Most efficient method of mobile washing? Traditional vs Rinseless vs Waterless

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IC3DT3

New member
I run a fairly established mobile detailing service. I'm going through quite a few changes and I can decide how I want to proceed. First, my helper is leaving (my wife found another job :sadwavey:) so I need to increase efficiency wherever possible. Secondly, I'm moving from my truck to a van within the next week or so. As of now, I have a 50 gallon tank and gas PW in the truck. I use a modified 2-bucket system in that I replace the soap bucket with a foam cannon. I have a pop-up canopy that helps give me time to dry in the hot sun, but I'm worried about efficiency. I've been considering a few options:
  1. Get a Deionized Water setup (very inexpensive. $42 a month with recharge every six months) and continue washing traditionally. (Would also add my 225 gallon tank that has been sitting around) This would allow me the option to simply air dry and move on to other tasks.
  2. Use ONR/Rinseless wash. I would only need a few gallons per car. I have used ONR in the past and it just feels slower to me. Now, I haven't actually timed it, so it may just be mental. I would like suggestions on how to make the process more efficient. I remember reading how one guy misted QD strength ONR on the panels before washing. I could do this with a pressurized sprayer. One concern I have is how do I strip waxes and clean paint with a rinseless model? Also, I would still need to carry the PW and tank for rinsing off highly soiled vehicles. Also, cleaning wheels with just ONR is a PITA. I much prefer a pressure washer and bucket for them.
  3. Use a Waterless product. Sounds pretty fast and efficient, especially with some of the pressurized sprayer methods I've seen. My concerns would be potential for marring, how to strip/clean paint, and the need to rinse highly soiled vehicles.
I see pros and cons to all the different approaches. How do you mobile detailers feel?
 
I've found most customers just don't trust the waterless washes. There are limits to their ability so having that as a sole method is tough. It might actually cost you some business from those who go with a traditional wash.



ONR is an awesome product, but to the uninformed it just looks like you're rubbing the car with water. It also has its limitations.



The traditional has the least limitations (unless you are worried about runoff) and I've found people respect the cannon. It sets you apart from the average Joe washing a car. There is no substitute for pressure when cleaning wheels and tires and getting the dirt out from crevices and behind badges and trim. Plus you made a good point about stripping wax/sealant with ONR.



I have the ability to use all 3 methods, but 99% of the time I use the traditional. Speed is pretty comparable. Since you already have the equipment I would recommend using it. You'll have to determine if the loss of your helper slows you down enough to warrant hiring another one. Sounds like you were having to support 2 people with the income. As long as you haven's slowed by ~40% you should be coming out ahead.
 
IC3DT3 said:
Also, cleaning wheels with just ONR is a PITA. I much prefer a pressure washer and bucket for them.

[*]Use a Waterless product. Sounds pretty fast and efficient, especially with some of the pressurized sprayer methods I've seen. My concerns would be potential for marring, how to strip/clean paint, and the need to rinse highly soiled vehicles.
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You mean you noticed that ONR does not clean nasty wheels.



I always get a chunkle on some video's showing how a pro cleans already clean wheels with ONR.
 
Recently I've been using a what you could call a modified version of an ONR wash. I'll foam the car with something to strip it, like CG CWC, and let it dwell. Then I'll rinse it off and pull it in the garage for an ONR wash. If the car is inside, or in your case under a canopy, I can ONR most of the car at once instead of washing and drying panel by panel. For me, this is faster than a standard hose wash. That may not be the case for everyone though.



And as Nth pointed out, sometimes I feel like I could do without the foam cannon if the car isn't heavily soiled, but the foam cannon seems to impress the heck out of some people. Sometimes that alone is worth it if it gets them talking or piques the interest of neighbors, etc.
 
I'm not a pro, but I'm not one of those that has the time to spend two days on a car, I constantly look for ways to trim time off my routine.



-The DI system seems like a no brainer.



-ONR is faster on clean cars, but on the very dirty ones, nothing beats a pressure washer



-I'm not a fan of waterless prouducts, on a "normal" car, you'll get marring. They are great for dusting garage queens.



I think you would limit yourself if you picked just one method.
 
If we're talking a not really dirty car, then I'd say the drying time can certainly factor into the total amount of time of washing process. A blower of some sort, in my case an Air Wand, can significantly reduce the amount of total time. Often I can do a complete touchless wash and blow dry and follow up with QD and a MF to get the remainder. I can do it at a leisurely pace and the time still went by fairly quickly. One must also consider the zie of the vehicle. There's going to be a difference between an Escalade and a Mini.
 
For me, I can wash car in half the time using ONR with a better finished product than traditional washing. When I was mobile I used nothing but ONR and I still do in the shop. For nasty wheels I will use acid if necessary and then spray them down with ONR in a spray bottle to rinse the acid off. I usually pour some acid on a brush, brush the wheel, then rinse. I never spray it so it doesn't get all over the rotors and everything. I never do traditional wash because a huge part of attracting people to my shop being eco-friendly and no water run off plus the town I'm in is big on going green. The only thing I put a hose on is rubber floor mats. I have actually never (yet) had anything come into the shop that ONR couldn't easily handle, but if I ever did, I would prob pressure wash it then finish up with ONR. I think if ONR went away I may change careers, I love it that much. I've never had anyone not want me to use ONR, they may ask questions but after I explain it to them they usually want to buy some! One really nice thing about ONR vs traditional is no water dripping from cracks and crevices getting all over what you just dried.



I've tried some of the completely waterless washes and don't like any of them. For me they take longer than ONR and don't do nearly as good a job.
 
ONR is good, but its not an end all!



washing the cars I see every 2 weeks, its fine. Washing a car after a weekend in the mountains, I would MUCH rather have a hose/PW available, but its possible to do (just dont expect mar free).



Acid on wheels and just ONR, no thanks! IMO it doesnt have the cleaning ability for that after just a few wipe down passes. Only time I'd use acid, or even sonax full effect is with water, never with ONR. playing it safe, who knows, but thats just my opinion.



ONR faster than traditional wash, eh, not by much if any. Actually, its faster on smaller cars for me, but slower on larger cars. I wash a E250 van and a Expedition faster with a traditional wash with a QD wipe down than I do with ONR and no wipe down (not needed after ONR obviously as the shine is good with ONR). BUT, on an M3 I maintain weekly, its faster to ONR it.



fastest and easiest way to dry a car for me, water sheeting method > quick initial pass with a WW towel > QD car = 10 min.
 
ExplicitDetails said:
I've tried some of the completely waterless washes and don't like any of them. For me they take longer than ONR and don't do nearly as good a job.
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same here. only one I liked half way was the 3D one, but you have to follow up with a QD to get good gloss/shine from the paint after it. ONR in a spray bottle is just as good, and a whole heck of a lot cheaper as well! but Im over the waterless stuff as its just not what I am looking for / I mainly do paint correction work so I need to strip the paint anyway
 
I say use ONR for the less-dirty vehicles and keep with foam/PW for the more extreme cases. Variety never hurts, and as said before, a blower or air wand will help cut down on drying time severely.
 
I agree ONR is not an end all, I guess it all comes down to personal preference. I've never had one bit of a problem using acid then ONR, never any staining or anything else. Probably because I use such little acid, only the smallest amount possible and only on wheels that nothing else can budge the brake dust and always in the shade. I definitely have the pressure washer and hose at my disposal, but just never have the need for them. My helper was also skeptical at first but now he's the same way. I'm planning on needing the pressure washer for the winter with all the salt and crap, I'm sure I won't be using ONR for that stuff.
 
I'd go with a combination of ONR and a pressure washer. I think you will find you can handle 90% of the cars with ONR, the rest may require a pressure washer. One of the really nice things about ONR is that at office parking lots with limited parking spaces, you don't have to worry about getting other peoples cars wet.
 
Bunky said:
You mean you noticed that ONR does not clean nasty wheels.



I always get a chunkle on some video's showing how a pro cleans already clean wheels with ONR.
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I believe scottwax has a video posted on youtube of soem pretty dirty Mercedes wheels he cleans with ONR.



It works on my BMW brake dust which is notoriously baaaadd.
 
Interesting subject. I don't know what your climate is, or water hardness, but I live in a desert (basically Las Vegas) and have insanely hard water and moving to spotless water has been a HEAVEN-SEND for me. I used to be exclusively ONR, but the pressure washer just has so many advantages for those large/dirty cars, and the spotless water makes it a snap. There were more advantages than I could imagine too, from how well it works to not streak windows, to no longer worrying about impossible to polish water-spots inside door jambs, ect.



Like everyone said here, it's going to be very specific to what your clientel base is, your method, and what you're trying to accopmlish. I'd give the DI water a try for a month, then maybe try doing ONR's, then traditional, ect. Feel out what works best for you.





Question: How did you find a supplier for DI tanks? I have to manually fill my 150 gallon tank with Reverse Osmosis water at a supply center here in town and it's annoying having to make the trip twice a week!



-G
 
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