DFB's Rince-less Wash Shootout

[Eldorado2k]

This, usually on the shelf below Nu-Finish.........................

I better not let my cat see that… She gets these stupid ideas…lol.

But seriously, I never saw Kitten Tyre Black…

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Eldo--this is the one I remember:

View attachment 77368

You brushed it on. I can't remember if I ever used it, but I bought a can for a guy a worked with who I just found out passed away last year. He was a true 'Geek, he used to wax his car every WEEK. I always expected to run into him on one of these forums, he would have fit right in.

PS It looks like this is still a thing: 1 Quart Black Tire Paint

 

[Eldorado2k]

Eldo--this is the one I remember:

View attachment 77368

You brushed it on. I can't remember if I ever used it, but I bought a can for a guy a worked with who I just found out passed away last year. He was a true 'Geek, he used to wax his car every WEEK. I always expected to run into him on one of these forums, he would have fit right in.

PS It looks like this is still a thing: 1 Quart Black Tire Paint

I’m still in awe that you say you knew this dude.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

I’m still in awe that you say you knew this dude.

Knew him? Personally? No, only here on the forums, where he annoyed me to no end. I think as Bill D and I noted, if it was today we would have accused him of being an AI chatbot.

 

[Eldorado2k]

Knew him? Personally? No, only here on the forums, where he annoyed me to no end. I think as Bill D and I noted, if it was today we would have accused him of being an AI chatbot.

Correct, knew him online.

 

[01GreyStangGT]

DFB
Thanks for the thorough write up. This is for sure a great shopping guide for rinseless washes.

You have great writing skills- do you do videos on YouTube as well?

Thanks again for what you bring to this forum,

 

[DFB]

DFB
Thanks for the thorough write up. This is for sure a great shopping guide for rinseless washes.

You have great writing skills- do you do videos on YouTube as well?

Thanks again for what you bring to this forum,

Sent you a PM

 

[BLM]

While I have been detailing cars in some form or another since I was all of 14 years old, so about 24 years, I’m relatively new to rinse-less and waterless washing. In terms of water-less, I’m only using that method on door jambs and engine bays, but rinse-less is now an important part of my detailing skill set.




You seem to favor a modified traditional wash method with shampoo and rinsing. I also have a Mustang, a 2021 GT. When I wash it via traditional washing, due to the particular body design it seems to leak/ seep water from all the body cracks and crevices for hours after washing. Even after using a blower to dry it.

Also could you elaborate on why you only use rinseless on jambs and engines and avoid using it on paintwork?

 

[DFB]

Also could you elaborate on why you only use rinseless on jambs and engines and avoid using it on paintwork?

I use WATERLESS wash on door jambs after washing the car, be that rinse-less or soap. My door jambs are always pretty clean, but I use the waterless rate for added lubrication.

As for waterless/rinse-less on door jambs vs the rest of the paintwork, the door jambs are less seen and I'm not as anal about them as I am the hood, roof ect. If that makes sense. I will say, I am much more confident in the "process" of rinse-less now than when I wrote this article. Like anything, it takes time to become confident with your method and products.

 

[BLM]

I was thinking maybe you were concerned about scratching/marring with the rinseless.

 

[DFB]

I was thinking maybe you were concerned about scratching/marring with the rinseless.

I mean, that is part of it too. I'd say my rinse-less threshold is considerably lower than most, seeing posts with almost black rinse-less buckets have me shuddering. But then, I also know that with correct technique and believing the science, rinse-less is perfectly safe. So yeah, a bit of psychological barrier for me to fully overcome.

 

[BLM]

Well science aside i think it makes sense to use a separate rinse bucket (with a scrub wall) when doing a rinseless wash. 95% less dirt in the wash bucket can only be an improvement. Dont care that supposedly all the dirt goes to the bottom of the bucket. Less dirt is less dirt.

 

[DFB]

Well science aside i think it makes sense to use a separate rinse bucket (with a scrub wall) when doing a rinseless wash. 95% less dirt in the wash bucket can only be an improvement. Don't care that supposedly all the dirt goes to the bottom of the bucket. Less dirt is less dirt.

Depending on the vehicle, I have three levels of rinse-less washing that are all single-bucket methods -

1. Pre-rinse with the pressure washer, pre-soak with rinse-less, then contact wash using an Ultra Black Sponge. I only use this method if the car is dusty/mildly soiled.

2. Pre-rinse with the pressure washer, pre-soak with rinse-less, then contact wash using multiple towels that NEVER re-enter the bucket. This is my preferred method as I like the fact dirty media never enters the bucket, meaning the solution never gets dirty. The reality is, the pre-rinse is doing most of the cleaning anyway.

3. Pre-soak, then contact wash using multiple towels. This was my preferred method, but I just feel more comfortable with a pre-rinse before going in with the contact wash.

Apart from method one, using multiple towels eliminates the need for that second bucket. And even if you do use the two-bucket rinse-less method, you are still introducing dirt to the rinse-less solution.

I know this is all splitting hairs, but for someone relatively new to rinse-less, my goal is to minimize the risk and overcome that psychological barrier in my head. I've said this before, but if it wasn't for this forum and a few fellow members, you know who you are, I wouldn't have given rinse-less a chance. I've learned so much seeing what others have done, then adapted it suit my own needs and preferences.

Being so new to rinse-less, I did hesitate posting this thread here. As in, how can someone so new to a wash method suddenly have the authority to write and compare products on the subject. But then, I guess what I wrote could be relatable to others who are new to the game.

 

[DFB]

Armour Detail Supply Hero –

Hero comes from a brand that is making waves across the detailing scene. Interestingly, the guys behind this brand were never a fan of rinse-less washing but acknowledged the feedback requesting such a product. The decision to consider adding one to the line centered around creating the “right” product for their requirements by combining “the effectiveness of traditional soap washes, delivering unparalleled slipperiness and exceptional cleaning power”.

Hero is different to most rinse-less products on the market in that it’s a hybrid formulation. This means it combines the lubrication properties offered by a polymer chemistry with a “residue-free surfactant” to better dissolve dirt. It also contains SiO2 to increase slickness. However, Hero does not leave behind “durable polymers” or “surface altering” protection behind, in other words it won’t alter your existing wax, sealant or coatings. This aspect of rinse-less washing has never really bothered me, mainly because we end up using a drying aid that leaves something behind anyway. So that’s the backstory, how does it function?

As with all of these rinse-less reviews, don’t expect me to make much mention of cleaning ability. However, according to ADS, the formulation was slanted towards the surfactant package to ensure it offered strong cleaning power. Hero uses the industry standard dilution ratios, so mixing it up is no different. Compared to Absolute, or even ECH20, Hero mixes into water with ease.

What I love about Hero is the smooth feeling across the paint, it not having the slight stickiness that other surfactant-based rinse-less products seem to exhibit. It also doesn't appear to leave as many (harmless) polymer spots if you haven't dried the panel quick enough. The scent is of sweet watermelon, one that lingers in the garage for a few hours. Combined with Amplify as a drying aid, you have a very pleasing user experience.

I can totally see where all the love is coming from regarding Hero. It's not as slick as the Absolute/Bead Maker combo that was my favourite rinse-less wash combo, but Hero glides over the surface smoother and doesn’t have the mixing quirks either. Hero teamed with Amplify is now my favourite rinse-less wash experience.

Formulation Type – Hybrid Polymer/Surfactant/Si02

Dilution Ratios –
256:1 (Pre-Soak, Rinse-less and Interior cleaning)
128:1 (Clay Lubricant)
64:1 – (Waterless Wash, Drying Aid)

Scent – Sweet watermelon
Usage Notes – Both Amplify and Adapt make great drying aids for Hero, Amplify seems to dry better though.
DFB Score – 10/10

Quoting my own post here with some interesting insight on Hero -

During the research phase of my glass cleaning with rinse-less thread, I asked if Hero could be used on interior glass. The response applies to glass, but also Hero in general -

My Question -

This has me wondering if this style of rinse-less (Si02) can be used on interior glass, especially its safeness for window tint films.

Reply -

Yes totally, as there is no SiO2 left behind with Hero. The SiO2 in hero is bonded to the surfactants (we buy the raw material like this) and it's made to boost cleaning and slickness. The only thing left behind by hero is a slight polymer film that evaporates in a few days.

I think as long as you aren't using them every day, you'll be fine with any, especially at the 128:1 to 256:1 dilution as there's very little activity in that level of solution.

So, if the "leaves something behind" thing matters to you, ADS Hero sounds is your product because any residual polymer evaporates.

I've never really bothered with the "doesn't leave anything behind" thing when it comes to rinse-less, mainly because it's unavoidable to leave at least some form of residue behind, be that polymers or surfactants. The funny thing is, soap can often do the same thing. I also find it amusing when someone like Matt Moreman uses N-914 because he doesn't want something left behind.............................then immediately after the wash, goes and uses his polymer sealant Drying Aid that 100% "leaves something behind".

 

[Setec Astronomy]

So, if the "leaves something behind" thing matters to you, ADS Hero sounds is your product because any residual polymer evaporates.

I've never really bothered with the "doesn't leave anything behind" thing when it comes to rinse-less, mainly because it's unavoidable to leave at least some form of residue behind, be that polymers or surfactants. The funny thing is, soap can often do the same thing. I also find it amusing when someone like Matt Moreman uses N-914 because he doesn't want something left behind.............................then immediately after the wash, goes and uses his polymer sealant Drying Aid that 100% "leaves something behind".

I don't want to open a whole can of worms again on this topic, but it seems the "leaving something behind" thing started when coatings became a thing, and after all the work and expense of getting a coating on your car, people didn't like that some washes changed the beading behavior (or behaviour, for you Aussies...do you say aluminium, too?), so Meg's D114 rinseless (arguably the first surfactant vs. polymer rinseless) became a favorite, quickly supplanted by N-914 after D114 was discontinued.

Interesting that ADS says the polymers evaporate, OPT has sold the polymer residue as a feature that makes future cleaning easier. I don't know how much of this is actual differences in the polymers or whether the difference is marketing spin.

 

[DFB]

I don't want to open a whole can of worms again on this topic, but it seems the "leaving something behind" thing started when coatings became a thing, and after all the work and expense of getting a coating on your car, people didn't like that some washes changed the beading behavior (or behaviour, for you Aussies...do you say aluminium, too?), so Meg's D114 rinseless (arguably the first surfactant vs. polymer rinseless) became a favorite, quickly supplanted by N-914 after D114 was discontinued.

Interesting that ADS says the polymers evaporate, OPT has sold the polymer residue as a feature that makes future cleaning easier. I don't know how much of this is actual differences in the polymers or whether the difference is marketing spin.

Yeah, at the risk of starting an argument, I pondered making that post. I thought the evaporation thing was extremely interesting and thought other would too.

I think when you look at the whole ethos of the ADS brand, its based around having the coating as the star of the show. So the maintenance products have been designed to either preserve the characteristics of the coating or enhance the coating. I know with Amplify and Hero, the goal was to not cause buildup over time, hence Hero not leaving a durable polymer behind, and Amplify being much more receptive to frequent usage.