How much water does it take to wash a car?

I use a waterless wax wash detailer, it uses no water, however I was wondering about it.

Ive never tried it, to wash a car using the least amount of water possible by, hose, by bucket, bucket and hose or by carwash.

Im after a procedure that is fast but does the job with minimal water being used.

One example could be something like this.

Using a hose with a trigger nozzle to get to the car without using any water, getting to the car or back or while the hose is not being used on the ground, using water only when needed.

This usage can be reduced further by setting the water pressure lower, and by only going around the car once for a wash and once of a rinse, to aim for a progressive action without going over an area twice. Start at the top of the car and work down or by going around one side and then the other side If the trigger hose has different setting these can be switched from shower for the first application to mist for getting off soapy water.

Get someone to time your water usage then after the car wash repeat the time it takes in a bucket and then measure that.

For bucket users measure the water before and after the wash.

Tau.Neutrino said:

How much water does it take to wash a car?

I use a waterless wax wash detailer, it uses no water, however I was wondering about it.

Ive never tried it, to wash a car using the least amount of water possible by, hose, by bucket, bucket and hose or by carwash.

Im after a procedure that is fast but does the job with minimal water being used.

One example could be something like this.

Using a hose with a trigger nozzle to get to the car without using any water, getting to the car or back or while the hose is not being used on the ground, using water only when needed.

This usage can be reduced further by setting the water pressure lower, and by only going around the car once for a wash and once of a rinse, to aim for a progressive action without going over an area twice. Start at the top of the car and work down or by going around one side and then the other side If the trigger hose has different setting these can be switched from shower for the first application to mist for getting off soapy water.

Get someone to time your water usage then after the car wash repeat the time it takes in a bucket and then measure that.

For bucket users measure the water before and after the wash.

No.

I will try using a bucket only, then a week later using the hose.

I will report back in around two weeks with my results.

I use 2 buckets. First clean water for pre-wash rinse, then add car wash soap and do a decent wash with sponge. Then empty bucket on the garden bed, rinse out and fill with clean water, do a post-wash rinse of car. Dry with chamois. Tip second bucket out on garden bed.

Not the quickest way, but quite sparing on the water. I used a 25L bucket about 2/3 full.

Tau.Neutrino said:

I will try using a bucket only, then a week later using the hose.

I will report back in around two weeks with my results.

Why not try using a bucket of soapy water during a rainstorm? Wash the car with the soapy water, then let the rain rinse it.

party_pants said:

I use 2 buckets. First clean water for pre-wash rinse, then add car wash soap and do a decent wash with sponge. Then empty bucket on the garden bed, rinse out and fill with clean water, do a post-wash rinse of car. Dry with chamois. Tip second bucket out on garden bed.

Not the quickest way, but quite sparing on the water. I used a 25L bucket about 2/3 full.

25l bucket? That’s rather heavy to lift. Normal buckets are 9-10l.

btm said:

Tau.Neutrino said:

I will try using a bucket only, then a week later using the hose.

I will report back in around two weeks with my results.

Why not try using a bucket of soapy water during a rainstorm? Wash the car with the soapy water, then let the rain rinse it.

I’ve been known to do something like that if it’s raining and I’m off to work. Run over with a squeegee thingy dipped in soapy water, then drive to work.

buffy said:

party_pants said:

I use 2 buckets. First clean water for pre-wash rinse, then add car wash soap and do a decent wash with sponge. Then empty bucket on the garden bed, rinse out and fill with clean water, do a post-wash rinse of car. Dry with chamois. Tip second bucket out on garden bed.

Not the quickest way, but quite sparing on the water. I used a 25L bucket about 2/3 full.

25l bucket? That’s rather heavy to lift. Normal buckets are 9-10l.

Yes, but I’m big and strong. I prefer them to 10L buckets for general household stuff.

For what purpose does one wash their car?

party_pants said:

buffy said:

party_pants said:

I use 2 buckets. First clean water for pre-wash rinse, then add car wash soap and do a decent wash with sponge. Then empty bucket on the garden bed, rinse out and fill with clean water, do a post-wash rinse of car. Dry with chamois. Tip second bucket out on garden bed.

Not the quickest way, but quite sparing on the water. I used a 25L bucket about 2/3 full.

25l bucket? That’s rather heavy to lift. Normal buckets are 9-10l.

Yes, but I’m big and strong. I prefer them to 10L buckets for general household stuff.

Really? 25kg is a big lift. I lump around 20kg bags of dog food and chook food and I certainly couldn’t lift a bucket with that weight.

• Yes, but I’m big and strong. I prefer them to 10L buckets for general household stuff.

Drop something like that on your foot and you might lose a toe…

waterless waxes =/= wash , they are very paint unfriendly.
if you are going to rub a panel, it needs to be water washed first to reduce swirls and damah=ge to clear coat.

If the ute isn’t too dirty, just dust and bug/tar, 50L is the least I can use. 10 litre bucket with car soap, 3 minute hose rinse

furious said:

For what purpose does one wash their car?

To get it nice and shiny.

buffy said:

btm said:

Tau.Neutrino said:

I will try using a bucket only, then a week later using the hose.

I will report back in around two weeks with my results.

Why not try using a bucket of soapy water during a rainstorm? Wash the car with the soapy water, then let the rain rinse it.

I’ve been known to do something like that if it’s raining and I’m off to work. Run over with a squeegee thingy dipped in soapy water, then drive to work.

dad goes out after rain and chamois dries his car, saves on soap and water

buffy said:

party_pants said:

buffy said:

25l bucket? That’s rather heavy to lift. Normal buckets are 9-10l.

Yes, but I’m big and strong. I prefer them to 10L buckets for general household stuff.

Really? 25kg is a big lift. I lump around 20kg bags of dog food and chook food and I certainly couldn’t lift a bucket with that weight.

I only fill it about 2/3. So still under 20 kg.

party_pants said:

buffy said:

party_pants said:

Yes, but I’m big and strong. I prefer them to 10L buckets for general household stuff.

Really? 25kg is a big lift. I lump around 20kg bags of dog food and chook food and I certainly couldn’t lift a bucket with that weight.

I only fill it about 2/3. So still under 20 kg.

Still pretty heavy for something awkward like a bucket.

buffy said:

party_pants said:

buffy said:

Really? 25kg is a big lift. I lump around 20kg bags of dog food and chook food and I certainly couldn’t lift a bucket with that weight.

I only fill it about 2/3. So still under 20 kg.

Still pretty heavy for something awkward like a bucket.

It’s not that bad for me. I put it down on the ground near the car and move it maybe two or three times as go around, I don’t hold it in one hand.

furious said:

For what purpose does one wash their car?

+1

house broom, fairly soft, rain. car washed.

ChrispenEvan said:

house broom, fairly soft, rain. car washed.

eek..

makes sign of cross

Stumpy_seahorse said:

ChrispenEvan said:

house broom, fairly soft, rain. car washed.

eek..

makes sign of cross

It’ll buff out.

sibeen said:

Stumpy_seahorse said:

ChrispenEvan said:

house broom, fairly soft, rain. car washed.

eek..

makes sign of cross

It’ll buff out.

yeah.. once you’ve removed the top layer of clear…

Stumpy_seahorse said:

sibeen said:

Stumpy_seahorse said:

eek..

makes sign of cross

It’ll buff out.

yeah.. once you’ve removed the top layer of clear…

Sun did that already.

I got a soft broom that you can put the hose onto the end of if you want. And a stiffer one for doing the wheels. Mr buffy does most of the car washing. I’m too fussy and it takes me ages, because I have to open doors and clean around the door etc. And anyway, he passed the house cleaning on to me because of his bad back, he has to do something. And he has years of experience doing the ambulances.

I wash my car with honey, I’ve done it all my life.

it’s a 2001 camry. i’m not too worried about looks and resale. it goes well.

ChrispenEvan said:

it’s a 2001 camry. i’m not too worried about looks and resale. it goes well.

you’d probably be better off not doing anything then

So how does this waterless wax wash work?

dv said:

So how does this waterless wax wash work?

Spray on with aerosol can, rub with microfibre cloth A, second rub/polish with cloth B.

• Spray on with aerosol can, rub with microfibre cloth A, second rub/polish with cloth B.

Is that the one where they harass you in shopping centre car parks?

dv said:

So how does this waterless wax wash work?

they don’t.
usually a quick drying solvent mixed with a hydrophobic residue, makes water bead like it has been waxed

furious said:

• Spray on with aerosol can, rub with microfibre cloth A, second rub/polish with cloth B.

Is that the one where they harass you in shopping centre car parks?

Yeah, that’s the one I tried. But I’ve gone back to sponge and bucket.

dv said:

So how does this waterless wax wash work?

It works wonderfully by wapidly washing your Wolseley without one wipe of wasteful water.

I just wait for it to rain

Im beginning to think I should use the waterless wax wash in certain conditions.

When there are 30 bird droppings on the car roof, windows and boot and have hardened and dried in the wind, I’ll use water to soften them up.

The water in the bucket is good fertilizer for the garden full of bird droppings.

Arts said:

I just wait for it to rain

I can’t be arsed moving it out of the garage and then dashing back inside in the rain.

Sometimes the car is covered only with dust (Dirty)

others times its dust and rain (dirtier)

other times its Hume freeway dirt, dust and rain for 1400 kms (more dirtier)

other times its 30 Bird droppings (even more dirtier)

Other 4WD’s might be covered all over with caked dried mud (most dirtiest)

Tau.Neutrino said:

Sometimes the car is covered only with dust (Dirty)

others times its dust and rain (dirtier)

other times its Hume freeway dirt, dust and rain for 1400 kms (more dirtier)

other times its 30 Bird droppings (even more dirtier)

Other 4WD’s might be covered all over with caked dried mud (most dirtiest)

and all should be washed off before using a waterless wax product, if you value your paint

Stumpy_seahorse said:

Tau.Neutrino said:

Sometimes the car is covered only with dust (Dirty)

others times its dust and rain (dirtier)

other times its Hume freeway dirt, dust and rain for 1400 kms (more dirtier)

other times its 30 Bird droppings (even more dirtier)

Other 4WD’s might be covered all over with caked dried mud (most dirtiest)

and all should be washed off before using a waterless wax product, if you value your paint

Do you think they are too aggressive for paint?

Tau.Neutrino said:

Stumpy_seahorse said:

Tau.Neutrino said:

Sometimes the car is covered only with dust (Dirty)

others times its dust and rain (dirtier)

other times its Hume freeway dirt, dust and rain for 1400 kms (more dirtier)

other times its 30 Bird droppings (even more dirtier)

Other 4WD’s might be covered all over with caked dried mud (most dirtiest)

and all should be washed off before using a waterless wax product, if you value your paint

Do you think they are too aggressive for paint?

no..

what you are doing is spraying on a fluid that loosens the dust/dirt/smoke/road grime and then you drag that across your paint with a cloth.
usually when you use a wax, you rub it into the panel, creating fine scratches in the paint/clearcoat and reducing it’s life and quality.
panels should always be washed before buffing in a polish or wax

Stumpy_seahorse said:

Tau.Neutrino said:

Stumpy_seahorse said:

and all should be washed off before using a waterless wax product, if you value your paint

Do you think they are too aggressive for paint?

no..

what you are doing is spraying on a fluid that loosens the dust/dirt/smoke/road grime and then you drag that across your paint with a cloth.
usually when you use a wax, you rub it into the panel, creating fine scratches in the paint/clearcoat and reducing it’s life and quality.
panels should always be washed before buffing in a polish or wax

Yes, I see what you mean.

I used to worry about how much water to wash a car.

Then I realised that it depends on the age of the car, older cars need more water.

Then I realised that the water to wash a car needs to be summed over a year. A person who washes the car twice a week has to use 50 times less water per wash than someone who washes the car twice a year.

mollwollfumble said:

I used to worry about how much water to wash a car.

Then I realised that it depends on the age of the car, older cars need more water.

Then I realised that the water to wash a car needs to be summed over a year. A person who washes the car twice a week has to use 50 times less water per wash than someone who washes the car twice a year.

>> older cars need more water.

other way round.
newer paint needs more water than older paint..
older paint is tougher, thicker and more forgiving

Stumpy_seahorse said:

mollwollfumble said:

I used to worry about how much water to wash a car.

Then I realised that it depends on the age of the car, older cars need more water.

Then I realised that the water to wash a car needs to be summed over a year. A person who washes the car twice a week has to use 50 times less water per wash than someone who washes the car twice a year.

>> older cars need more water.

other way round.
newer paint needs more water than older paint..
older paint is tougher, thicker and more forgiving

Never paint is smoother so sheds dirt more easily than old paint.

mollwollfumble said:

Stumpy_seahorse said:

mollwollfumble said:

I used to worry about how much water to wash a car.

Then I realised that it depends on the age of the car, older cars need more water.

Then I realised that the water to wash a car needs to be summed over a year. A person who washes the car twice a week has to use 50 times less water per wash than someone who washes the car twice a year.

>> older cars need more water.

other way round.
newer paint needs more water than older paint..
older paint is tougher, thicker and more forgiving

Never paint is smoother so sheds dirt more easily than old paint.

newer paint is much thinner and requires more water to wash off the contaminants without damage

people had lawns way back, they’d wash the car on the lawn

transition said:

people had lawns way back, they’d wash the car on the lawn

Some people still do.

better question

how much ego in a shiny car?

transition said:

better question

how much ego in a shiny car?

Not shiny, just clean. Important for being non-conspicuous in the city, where it is thought that cops will pull over and check cars that look neglected.

In my case, giving the windows a good wash with soapy water is usually the trigger to wash the whole car. I only do about 3 or 4 times per year.

party_pants said:

transition said:

better question

how much ego in a shiny car?

Not shiny, just clean. Important for being non-conspicuous in the city, where it is thought that cops will pull over and check cars that look neglected.

In my case, giving the windows a good wash with soapy water is usually the trigger to wash the whole car. I only do about 3 or 4 times per year.

would the police relax a bit re that if more people stopped washing their cars?

transition said:

party_pants said:

transition said:

better question

how much ego in a shiny car?

Not shiny, just clean. Important for being non-conspicuous in the city, where it is thought that cops will pull over and check cars that look neglected.

In my case, giving the windows a good wash with soapy water is usually the trigger to wash the whole car. I only do about 3 or 4 times per year.

would the police relax a bit re that if more people stopped washing their cars?

No, they are campaigners by nature.

transition said:

party_pants said:

transition said:

better question

how much ego in a shiny car?

Not shiny, just clean. Important for being non-conspicuous in the city, where it is thought that cops will pull over and check cars that look neglected.

In my case, giving the windows a good wash with soapy water is usually the trigger to wash the whole car. I only do about 3 or 4 times per year.

would the police relax a bit re that if more people stopped washing their cars?

To be fair, I don’t wash a car until I can’t see of the windscreen, and I’ve never been pulled because of a dirty car.

0 litres.

I actually hadn’t answered the OP. I have now.

Michael V said:

transition said:

party_pants said:

Not shiny, just clean. Important for being non-conspicuous in the city, where it is thought that cops will pull over and check cars that look neglected.

In my case, giving the windows a good wash with soapy water is usually the trigger to wash the whole car. I only do about 3 or 4 times per year.

would the police relax a bit re that if more people stopped washing their cars?

To be fair, I don’t wash a car until I can’t see of the windscreen, and I’ve never been pulled because of a dirty car.

Mine seems to build up a film of sawdust after a month or two in the garage. I still can’t work out why.

much of the water used is variously a rinse so the washing action isn’t too abrasive, i’d guess.

party_pants said:

Michael V said:

transition said:

would the police relax a bit re that if more people stopped washing their cars?

To be fair, I don’t wash a car until I can’t see of the windscreen, and I’ve never been pulled because of a dirty car.

Mine seems to build up a film of sawdust after a month or two in the garage. I still can’t work out why.

:)

looking at a picture of the rover on mars the other day, that thing needed a wash.

I guess oneday humans will have carwashes on mars, though probably need to terraform the planet first.

transition said:

looking at a picture of the rover on mars the other day, that thing needed a wash.

I guess oneday humans will have carwashes on mars, though probably need to terraform the planet first.

Yeah, liquid H2O would be good. Frozen CO2 not so much.

Michael V said:

transition said:

looking at a picture of the rover on mars the other day, that thing needed a wash.

I guess oneday humans will have carwashes on mars, though probably need to terraform the planet first.

Yeah, liquid H2O would be good. Frozen CO2 not so much.

I studied the picture some, couldn’t see any bird shit

transition said:

looking at a picture of the rover on mars the other day, that thing needed a wash.

I guess oneday humans will have carwashes on mars, though probably need to terraform the planet first.

they could probably do with a developing a compressed air (CO ₂ ) type of gizmo for cleaning the solar panels. Was watching a doco some months ago about the rovers. One of them was getting a weak battery because the solar panel was dirty, but then in a bit of a stroke of luck a storm came along and blew it clean, and so the battery was able to charge properly again.

party_pants said:

transition said:

looking at a picture of the rover on mars the other day, that thing needed a wash.

I guess oneday humans will have carwashes on mars, though probably need to terraform the planet first.

they could probably do with a developing a compressed air (CO ₂ ) type of gizmo for cleaning the solar panels. Was watching a doco some months ago about the rovers. One of them was getting a weak battery because the solar panel was dirty, but then in a bit of a stroke of luck a storm came along and blew it clean, and so the battery was able to charge properly again.

Yes!

No need to terraform the planet.