Waterless Car Wash with ONR

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 I wanted to share the method for washing cars without access to a running water source like a garden hose. I've been washing my cars with only this method since 2018.

This method is especially nice when you don't have a house, garage, or just want to be more eco-friendly. I actually carry a spray bottle with the ONR mix to take with me on road trips. I use it to clean bug splatters, bird poop, etc.

Typically, this method takes me about 1-2 hours. If the car is not really dirty, it can be done in an hour.

Things you need

Optimum (NR2010Q) No Rinse Wash & Shine - 32 oz. - https://www.amazon.com/Optimum-NR2010Q-Rinse-Wash-Shine/dp/B00D8DR0AO - This can be used for outside, rims, tires and inside the car… just don’t mix up the towels!

2x Chemical Guys Acc_103 Heavy Duty Detailing Bucket Logo (4.5 Gal) - https://www.amazon.com/Chemical-Guys-Acc_103-Detailing-Bucket/dp/B00OA66IGK/

2x Chemical Guys IAI503 Grit Guard Insert, Black - https://www.amazon.com/Chemical-Guys-IAI503-Guard-Insert/dp/B00ABYVTZA/

Chemical Guys MIC_506_12 Professional Grade Premium Microfiber Towels, Gold (16 in. x 16 in.) (Pack of 12) - https://www.amazon.com/Chemical-Guys-MIC_507_06-Professional-Microfiber/dp/B00A8MZ7IA/ - IMPORTANT: Use this for paint surfaces only, buy another cheaper set for rims, tires, interior and others

The Rag Company (2-Pack 20 in. x 24 in. Double TWISTRESS Professional Korean 70/30 Blend 850gsm Twist Loop Microfiber Drying Towels - https://www.amazon.com/RAG-COMPANY-TWISTRESS-Professional-Microfiber/dp/B07Q6PLX4V/

Chemical Guys CWS_201_16 Microfiber Wash Cleaning Detergent Concentrate (16 oz) - https://www.amazon.com/Chemical-Guys-CWS_201-Microfiber-Concentrate/dp/B001TJXWH4 Never wash your microfiber towels with the common laundry detergent. Also dry in low heat.

Let's get started

Start with 2 buckets of clean water (warm if it's cold outside), filled to about 3/4 full. You want to label the buckets 'clean' and 'dirty'.

Add 2 capfuls of ONR in the 'clean' bucket.

Soak 3 towels in the 'clean' bucket.

Take a towel from the clean bucket, squeeze most of the water out, and fold into halves, twice. This folded towel has effectively 8 clean surfaces. 

From left to right, top to bottom, glide the towel across the car, a panel at a time. Wipe in a straight line. Every time you finish a path, flip the towel and continue the next path on the clean side. Basically, each towel will give you 8 wipes/paths. After all 8 clean surfaces are used, place the dirty towel in the 'dirty' bucket. Repeat the process with the rest of the clean towels.

After all 3 towels are used, rinse the 'dirty' towels a few times in the 'dirty' bucket. Once rinsed, it is now considered clean and can be soaked in the 'clean' bucket again. Repeat the process. If the car is really dirty, I would go over the sections one more time with clean towels before drying.

After each panel (or sections of the car) is done, take the drying towel and dry the areas., I consider these as separate panels and do them in this order:

1.    roof

2.    glass

3.    passenger side

4.    driver side

5.    rear

6.    front

7.    insides

8.    wheels

I included a video below of the time lapse of how the wash was done in my garage in the winter.

Time-lapse video (22s)

A bottle of ONR lasts me 2 years (50 washes)

'clean' bucket (white) and 'dirty' bucket (red)

Car before the ONR wash

Car after the ONR wash

This is the video I first used to learn how to do it in 2018.


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