1 of 15

Safe & Effective Exterior Vehicle Maintenance

How To Perform a Rinseless Car Wash

Press View-->Present to access videos

or Command Key+ Enter (Mac)

2 of 15

Traditional VS. Rinseless

Traditional

Rinseless

Water Source

Hose, sprayer, coin-operated car wash, Automatic Car Wash

Sink, hose, distilled water

Water amount

~100+ gallons per vehicle

~2-4 gallons per vehicle

Water containment

3 buckets

3 buckets

Detergent

Soap

Fluid

Task time

45 minutes- 1.5 hours+

30 minutes - 1.5 hours+

Drying Media Absorption

More

Less

3 of 15

Traditional VS. Rinseless

Step

Traditional

Rinseless

1

Rinse

Wipe

2

Soap

Dry

3

Rinse

Repeat

4

Repeat

5

Dry

4 of 15

If your car is too dirty...

  • Thoroughly clean your car before trying this method for the first time.
    • It will most likely clean it anyways
    • But more likely to cause scratches.
  • Try this method once the surface is opaque, but free of dirt streaks.

Too Dirty

Opaque

5 of 15

Frequency of cleaning car with ONR

  • Depends on how much you use your vehicle
  • Depends on climate and where car is located.

  • If you wash your car once a week, you can use ONR every time you wash your car.
    • I recommend washing your car once in a while with the traditional method, especially when detailing.

  • Clean your car with ONR again, before it gets extremely dirty.

6 of 15

Materials

  • 1x Clean Microfiber towel
    • 16x16 is a good size
  • 2x Microfiber Towel
    • Can be gently used already
  • 3x Buckets
    • 1 for detergent
    • 1 for soaking/rinsing towel
    • 1 for wheels
  • 2-4x Grit Guards
    • Optional but recommended
  • 1x Large Drying Towel
    • 36x24 is a good size
    • Recommended: Waffle-Weave Style
  • Detergent
    • 1 ounce of Optimum No Rinse
  • Measuring Tools
    • Empty 1 Gal. Fluid Container
    • Measuring spoon to measure 1 ounce

7 of 15

Rinseless Overview

Set-Up

  1. Fill wash bucket
  2. FIll soak bucket
  3. Add Detergent to wash bucket
  4. Stir
  5. Soak Microfiber Towel in soak bucket

Wiping

  1. Slightly saturate MF Towel with solution from wash bucket.
  2. Glide onto surface of vehicle
  3. Flip towel side (if saturated still)
  4. Soak MF towel in soak bucket

Drying

  1. Prepare drying towel
  2. Blot or glide across cleaned surface

Repeat Wiping & Drying Steps

Wipe & Dry Wheels, Tailpipes

Apply a Spray Wax or Quick Detailer

8 of 15

Set-Up

Set-Up

  1. Fill wash bucket
    1. Use 2 gallons
    2. Fill twice with the empty 1 gal. container
  2. FIll soak bucket
    • Use 2 gallons
    • Fill twice with the empty 1 gal. container.
  3. Add Detergent to wash bucket
    • Specifically, Optimum No Rinse
    • Use 1 ounce, as directed.
    • 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons
  4. Stir
  5. Soak Microfiber Towel in soak bucket
    • Helps prepare it for cleaning.

9 of 15

Wiping

Wiping

  1. Slightly saturate MF Towel with solution from wash bucket.
    1. How saturated depends on:
      1. How Dirty Surface is (saturate more for dirtier areas)
      2. How large surface is (saturate more for larger areas)
  2. Glide onto surface of vehicle, one section a time
    • Work from Top to Bottom
    • Use slightly overlapping streaks
      • Horizontal surfaces: Arm-Straight
      • Vertical sides: Up-And Down
  3. Flip towel side (if saturated still)
    • Prevents dirt accumulation
  4. Soak MF towel in soak bucket
    • When its no longer saturated
    • With increased friction due to dryness

10 of 15

Drying

Drying

  1. Prepare drying towel
    1. Use the 36x24
    2. Fold it for sustained absorption
  2. Blot or glide across cleaned surface
    • Use same patterns for horizontal and vertical surfaces if gliding.

11 of 15

Repeat

As you work in small sections, repeat Wiping and Drying steps as needed, throughout the whole vehicle.

Don’t forget to rinse the towel in the second bucket every time you put it back in the first bucket with solution.

12 of 15

Wheels & Tires*

*This step is ineffective for wheels that are excessively dirty.

  1. Pour leftover solution from the first bucket into the third bucket.
  2. Get 2 slightly used MF towel, and soak it. (1 for wiping, 1 for drying)
  3. Wipe & Dry all wheels
  4. Don’t use the same towels you used when cleaning the body on the wheels
  5. Clean tires if you wish
    1. Use a damp amount of the solution
    2. Use a degreaser (Simple Green) if it is dirty
    3. Always do this step last, and don’t reuse the towel here on the body!
  6. Apply tire gel if you wish

13 of 15

Applying a Detailing Spray

  • Enhance appearance
  • Extra protection with a spray wax
  • Great in between periodic waxing
  • Use a clean MF Towel
  • Follow Directions on Product Label

14 of 15

15 of 15

Links

Optimum No Rinse: http://www.detailedimage.com/Optimum-OPT-M36/No-Rinse-Wash-Shine-2010-Formula-P444/32oz-S1/

Detailed Image Free stuff:

http://www.detailedimage.com/Free/

Find high-quality detailing products and tips at

www.detailedimage.com

*I am not affiliated with Detailed Image