I live in an apartment with no access to a hose let alone a place to wash my car, and I am not a big fan of auto or do-it-yourself car washes. After searching a few detailing sites, I found recommendations for Optimum no rinse wash and shine, and ordered a bottle off Amazon for $13 which should be about 30 washes (not sure if you can find it local or not, I didn't look). Needless to say, I just washed my girlfriend's black Ford Focus in a two car garage that was being shared with a VW Jetta, using a whole 2 gallons of water and one ounce of the wash. The car wasn't super dirty, but had a few bugs and dirt after the rain earlier in the week. I was pretty skeptical, but I couldn't be happier with how it turned out for a quick cleanup. All you do is use a microfiber to apply the mixture to one body panel/glass, then dry the panel with a microfiber and move onto the next (Top down, cleanest to dirtiest, finishing with the rims). Super easy, and didn't take any more than 20 minutes. http://www.optimumcarcare.com/onrwns.htm?li=2
I love their products, including ONR. I use ONR or shampoo+QD for a no rinse wash in the winter. I wouldn't suggest it for heavily soiled cars tho. It also doesn't work well on brake dust unless its light and you keep your wheels well maintained (cleaned and waxed). You'll want to use something like OPC for those situations if you want to stick to optimum products. I'd also recommend using 2 buckets next time, the second as a rinse only bucket to clean your mit before dunking it back in your wash bucket. With that black car, try not to touch it (unless a QD spot clean) between proper washes.
What exactly do you mean by proper washes? I usually try to wash it once per week, but it is more dependent on when I can get to my parent's house. I was planning on using the ONR to fill in when I can't get to somewhere with a hose...
A proper wash would be one using the products and tools necessary for how dirty it is. So QD on a bird bomb rather than washing the entire car, or a quick rinse and air wand dry to get the pollen and dust off rather than a full wash. With black and other colors that tend to show marring more easily, I try to touch the surface as little as possible. If and when I need to use a wash mit, I stick to my wool mits and use a 2 bucket system. I also prefer to sheet dry it or use an air wand. The less I have to touch it (even with a plush waffle weave microfiber drying towel) the better. Might be overkill, but after spending 10+ hours each year polishing, prepping, and sealing the clear coat, I want to keep my contact with the paint minimal.
Sheen, I think you are I are the polar opposites when it comes to exteriors. Except I also try to touch it as little as possible. So my car gets a good wash 2-3 times a year, whether it needs it or not
Lol Hey now, I'm only OCD about 2 of our cars. The other two... well, the truck I NEVER wash and the RS I've washed twice. Once bc the rain didn't wash of the mud from treadin thin ice and I couldn't see out of the side windows anymore, and the second time to prep it for rust repair!
