Waterless car washing advice

"Chairman Kaga" (mike-mckinnon)
10/09/2013 at 16:05 • Filed to: None

Alright guys, I need advice. We are under stage 2 water restrictions, about to enter stage 3 (water rationing) due to the extreme drought here in Texas.

I REALLY need to wash my Alfa. Wax, polish, the whole 9 yards. I will not take it to the blasto-rama-wash. It's too fragile and too leaky. It has to be hand washed.

I've heard tell of waterless car washing, but can't seem to find any solid recommendations on products or methods.

http://www.amazon.com/Eco-Touch-WCW2…

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My last resort is to wash it in the garage with the door down. There could be consequences, and not just a $250 fine.

DISCUSSION (17)

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Chairman Kaga
10/09/2013 at 16:10

"California" duster and some spray-on detailer?

Damp, soapy cloth for the really dirty bits?

Chairman Kaga > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
10/09/2013 at 16:12

I actually tried that, but the car has been sitting uncovered in the garage for more than a year and it's pretty filthy. I'm hours from getting it back on the street and it needs a real detail wash. Like squeaky-squeaky-squeaky with a toothbrush and a diaper.

ATX211 > Chairman Kaga
10/09/2013 at 16:13

Why don't you take it to H2O and have them do a basic wash for $15 I think. They are 100% hand wash with water hoses. Then do all of the hard work yourself. I am not sure what part of town you are in, but there are a few now. I always go to the one at Lamar and Barton Springs.

Edit: just saw in another post. Did not realize it wasn't driving.

ddavidn > Chairman Kaga
10/09/2013 at 16:13

Drive it somewhere else and wash it. I've only been able to do waterless when it's fairly clean.

Edit: right, you can't drive it... sorry. Sounds like it needs a real wash though.

Soloburrito > Chairman Kaga
10/09/2013 at 16:17

Ha, I actually asked about this awhile back in some FP comments.

Someone pointed me to this: http://www.chemicalguys.com/Green_Mobile_D…

I looked them up on Youtube. I'm not sure they know what waterless means because he fills the tank with water...

The water restrictions are stupid. They'll allow the automatic car wash to stay open. They'll allow the hand wash places to stay open, but if you want to wash your own car in your driveway, that's not okay?

04sneaky - Boxers. Blowers. Bikes. And bitches. > ddavidn
10/09/2013 at 16:18

This. All of the waterless systems I've tried, even the expensive home-foamer washes, don't work when it has caked on dirt/dust/bugs/whatever. Hell, it could barely take off water spots from the rain two days before...

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Chairman Kaga
10/09/2013 at 16:45

Move somewhere wetter?

Chairman Kaga > ATX211
10/09/2013 at 16:46

I do like H2O, but I called and explained the situation with the car (some of the seals suck and still need to be replaced, so it might/will probably leak), which made the guy really nervous. I really need a detailer, I guess.

Chairman Kaga > Soloburrito
10/09/2013 at 16:47

Thanks!

Let's not even talk about the water park that was just approved for construction...

Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents > Chairman Kaga
10/09/2013 at 16:56

Exactly. How is the schlitterbahn able to operate under such conditions? And +1 for the chemical guys waterless wash.

Clown Shoe Pilot > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents
10/09/2013 at 17:23

i think schlitterbahn stays open because it's built on top of a river, but i could be wrong.

HiredHand > Chairman Kaga
10/09/2013 at 17:54

Go to the Blast-o-rama wash in the middle of the night with a huge pocket full of quarters, use the power washer to fill a bucket, hand wash the car, gently use the power washer from like 20 ft away to rinse, finish detail.

I know hand washing in the power-washing stalls is a no-no, but if there's nobody there to say no and you're not preventing anyone else from using it, why not?

Ferrero1911 > Chairman Kaga
10/09/2013 at 22:13

I would only recommend that for a very nearly clean car. I do it between washes, but if you skip a few days then you need to wash.

Ferrero1911 > HiredHand
10/09/2013 at 22:18

This is how I wash my car every time. I park in an apartment parking garage and I don't have a place to wash it at home.

So I go the self wash place and do a two bucket wash by hand. I do it any time of day, I just make sure that there is time left on the timer the whole time. It usually costs me 15 bucks if I want to do a really good job on the wheels. But I'll do anything to keep from having someone else wash my car.

FrankenBlaster > Chairman Kaga
10/10/2013 at 09:10

What if I like, send you a bunch of water. Then you can claim that it's Indiana water and therefore not as scarce as Texas water.

Chairman Kaga > HiredHand
10/10/2013 at 10:28

Good plan, but in Austin they lock up the carwashes at night to prevent this very thing.

HiredHand > Chairman Kaga
10/10/2013 at 11:04

Silly. Looks like you're boned until they lift the water restrictions.