Ive used them and I still have one. It will work on a lightly dirty car , but if it is to dirty it may scratch . I use it when a California duster wont do it and a regular wash is not needed. Just remember if there is something sticky on the paint it wont work, it just works on dust , maybe some dried rain spots. Its something that you would do every day. That smell to me was like Pepto-Bismol