Do they exist? I live in an apartment building, and so we've got no hose or faucet or any type of running water in the parking bay. Optimum No Rinse has been the solution to many that have the same situation, but I haven't found any wheel cleaners that don't require hosing down. Any of you guys have suggestions? Only things I can come up with is

A) Bringing down a giant pail over water to slosh all over the wheels, substitute that for "hosing down" the wheels

B) Using ONR on the wheels, doing my best to dry them.

Help?

 

Ive detailed entire cars with that lil setup!

 

Care to go into more detail.

 

All you really need is a hand spritzer to wash off your wheel cleaner. Rinse with Optimums No Rinse Wash and Shine and the spritzer. I have pics somewhere on Photobucket. I will try to find and post.
So.....tools needed:
Spritzer
Water
NRWS
Wheel brush
Microfiber

 

A pump sprayer from Home Depot for $20 will solve your problem.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...atalogId=10053

They are like $15 or $20 without the extra stuff in the store. Can get em on craigslist for 5-10 too.

 

^^

I picked up something similar from home depot/lowes

 

Take two buckets to the local self service car wash when it's not busy and you can take your time. Let the wheels cool down. Spray wheel cleaner, hose off wheels, wet down rest of car, fill buckets up, handwash, rinse. Done.

This is what I do in the winter after I've put my own hoses away and shut the water off from the outdoor valves. Pick up a pair of solvent proof gloves from the paint dept at Home Depot. They are thick enough to keep your hands from freezing in the cold water.

 

Over here the pressure on the water guns is so strong I can't fill up my buckets. And they use brushes for cleaning the exterior of the car which I'm a bit wary of so I've stopped going to coin car washes, I'm going to start using ONR now, and a pump sprayer. Thanks for the advice!

 

This is something I will go to Home Depot tomorrow to see if it's scomething I'm going to use this year...

 

The sprayers purpose, in this case is used as a presoftener. Surfaces are first wet with water and NRWS, allowed a slight dwell, then washed in a traditional style w/NRWS. The pre wetting allows the moisture to penetrate the dirt and dust and allow it to prematurely beak up, or soften. The same can be said with wheels, although you are obviously using a much harsher cleaner (if need be) with wheels.
The second picture contains the Ace Powerbrush which is essentials in my details. There really is no substituting its speed and thoroughness, thanks in part to the use of a cordless drill. (But to each their own, and Im probably a little more "aged" in my youth then most of you, so I could use the added benefit. Older then except YOU KNOW WHO, who is a detailing zealot)
Theres not a lot of creativity needed to figure out what to do here,
Spray the cool wheels down
Apply cleaner
Agitate with a wheel safe brush
Add NRWS to sprayer, give it a few pumps
And rinse!
Dry and apply a spray sealant if desired.
(Note, you may want a small bucket of water to rinse your brush out in)

All said and done!!

 

Patrick is my hero

 

wow great details with just one bucket of water, i couldnt make my car look that good with an unlimited supply lol

 

so you detil the outside of the car with only a bucket of water and the pump

 

No thats not an everyday event. Thats my solution when I have no access to water.
However, if the car is just dusty and needs a detail, its an appropriate course of action also.

 

I picked up my sprayer from Patrick aka Exceldetail, just used it today again.

I got no hose or garage too...

It's the best solution I can get but just requires a lil more caution, pre-soak and time on my part.

 

Bah, sure you could. Azine is a great place to learn the ropes. All of us on here had to start somewhere......

 

Amen to that! this place is great to get questions answered or help with any detailing needs.

and yes the sprayer and ONRWS is a great great combo!

 

Thanks for the explanation, I use ONR, works great on everything.