How dirty is too dirty to safely use a rinseless wash?

[LincolnZephyr2006]

Awesome, Mike. Like I said before doing any ONR to a car, always try to go to a car wash to pressure wash all the loose contaminants. Then, proceed with the ONR to stay on the safe side.

[maxisiri]

Excellent Write-up!!! Very good the description of each of the washing items!!!! Thank you very much!!!

[whitemopar]

and where do i sign up to be a product tester?

[killrflake]

Wow, you gave us quite a bit of information to digest. Fantastic write up and an excellent "how to" that I know answers many questions for me. Thanks for taking the time to write it up.

[Bunky]

WIDSOF...When in doubt, spray off first. The same practice for bucket washing applies -- rinse off first.

[dougaross]

How dirty is too dirty to safely use a rinseless wash?

The question often comes up,

How dirty is too dirty to safely use a rinseless wash to wash my car?

Great question and while every situation will be a little bit different you can safely wash cars, trucks and s.u.v.'s with light dirt accumulation. Vehicles with a heavy dirt accumulation, especially if they are not regularly washed or if there is visible mud caked onto the paint should have the large accumulation of dirt first removed using a pressure washer or a strong spray of water. If you don't have access to a pressure washer or a a free flowing source of water, (a garden hose hooked up to a water spigot), then most towns have a do-it-yourself car wash that you can use for a modest fee.


Reasons to use a Rinseless Wash
In a perfect world everyone would have access to free flowing water, warm temperatures, no restrictions on when and where they can wash their car etc.

The problem is we don't live in a perfect world and not everyone has access to free flowing water or has the ability to use free flowing water due to water restrictions.

Here's a list of some reasons for using a Rinseless Wash....






How dirty is too dirty to safely use a rinseless wash?
There are limits as to what you should tackle with a rinseless wash and what you should take to a car wash, below are some examples...


This is light dirt accumulation
This is a good example of a vehicle that can be washed using a rinseless wash.











This is heavy dirt accumulation
This should be taken to a commercial Do-It-Yourself Car Wash and have the large chunks sprayed off with a strong blast of water.

I find all of your articles very enlightening. However, on "How dirty..." your too dirty model doesn't really help people decide what is too dirty. Ok, if it's been wallowing in mud it too dirty. How about be driven in snow and salt like in the Northeast. You know that nice white caked on salt look. I think the examples you have illustrated are at the far ends of the spectrum. Could you help us understand what is the threshold to "too dirty"

[Mike Phillips]

I find all of your articles very enlightening. However, on "How dirty..." your too dirty model doesn't really help people decide what is too dirty. Ok, if it's been wallowing in mud it too dirty. How about be driven in snow and salt like in the Northeast. You know that nice white caked on salt look. I think the examples you have illustrated are at the far ends of the spectrum. Could you help us understand what is the threshold to "too dirty"

Good point and point well taken...

For people that can use flowing water, they have the ability to make the decision for themselves as to how dirt is too dirty to safely use a rinseless wash.

For people that don't have the option to choose to use free flowing water there's not much of a decision left to make...

For example,

• Cold temperatures
• Government enforced restrictions
• No source of free flowing water available

For the Toyota we buffed out last Tuesday night, it didn't matter how dirty the Toyota was because it was so cold outside there was no way I was going to get the hose and bucket out so we used ONR

KISS Detail - Extreme Makeover - Toyota Highlander


Same thing goes for tonights Extreme Makeover with Dodo Juice Need For Speed Cleaner Wax as it's still very cold here in Stuart and it will be dark and even colder by the time the car arrives.

Tonight's Extreme Makeover


I'll try to get some pictures that better give an idea of dirty and too dirty...

[Finemess]

Great job Mike.

[jpegs13]

What about waterless washes? How dirty is too dirty or are they just for spot cleaning?
DP Waterless Auto Wash lets you wash your vehicle without water! Waterless car wash

[Bunky]

I have yet to see many people who have used a rinseless wash like ONR and say they have swirled their paint because it was too dirty.

But, I know there is a not very vocal group (no idea how many) who think it is not safe.