What is dry wash?
Dry wash, or Waterless Wash, are a category of products which are usually sprayed on a car, coating the dirt, and lubricating it, so it can be safely wiped off without causing scratches to the car.
We mention it here because the product also acts as a wax coating, and because after failing miserably in the UK twenty years ago, this type of product is making a comeback in the form of quick-detailers.
These products arrived at our shores several decades ago from America, the land when they would traditionally wash their cars in paraffin because it is cheaper than water. They franchised waterless detailing services who, in the UK at least, often tried to sell the service as Eco-Friendly.
We cannot substantiate the claim that washing a car with a cocktail of chemicals is environmentally friendly. We also question the wisdom of trying to compete on the bases of being waterless, in a crowded market on an island surrounded by water, which is famous for its rain. It should be noted, that the Environmental Agency are rather keen on car washes and detailers using interceptors in the drains, and the EU regulations regarding recycling water and what exactly we put down the drains, are fairly strict and still in place post Brexit.
In addition to this, there is some controversy about just how safely you can remove dirt from a car without scratching. As a result, these products have not really taken off with professionals in the UK, but many of them are available on the retail market.
It is generally considered that these products can be used to safely clean your car under most circumstances.
Needless to say, we will stick to using water. We include a note of this product here because it also provides a shine and serves as a protective coating. There are many different products on the market and how long they last or how much protection they offer will vary, but much like wash'n'wax or aqua-wax, they are really only intended to last you until the next wash. These products have generally been sold as a method of cleaning and not as a form of car paint protection.
Written by Danny Argent. Last updated 17/02/2023 16:37