With the UK often imposing hosepipe bans to restrict water usage, staying on top of cleaning your car may seem like a bit of a challenge.
However, there are ways to wash your car using less water by simply using the right products.
To wash your car without a hose, gather the following items:
- A Rinseless shampoo – Halfords Advanced Rinseless Shampoo
- A waterless spray – Halfords Waterless Wash 500ml
- Two large bucket – Halfords Advanced 20 Litre Valeting Bucket
- A microfibre mitt – Halfords Advanced Microfibre Wash Mitt
- Microfibre cloths – Halfords Microfibre Cloths 5 Pack
- A grit guard – Halfords Advanced Grit Guard
Step 1: Pick a location
First off, you need to pick the best location.
As hose pipe bans are most popular in the summer months, it’s likely going to be humid and sunny outside, meaning that your rinseless soap is likely to dry much quicker.
Find a spot on your driveway that’s most shaded, or wait until the sun drops low and your car is no longer in the direct path of the sunlight. If you try and wash your car with the sun beating down, you will end up with water marks and smears.
Step 2: Loosen dirt
If your vehicle is pretty dirty, loosen some of the muck by using some of the water from your bucket and pouring it over your vehicle, starting at the top so that it drips down your car and you’re not wasting any on the floor.
Avoid scrubbing your vehicle’s surface at this stage, as loose grit clinging to your paintwork could end up scratching it and causing damage.
Step 3: Wash
The next stage is to start washing your vehicle.
Using the ‘two bucket’ method, you should fill one bucket with water and your rinseless solution, and the second with just water for rinsing your microfibre mitt. If you’re using a grit guard, then use this in the second bucket so that when you rinse your mitt, you aren’t transferring any dirt or grit to your clean soapy bucket.
For lighter washing, when your vehicle isn’t super dirty, you could opt for a waterless spray instead of using a shampoo.
For this, all you’ll need is your waterless spray. Spray it directly onto your cars cool surface and let it sit for 10–15 seconds to emulsify the dirt. Then, wipe it off with a clean microfibre towel to keep your vehicle muck-free. A waterless spray is a great option for intimate washing, so between bigger washes to keep your vehicle nice and clean.
Step 4: Dry & Buff
Using another clean, dry microfibre cloth, remove any remaining moisture and achieve a streak-free and water-mark-free glossy finish. Flip and change your towel regularly to avoid smearing, and if you have time, applying a wax can help to protect your paintwork and enhance your vehicle’s car.
So, there you have it, washing your car without a hose is simple if you follow the above steps, and you really can still achieve a glossy and streak-free finish without using lots of water – handy in a hosepipe ban, or if you’re just feeling eco-conscious.
For all your car cleaning requirements, shop our full range of car cleaning over at Halfords.com, or pop into your local store and have a browse.
