Years ago, I used to take immaculate care of my car. Never took it through an automatic car wash, only used pure cotton towels, even waxed the door jambs a couple times a year. My car was always spotless. And then adulthood caught up to me and I was suddenly too busy for such luxuries. Home ownership, parenthood, and professional obligations conspired to steal those habits from me.
And even though I rarely have an entire weekend to dedicate to nothing but detailing my car, I still care. I was explaining to friend that I recently gave in to using waterless car wash and was blown away. I washed the whole car in 15 minutes with a microfiber towel and just a few ounces of spray wash. No hoses or buckets were involved, just a simple spray and wipe procedure.
My friend wasn’t only surprised, but also asked a legitimate question: how is waterless wash different from quick detail sprays? Is it just a label change, or is there something different about the two products? And my legitimate answer was, “I’m not sure, but I’ll find out.”
The short answer is that waterless car wash liquids and quick detailer products serve somewhat similar purposes. However, there are key differences in their composition, application, and intended use, as seen in the long answers that follow.
Quick Detailer Products
Most of us are familiar with quick detailer products, which have been around for decades now. These spray-on formulations contain lubricants, gloss enhancers, and sometimes mild cleaning agents. They were developed to provide a quick, temporary shine for show cars on display, removing light dust, fingerprints, and smudges.
Quick detailers are typically sprayed directly onto the surface of the vehicle and then wiped off with a microfiber towel. Importantly, they’re primarily intended to maintain the finish of a clean vehicle between washes.
There are several advantages to quick detail sprays. They often contain ingredients that enhance the gloss and shine of the vehicle’s paint, leaving behind a slick finish. They’re also quick and easy to apply, making them convenient for spot cleaning or touch-ups. These products are exceptional versatile as well and can be used on paint, glass, chrome, and plastic trim. When used properly, quick detailer products are typically safe even on clear coat finishes and will not cause scratching.
There are limits to quick detailers’ abilities, however, especially when it comes to actual cleaning. They’re generally not effective at removing heavier dirt, grease, or other road debris.
The shine and protection they provide also tend to be temporary and may only last until the next wash. As a result, they may need to be applied more frequently to maintain the desired appearance, which can be time-consuming.
Waterless Car Wash
Waterless car wash products, on the other hand, are intended to replace a typical wash and rinse procedure. Their unique formations lift and encapsulate dirt and grime from the surface of the vehicle without the need for rinsing. To achieve this requires a blend of surfactants, lubricants, and cleaning agents to emulsify dirt and provide a protective barrier.
Like quick detail sprays, waterless car wash liquids are applied directly onto the surface of the vehicle and then wiped off with a microfiber towel. However, they are suitable only for cleaning moderately dirty vehicles without the need for water. It might seem obvious, but you can’t wipe off a weekend’s worth of mudding with a spray bottle and a towel.
Waterless washes came about as a solution to car wash restrictions in places that regularly deal with water shortages. Many of us take for granted the ability to unload potentially hundreds of gallons of clean water on our vehicles. Since they don’t require rinsing with water, waterless car wash liquids make it possible to conserve water, whether it’s required or not.
Even if water supply isn’t an issue for you, they’re quick and easy to use without dragging out a full car wash kit. Like quick detailers, waterless wash products can also be used on most exterior surfaces, including paint, glass, and plastic trim. Many waterless washes even contain protective polymers that leave behind a glossy finish and offer some degree of surface protection against UV rays and contaminants.
As we already mentioned, waterless car wash liquids are best suited for light to moderate dirt and dust. Not only might they be ineffective at removing mud, but also heavy grime or road tar. In fact, if used improperly, waterless car wash liquids can trap dirt and introduce scratches or swirls on the paint.
Of course, both products work best when the paint is already clean and protected with a coat of wax, a polymer sealant, or a ceramic coating. But between these more extensive detailing protective procedures, the choice between waterless wash or quick detailer depends on the level of dirt and grime present on the vehicle.