 (Rinse-less)
10:1 to 15:1 (Water-less)
20:1 (Drying Aid)

Scent – Pleasant (typical Gyeon aroma)
Usage Notes – Excellent slickness and gloss
DFB Score – 8/10




Coming Up –

In recent years, the amount of choice within the rinse-less arena has boomed. And that can only be a good thing as it spurs each company to strive for improvement. At the moment, I’m eagerly awaiting the release of Koch Chemie RRW, a product that has yet to arrive down under. I also can’t wait to try Armour Detail Supply Hero, which is not far from landing in Australia along with the rest of the ADS line.

I will also add separate post on dedicated waterless wash products.

While I’m at it, thankyou to everyone here that spurred me to expand my skillset into rinse-less washing. It wasn’t until I joined this forum a few years ago did I have both the desire and courage to give this wash method a try. Now, rinse-less is an important and enjoyable part of my detailing arsenal.

 

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Useful Video Links

These two videos from Obsessed Garage show the multiple towel / Garry Dean method in action, in this case using McKee's N-914 -

Short version -



Extended version -



This one is beyond what I would consider a candidate for rinse-less, but it shows the full potential of the method, and the Ultra Black Sponge -



And this one shows P&S Absolute in action -

 

[steveo1960]

Excellent as always DFB5.0 !
Thanks!

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