Waterless Wash Vs Rinseless Wash

You probably know what you pay for a gallon of detailing chemical. But do you know what that chemical actually costs you every time you use it on a car?

In this video, Justin the Supply Guy breaks down why price per gallon can be misleading and shows you how dilution ratio and actual product usage can change the real cost of a chemical.

In this video, I take a look at the differences between waterless wash and rinseless wash and what those differences actually mean for you as a detailer.

There is a lot of confusion about these two types of products, so I wanted to talk about how I use them and why I prefer a rinseless wash when I am actually washing a vehicle.

First, Let’s Talk About the Elephant in the Room

Yes, you can damage the paint if you try to do a waterless or rinseless wash on a filthy car.

Neither product is magic.

If the vehicle is covered in heavy dirt, mud, sand, or other abrasive contamination, you need to get that stuff off the vehicle before you start wiping it around.

If the vehicle is heavily contaminated, pre-rinse it first.

That is especially important with a rinseless wash. Rinseless does not mean you can take a vehicle covered in mud and safely wipe it down without removing the heavy contamination first.

Use some common sense. If there is a bunch of dirt sitting on the paint, get it off before you start washing.

Waterless Wash

When it comes to waterless wash, you basically get what you pay for.

If you buy a gallon of waterless wash, you get a gallon of waterless wash.

A lot of people hear “waterless” and think they are buying some kind of super-concentrated product. But in reality, the water has already been added.

You are essentially paying for the product and the water that is already in the bottle.

There is nothing wrong with waterless wash. I use it myself.

I might use it on a single panel, for a quick touch-up, or if I need something in a spray bottle to take care of a small area.

But I don’t personally use waterless wash for what I would consider a true vehicle wash.

Rinseless Wash

This is where I think rinseless wash really makes sense for a detailer.

A rinseless wash is concentrated. You add the water yourself.

Once it is mixed, it can perform the same job as a waterless wash — and in many cases, I think it can perform even better.

The big advantage is that you are not paying to ship a gallon of water around.

You are buying the concentrate and making the wash solution yourself.

For my rinseless washes, I usually mix about 2 ounces of Absolute into my wash bucket.

I typically use a 6-gallon bucket, although you don’t necessarily need to fill the entire thing with water.

Two ounces of concentrate goes a long way.

How I Do a Rinseless Wash

My process is pretty simple.

First, I pre-rinse if needed.

If the vehicle is heavily contaminated, I want to remove that heavy dirt before I start touching the paint.

Then I mix my rinseless wash.

I use about 2 ounces of Absolute in my bucket.

Next, I work in small areas.

I don’t try to wash the entire vehicle at once. I work a section at a time and keep the process controlled.

I use an ultra-soft sponge to wash the vehicle.

The idea is to safely remove the dirt without grinding it into the paint.

After washing, I apply a small amount of Bead Maker.

If the vehicle needs it, I’ll also use a perforated clay sponge to remove any bonded contamination.

Then I dry everything using a G-44 drying towel.

That’s really all there is to it.

I’ve Actually Used This Method in 100-Degree Heat

This isn’t just something I talk about in theory.

Last year, I washed my entire van using this method in 100-degree heat at a car show.

I premixed everything before I got started and was able to wash the entire van without needing to set up a traditional wash system.

That’s one of the things I really like about rinseless washing.

It gives you options.

If you’re a mobile detailer, you may not always have access to a hose or unlimited water. You might be working at a car show, dealership, apartment complex, parking lot, or somewhere else where dragging out a pressure washer and hoses isn’t practical.

With rinseless wash, I can bring my solution with me and get to work.

So Which One Do I Prefer?

For me, there is a place for both.

Waterless wash is great when I need to quickly clean a panel or do a touch-up. It’s convenient because it is already mixed and ready to use.

Rinseless wash is what I prefer when I’m actually washing a vehicle.

It’s concentrated, easy to mix, uses very little water, and gives me a lot of cleaning solution from a relatively small amount of product.

But remember, rinseless does not mean you can ignore heavy dirt.

If the vehicle is filthy, pre-rinse it.

If you have a reasonably dirty vehicle and you can safely remove the contamination, rinseless washing can be an extremely effective way to clean it.

And for me, one of the biggest advantages is simple:

I’m buying the chemical instead of paying somebody to ship me a gallon of water.

That’s the way I look at it.

— Justin the Supply Guy