How To Safely Perform a Waterless Car Wash

A waterless wash can be a safe and effective way of cleaning your vehicle without wasting countless gallons of water. However, there are a wide variety of methods used for waterless washing and some may cause unnecessary damage to your vehicle if done improperly, while the proper method can be found in utilizing the right products and techniques. 

The Benefits of a Waterless Car Wash 

There are many benefits to performing a waterless car wash with the primary reason being the conservation of water. Saving water is not only an eco-friendly thing to do but it may save you money by not running your water as much and ultimately it can save you time and effort, in addition to being a process that can be performed virtually anywhere.

Ultimately, your water bill will thank you in the case that you perform a waterless wash on your vehicle. According to experts and utility companies, the average car wash performed at home uses over 60 gallons of water, sometimes as much as 100 gallons. To compare, taking a shower uses between 20 to 30 gallons of water on average. So, there’s a huge benefit to performing a waterless car wash versus a traditional wash using many gallons of water that you will have to pay for. Not to mention, a waterless car wash is ideal for areas that have droughts, water restrictions, or conservation efforts.

Safety First!

The safety of a waterless car wash is probably the most controversial part of performing such a wash as it is thought to be a process that may scratch your vehicle because there isn’t use of large amounts of water. Such a claim is true in the cases that you improperly detail a vehicle using a waterless process. However, the use of the right products will prevent unnecessary scratching and damage to your vehicle’s surface. Such products include selecting a clean, high-quality microfiber towel and the right spray product. In our case, we recommend using our TopCoat® Spritz®, which is specially formulated as a water-based waterless wash product and quick detailing product.

We previously blogged about how TopCoat® products are eco-friendly and save water during water restrictions and droughts. Such a relevant claim holds true in the case of safely performing a waterless wash, but you must use items like our TopCoat® Mycropro 18 Professional Microfiber Towel. Additionally, using our TopCoat® Spritz® to first mist the surface you wish to clean is essential before using any towels on the surface. Basically, you must ensure that the surface is properly lubricated so that the collected dirt or debris can be wiped away without dragging the elements on the surface, causing a potential scratch. 

Performing a waterless wash may not be for every vehicle, which is heavily dependent on the condition of dirt and debris on a vehicle. We don’t ever recommend performing a waterless wash on a vehicle in the winter that’s gone through road salts or has visible caked-up dirt or grime.  De-icing agents or other harmful abrasives on your vehicle may require a traditional wash to safely clean your vehicle. The layers of contamination in harsh conditions and neglect for long periods of time are a recipe for disaster if you attempt a waterless wash.

Did you know that vehicles that have already been coated using either TopCoat® F11® or TopCoat® F11PRO® are better and easier to perform waterless washes?

That’s right - the advanced technologies formulated into TopCoat® F11® and TopCoat® F11PRO®, such as self-leveling tech and self-healing tech, help to fill micropores or micro-scratches in paint, reduce surface tension, friction, and prevent elements from sticking or building up on the surface. These advancements are essential to prevent scratches or damage to your vehicle’s paint when performing waterless washes using TopCoat® Spritz®. Not only will surfaces treated with TopCoat® F11® or TopCoat® F11PRO® remain cleaner longer, but they make performing a waterless wash easier and less susceptible to becoming scratched.

Pro Tip #1: As a quick professional tip, TopCoat® F11® or TopCoat® F11PRO® can be used on a vehicle to perform a waterless wash or quick detail if the surface was previously treated with either product. The advanced technologies formulated in both products and them being eco-friendly water-based formulations have proven to be effective for quick detailing sessions or performing waterless washes.

Waterless Wash Procedure and Steps

1. Spray the surface that you wish to clean with TopCoat® Spritz® evenly. To prevent the area from drying, try working on small sections of your vehicle splitting them into 4 or 5 areas. Spray to saturate the area but not to the point of much run-off. 
2. Use a clean TopCoat® Mycropro 18 Professional Microfiber Towel without much pressure drag and work the towel across the sprayed area.
3. Slightly fold the towel and work the other side of the clean towel on the surface to wipe the rest of the surface that needs to be clean.
4. Unfold and flip the towel to use a cleaner portion of the towel for the final buff but still without too much pressure on the surface.
5. Repeat the steps as needed until the area becomes clean to your satisfaction.

Be sure to place the used towels in a bin or area where they cannot be reused until they are washed.

Pro Tip #2: Never use a used towel or one that has either fallen on the ground/floor or one that is visually dirty. Our TopCoat® Mycropro 18 Professional Microfiber Towels are purposely left ultra-white to reveal collected dirt or debris so you can properly judge which areas of the towel to use for buffing to prevent scratches.