How To Wash and Wax A Car Using NO Water

October 28, 2016

Many cities have implemented water restrictions because of the extreme heat waves. Or you may be living in accommodations that make it difficult to wash your car at home. Even if restrictions are not in place, or you have your own large driveway space, it is a good idea to use less water in general. If you have been regularly driving your vehicle, it likely needs to be washed, so there are a number of tricks to cleaning it without the use of water.

10. What You Need

A microfiber towel and a waterless vehicle cleanser are two essential items to get the job done quick and easily. Start by working in a small section of the car before moving on to the next. It is a good idea to begin at the top and work your way down. Spray a generous amount of cleanser on the surface and rub it with the towel in one direction. Depending how dirty the car is, you may need more than one towel. When complete, use a clean cloth to buff off the entire car.

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9. Choosing A Towel

Microfiber towels are the best choice. They are soft and will not scratch the paint and its thick fibers effectively trap dirt. You will likely need to use a few clean towels for one vehicle, because once it is dirty, the grime may end up being rubbed back onto the car. Fold it to form eight sides by folding it in half twice. Use each of these sides until it needs to be replaced with a clean towel.

microfiber-towels

8. Sectioning Off The Car

Starting at the top of the car is recommended because it is typically the cleanest. By following this pattern from the roof down, you will find it convenient and effective. After cleaning the roof, do all of the windows on the sides and then go to the trunk and hood. Next, do only the top sections of the vertical panels followed by the front bumper and grill. Go around to the back and clean off the rear bumper and rear vertical panels, if your car has them. Now, do the lower vertical panels, and last, the wheels.

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7. Homemade Wash

If you don’t want to purchase commercial waterless car wash, an eco-friendly solution can be made at home. Add the following to a twenty-four-ounce spray bottle: one teaspoon car wash and wax and one quarter to one half teaspoon liquid wax. Fill one quarter of the bottle with water and stir for one minute before filling up the rest of the bottle with water. Spray it on the vehicle and wipe clean with microfiber towel. Polish off with a clean towel.

homemade-wash

6. Window Washing Tricks

For sparkling windows without using water, try baby wipes. Their convenient tubs can easily be stored in the glove compartment or storage caddy. Surprisingly, (or maybe not very surprising) cola works to clean gunk off the windshield. First, protect the hood by laying a towel over it, then pour a bottle of cola over the windshield and wait while the carbonation works its magic. Once it looks clean, wash it off with a waterless window cleaner to remove any stickiness.

window-washing

5. Vinegar

Vinegar has been a longstanding staple for eco-friendly cleaning. It works well on windows and glass to get rid of stuck-on bugs. Spray the area with vinegar and after it sits for awhile to loosen up the debris, just wipe it off. Alternately, you can put vinegar directly on a microfiber towel and wipe the area clean. Make sure the surface is rinsed clean, though, as vinegar can harm the car’s paint and finish.

vinegar

4. Raid The Kitchen

Have you ever left your car parked under a tree only to return to a windshield or chassis dotted with sap. Or have you driven on newly laid tar and now have it splattered all over your vehicle’s surface? Peanut butter or shortening can help clean the mess. Take a bit of either fat substance and put it directly on the sap or tar. Let it loosen it up for a few minutes and wipe clean. The process may have to be repeated if it is a stubborn sticky mess.

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3. Homemade Wax For The Interior

Once your car has been made sparkling clean without water, you will want to make the inside look the same. Protect the interior materials with a homemade wax. Head into the kitchen and mix one-part lemon juice to two parts olive oil. Using a cloth, wipe on the dashboard. The concoction is safe for vinyl and plastic parts, but keep it off the gas and break pedals and steering wheel or they might end up slippery). Polish it with a clean cloth.

inside-of-a-car

2. Homemade Wax For The Exterior

Your car is now clean, so you will want to keep it that way. You can easily make a wax that will help make your vehicle shine and does not contain harsh chemicals. Mix one cup linseed oil, four tablespoons pure carnauba wax, two tablespoons beeswax and half cup apple cider vinegar in a double boiler. Keep over low heat and stir until the wax is melted. Allow to cool in a separate container and apply a small amount to car, wiping it in a circular motion. Polish off with a clean cloth.

waxing-exterior

1. How Much Water Is Used Washing Cars

If you are looking for a simple way of saving water and protecting the environment, washing your car with little or no water is the way to go. Washing a car with a garden hose for ten minutes can use up to one hundred gallons of water and it could end up with streaks. Anton Van Happen, of Eco Green Auto Clean, said using the waterless car wash solution is effective. “If you have a dirty car and you hose it down with water and let it dry, it’s still going to be dirty.”

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