To use a waterless car wash such as Infinity Wax Zero Water or CarPro ECH2O, park in the shade with the car cool, spray one panel until it is saturated, wait a few seconds, then wipe the dirt away in straight lines with a clean microfibre and no pressure. Buff with a second dry cloth. It suits light dust and road film, not a muddy car.
What is a waterless car wash?
A waterless wash is a spray that cleans the car without a hose or a rinse. Its lubricants surround the dirt so it can be wiped off the paint rather than dragged across it. CarPro describes its ECH2O as a waterless cleaner and gloss enhancer built on an SiO2 hybrid framework and an eco-friendly organic lubricant solution. Infinity Wax makes Zero Water so you can clean and protect your car in areas with water restrictions or hosepipe bans. Here are the waterless washes we stock.
When should you use a waterless wash, and when not?
Use it for light dust, road film, fingerprints and bird droppings between proper washes, when there is a hosepipe ban, or when you have no hose at all, for example in a flat or a car park. Do not use it on a heavily soiled car. Infinity Wax advises against Zero Water on heavily soiled vehicles such as off-road or utility vehicles, or wherever the dirt looks too much to remove that way. For mud, heavy grit or a car that has not been washed for weeks, do a full wash instead: see how to wash your car safely.
The waterless washes we stock
We stock two waterless washes, one ready to use and one concentrate. The details come from each maker's own instructions.
A 3-in-1 product: a spray-and-wipe waterless wash, a no-rinse wash when you add a little to a bucket, and a water spot and bird dropping remover. Infinity Wax says it is safe on ceramic coated cars, does not strip wax or sealant, and leaves its own slick layer of protection behind.
A concentrate that you dilute 1:10 to 1:15 with water for a waterless wash, or 1:15 to use as a quick detailer. CarPro designed it to work in harmony with ceramic coatings, and says it also cleans non-coated and waxed surfaces easily and safely cleans without swirls.
| Waterless wash | Form | Maker's mix | Other uses | Coated cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infinity Wax Zero Water | Ready to use; concentrated for no-rinse | 50ml in 10 litres for a no-rinse wash | No-rinse wash, bird droppings, water spots | Safe; no-rinse method recommended |
| CarPro ECH2O | Concentrate | 1:10 to 1:15 waterless, 1:15 quick detailer | Quick detailer | Designed to work with ceramic coatings |
How do you use a waterless car wash step by step?
Work in the shade on a cool car, one panel at a time from the top down, with plenty of clean microfibres and no pressure. The steps follow Infinity Wax's and CarPro's own directions.
- Shade and a cool car: Infinity Wax's directions start by moving the car into shade and waiting for it to cool.
- Get plenty of clean microfibres: Infinity Wax says to always use a new or clean microfibre of good quality; a pack such as FibreKing Gold Label Microfibre Cloths gives you a fresh cloth for every panel.
- One panel at a time, top down: start with the roof and glass and leave the dirtier lower panels and sills until last.
- Spray until saturated: spray the panel until it is saturated, as Infinity Wax directs, or liberally across the whole panel, as CarPro directs.
- Give it a moment: Infinity Wax waits up to 30 seconds after spraying Zero Water.
- Wipe in straight lines with no pressure: let the product lift the dirt and turn the cloth to a fresh side often. CarPro sprays the panel a second time and wipes again with a fresh towel to take off any remaining dirt.
- Buff: go over the panel lightly with a second clean, dry towel to bring out the gloss.
- Wheels last: for alloys, Infinity Wax suggests leaving them until the end, spraying and letting the product soak for around 30 seconds to 1 minute before cleaning.
What is a rinseless wash?
A rinseless or no-rinse wash sits between a waterless wash and a full wash: you use a bucket and a mitt, but you never rinse the car. Infinity Wax's method for Zero Water is to fill a bucket with 10 litres of cold water and add 50ml of product, soak a wash mitt and let most of the water fall back, wipe one panel at a time in straight lines without pressure, rinse the mitt in the bucket regularly, and dry each panel with a clean microfibre. Infinity Wax recommends this method for ceramic coated cars and says a litre should do about 20 rinseless washes. A soft microfibre mitt suits it.
FibreKing Gold Label Korean Microfibre Wash Mitt
A South Korean made 70/30 split microfibre mitt that holds plenty of liquid and has a reinforced centre stitch for grip.
What to use after a waterless wash
For extra gloss, finish with a quick detailer and keep a few fresh cloths to hand. For choosing cloths, see the best microfibre cloths for cars, and for more sprays, the best quick detailer.
A polymer-based spray that AutoBead calls the perfect post-wash solution. It removes dust, fingerprints, smudges and smears and tops up existing wax; mist it onto a short pile microfibre and the paint, work it in straight lines and buff off.
FibreKing Premium Microfibre Cloths
Single cloths that work wet or dry, so you always have a fresh face for buffing.
Common questions
Do waterless car washes scratch paint?
Not when they are used on light dirt with clean cloths and no pressure. CarPro says ECH2O safely cleans without swirls, and Infinity Wax says light to no pressure at all is needed with Zero Water. Scratches come from the wrong conditions: heavy grit, too few cloths, a cloth used past the point where it is loaded with dirt, or pressing hard. When in doubt, wash with water first.
What are the disadvantages of a waterless wash?
It is not for heavy dirt, mud or thick winter grime, it uses more microfibre cloths than a bucket wash, and on a dirty car it takes longer panel by panel. Wheels and arches that are caked in brake dust still need a proper clean. For winter salt, Infinity Wax recommends its no-rinse method only, with the panel pre-sprayed first.
How do you remove bird droppings without water?
Infinity Wax's method: spray Zero Water liberally on the dropping, lay a folded paper towel over it, spray more product to saturate the towel so it sticks to the panel, leave it to dwell for 5 minutes, then gently wipe it away.
Need help?
Tell the TDHQ team how dirty the car usually gets and whether it is coated, and we will tell you whether a waterless or rinseless wash will do. You can also browse every waterless wash, buffing and finishing towel and the full Infinity Wax range.
Last updated 15 October 2026.
