Waterless car cleaning preparations

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
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Wed 21 Jun 2017 14:03
Waterless car cleaning preparations - thecloser

Do any backroomers have experience of waterless car cleaning preparations. I did some TV channel hopping a few days ago and got the back end of somebody who was demonstrating a substance that he just sprayed onto to a very dirty vehicle, wiped it off with a microfibre cloth and produced a sparkling 'as new' finish. Is it that easy and, if so, what are the best brands?

Thanks in advance.

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Wed 21 Jun 2017 14:25
Waterless car cleaning preparations - skidpan

Its a brilliant way of scratching your gleaming paintworth and wiping £'ssss off the value of the car.

Would you expect them to tell you this on a TV advert?

The only way to get a good scratch free car is to use plenty of water and a good quality shampoo starting and the top and working down. I have actually moved with the times and use a microfibre mitt for washing and a microfibre cloth for drying.

I use a good quality wax twice a year, Meguiars Gold Class is the best I have tried, been using it for at least 15 years now.

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Wed 21 Jun 2017 15:56
Waterless car cleaning preparations - Stanb Sevento

I was given a bottle of one of these things as a present but avoided using it for the reasons given by Skidpan. Anything that makes you rub the dust and grit on the surface over the paint is bad news. You can see the effect a mile away on dark metalics and less on light colours, known as spiders webs. Hose off as much loose dirt as possible before even starting to wash.

I did find a use for this stuff and it was actually pretty good. When your car needs a good clean, when the surface feels rough on the lower parts of the doors and tailgate even after a wash, ithis stuff removes a lot of the tar and tree sap specs stuck to the paint but i always wash first.

Edited by Stanb Sevento on 21/06/2017 at 15:58

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Wed 21 Jun 2017 16:54
Waterless car cleaning preparations - badbusdriver

I know how they are supposed to work. The stuff you spray on lifts the dirt off the surface of the paint then you use a microfiber cloth to wipe it all off (not rub it in). I have read that it can be pretty effective on paintwork which isn't too dirty. But never tried it myself, and not sure I would!.

Also, a couple of years ago I did see a van kicking about advertising 'waterless' car valeting. Haven't seen it for some time though!

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Wed 21 Jun 2017 16:53
Waterless car cleaning preparations - Tester

These are very widely used in Muscat (and probably many other places in the Middle East). Of course, cars don't often get really dirty there, just dusty, so you're not trying to get rid of caked-on mud and it seemed to work pretty well on my plain white car in those conditions. I can well believe what others have said about scratches on properly-mucky metallic cars, though!

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Thu 22 Jun 2017 10:47
Waterless car cleaning preparations - thecloser

Thanks for the replies guys. I thought that would be the reaction but the demo definitely made out that the finish would be mirror- like and, indeed it suggested that, far from being abrasive, the treatment would fill in minor scratches and blemishes. I was sceptical and your replies have backed up my scepticism.

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Thu 22 Jun 2017 14:09
Waterless car cleaning preparations - alan1302

Thanks for the replies guys. I thought that would be the reaction but the demo definitely made out that the finish would be mirror- like and, indeed it suggested that, far from being abrasive, the treatment would fill in minor scratches and blemishes. I was sceptical and your replies have backed up my scepticism.

I use th William waterless on my car and don't have nay problems with it. It's designed for a car that's just got light dirt on it so as long as the cars like that then you won't have any issues with it. My cars paints now scratched or swirly either.

There will be plenty of people that say you shouldn't use it but then go on a wash their cars with a bucket of water with fairy liquid in it and a sponge...which certainly isn't good for your car.

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Thu 22 Jun 2017 23:08
Waterless car cleaning preparations - RicardoB

I bought a well known/advertised bottle of one of these and agree that you would only want to use it on a bit of light dust at most.

However, and this is genuine, I found it really good for cleaning my outside house windows, and helped to keep them clean for longer. But the real bonus was how well it cut through years' of grime on the upvc frames and made them look shiny white again!

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Fri 23 Jun 2017 10:28
Waterless car cleaning preparations - Wackyracer

However, and this is genuine, I found it really good for cleaning my outside house windows, and helped to keep them clean for longer. But the real bonus was how well it cut through years' of grime on the upvc frames and made them look shiny white again!

I use it on the cars side and rear windows(not the screen of course). it really helps the electric windows glide up and down with ease.

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Fri 23 Jun 2017 23:03
Waterless car cleaning preparations - alan1302

I bought a well known/advertised bottle of one of these and agree that you would only want to use it on a bit of light dust at most.

However, and this is genuine, I found it really good for cleaning my outside house windows, and helped to keep them clean for longer. But the real bonus was how well it cut through years' of grime on the upvc frames and made them look shiny white again!

Agree - I've found mine very good for the windows on the house and the front door.

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Sat 24 Jun 2017 18:36
Waterless car cleaning preparations - FoxyJukebox

I never ever use on a dirty car-but have found that after a half decent quick washover with a bucket sponge etc -applying the stuff with a clean cloth actually does give it a nice temporary shine. I do not use this on my front windscreen since it caused smears.

For info-I was in Wilkxxxons earlier this week and they had a litre bottle of the stuff at £2( down from £4). It lasts ages.

In summary-for good results, wash and leather first -then use the stuff for a fair finish shine.

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