Get Your Car Looking Great (Without a Hose or Water)

wash me written on vehicle

So your car's looking grubby and grimy, but there's no car wash around and you don't have access to a hose, bucket, mitt and spigot (or maybe it's midsummer drought and car washing is prohibited due to water rationing). How do you handle it?

You don't just want to take a towel or rag and wipe the dirt off, as that's a good way to leave fine scratches in your finish from the grit and grime. Obviously if you've got a 4x4 that's been bashing around off-road and there's 1/4" of mud on it, you're going to have to wait until you can get some high-pressure water to knock that thick crust of dirt off. If you're just in need of a little touch-up, though, there are ways around this problem.

What Is Waterless Wash?

Waterless wash products are a combination of lubricants, waxes, UV protectants, sealants and other compounds that not only lift away dirt and grime but leave a shine on your car's finish. Just use a microfiber cloth and a spray bottle of waterless wash and you can deal with a light layer of dirt and get your finish looking nice and glossy again.

Waterless wash products are especially handy for cleaning areas like the door jamb, inside the trunk or hatch or underhood, where it's not practical to use a jet of water and a mitt or sponge. It's easy to overlook those areas because they're a little harder to clean, but they do tend to get grimy. We recommend Meguiar's Ultimate Wash & Wax Anywhere, available at Advance Auto Parts. One bottle can clean up to five average-sized cars, completely without water. After gently lifting dirt, this spray leaves behind a glossy wax that leaves your car looking great in as little as 15 minutes.

See just how easy it is to use, and you'll realize you have no excuse not to keep your car clean!

Have you ever used a waterless wash? Let us know in the comments.

Last updated May 19, 2021

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