Hoseless Washing

T

TheDan

Active member
 Warwick, UK
So with various hosepipe bans and drought warnings looming we will be unable to wash our pride and joys with a hose or pressure washer (unless you have somehow stored 50L+ in a water butt without any rain).

Unfortunately, my car is pretty filthy with dust and a bit of general tree grime. What is everyone's method of washing without a hosepipe or pressure washer as to not scratch the paint on the first pass?
 
Optimum no rinse wash gets great reviews from lots of detailers in the USA. I myself have put it on my to buy list, but haven't yet pulled the trigger, I managed to wash and quick detail wax my car last week, as I anticipated a the hosepipe ban would come in anytime within the next week or so. Watch the youtube video's I don't think you'll be disappointed :thumbsup:
 
ONS is a great product. Does exactly what it says on the tin. Sparkly clean with 1-2 gallons of water.
 
Hi TheDan,

This is something I am interested in. I quickly washed it this morning to before no more hose/jet washer.
 
Get one of those pump sprayers, and give it a hose down after applying some dirt shifter, or citrus wash.

It should get most of it off. Then you can rinse over again with a watering can.

Edit:
Hose down is clearly the wrong terminology here…
Give it a good spraying!
 
But with the amount of contact on the paint, it must impact it. With my washing and especially drying routine (0 ppm water for the final rinse and car blower to get most of the water off), I have no swirls on the car. I do not believe that ONS won't swirl.
 
It is too late for you now, but during the last drought I ordered a load of water collecting units and a pump. Over the years I have used it for the garden, but they are mostly full from the rain from a couple of weeks back. I also pump it through a filter if I use it on the car and thankfully I don't have neighbours who can see me use a hose as no doubt they will think it is from the tap.

Just to convnce the helicopters spies that no doubt will come in the sky soon again like they did last time.
 
pvr said:
But with the amount of contact on the paint, it must impact it. With my washing and especially drying routine (0 ppm water for the final rinse and car blower to get most of the water off), I have no swirls on the car. I do not believe that ONS won't swirl.
Click to expand...

I'd have to agree, but I think this is a great solution for current times when water is scarce. For us that live in the UK, it's rare that we'd have to resort to waterless washing or similar products of this type, as we are so used to our personal washing routines using water freely from a hose or pressure washer. I just think this is what I'd use right now based on my youtube video findings, until something better comes along :thumbsup:
 
personally , as its unlikely to be a hosepipe ban for too long, i would pay a mobile valeter to come and do it, or go to a proper car wash business that uses the right stuff, they are around.
Businesses are allowed to use pressure washers i believe....
 
2 bucket wash, 2 bucket rinse, dry with a shammy, finish with a quick polish. Job done in 30 minutes.
Car cover between drives.
Decontiminate and polish out superfluous swirls with DA once in a while.
 
Just be sensible with the water, instead of blasting dirt off with it, use your elbow grease followed by a little rinse.
My bro is a mobile valeter and has to be conservative with water usage everyday. After a shampoo wash and pre rinse, spray a wax ( Something like - Chemical Guys Blazin' Banana Spray Wax) over the car and then rinse. You'll be surprised how little water you need.
Really helps with the drying process too.
 
Griffo46 said:
After a shampoo wash and pre rinse, spray a wax............................over the car and then rinse. You'll be surprised how little water you need.
Really helps with the drying process too.
Click to expand...

OK, maybe a dumb question but.................. can you do this with any spray wax, or does it have to be something specifically designed to work like that?
 
pvr said:
But with the amount of contact on the paint, it must impact it. With my washing and especially drying routine (0 ppm water for the final rinse and car blower to get most of the water off), I have no swirls on the car. I do not believe that ONS won't swirl.
Click to expand...
Gotta agree, dust and dirt on a car that needs a wash consists of many different kinds of contamination and sharp gritty sand particles are one of them. That is the whole point of the pre-rinse, to try and lubricate those particles and knock them off before any brushes or clothes get near the surface.
Just can't believe that spraying some product on and wiping it off with a cloth isn't going to leave some scratching, lots of products make big promises but deliver something else.
Do I have a solution to the problem, not at all, but I would stick with "do no harm" as the first step.
You could just let the car be dirty until the water restrictions are lifted.
 
enuff_zed said:
Griffo46 said:
After a shampoo wash and pre rinse, spray a wax............................over the car and then rinse. You'll be surprised how little water you need.
Really helps with the drying process too.
Click to expand...

OK, maybe a dumb question but.................. can you do this with any spray wax, or does it have to be something specifically designed to work like that?
Click to expand...

Any rinse aid wax will do, try Autoglym Aquawax too. My bro recommended this one. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Autoglym-Rapid-Aqua-Wax-Complete/dp/B0060KJLKY/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=33Q3EBTRJGLFK&keywords=aquawax&qid=1660397439&sprefix=aquawax%2Caps%2C79&sr=8-3
 
Griffo46 said:
enuff_zed said:
Griffo46 said:
After a shampoo wash and pre rinse, spray a wax............................over the car and then rinse. You'll be surprised how little water you need.
Really helps with the drying process too.
Click to expand...

OK, maybe a dumb question but.................. can you do this with any spray wax, or does it have to be something specifically designed to work like that?
Click to expand...

Any rinse aid wax will do, try Autoglym Aquawax too. My bro recommended this one.
Click to expand...
Ah yes, I have the Autoglym stuff, but that doesn't say to rinse again, but to spray onto the wet car then buff/dry with a cloth.
 
grannyknot said:
Gotta agree, dust and dirt on a car that needs a wash consists of many different kinds of contamination and sharp gritty sand particles are one of them. That is the whole point of the pre-rinse, to try and lubricate those particles and knock them off before any brushes or clothes get near the surface.
Just can't believe that spraying some product on and wiping it off with a cloth isn't going to leave some scratching, lots of products make big promises but deliver something else.
Do I have a solution to the problem, not at all, but I would stick with "do no harm" as the first step.
You could just let the car be dirty until the water restrictions are lifted.
Click to expand...

Yeah this is my thought exactly.

I was out today and saw a few people washing their cars probably trying to get in before the imminent hosepipe bans. Unfortunately in just over a week I am taking the Z4 on a roadtrip round Italy and so I'd like it pretty clean and preferably slightly sealed with a wax or ceramic spray before going. I'll probably end up getting a local detailer to come and do it as I've used him before and he does a good job.
 
You could always make suitable arrangements with another forum member who lives in an area without a hosepipe ban.

For a small donation of beer, my drive and pressure washer is always available 8)
 
My house is the last one in the ban area. They drew a line around it. I just need to run the hose from the neighbour :D
 
pvr said:
My house is the last one in the ban area. They drew a line around it. I just need to run the hose from the neighbour
Click to expand...
You may have problems with pressure drop on a hose that long, mate. I don't even know if you can get a 4,000m hose! :poke: :P
 
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