Waterless Car Washing - Is it a Myth ?

Waterless Car Wash will scratch my paint.

Avoiding scratching comes down to technique and common sense.

Make sure you use quality microfibre cloths. When wiping the Waterless Car Wash from the surface of the vehicle use light strokes to pick up dirt. There is no need to get aggressive. Try to "wipe and lift" so that the contaminants are not dragging on the surface of the vehicle.

Use common sense. If you are dealing with a surface that is muddy or sandy, you will obviously need a pre-rinse. You can argue that a pre-rinse defeats the purpose of a "waterless" car wash, but with any method of washing your vehicle, whether it's waterless, rinseless or a hose and bucket...you'll need to somehow removes those heavy contaminants before cleaning the car.

It's not really "waterless" if you have to clean the microfibre cloths in water.

Firstly we need to clarify what "waterless" means. When people first hear the term they automatically think it means using absolutely no water at all. While this would be nice, it's not realistic. Really it means using significantly LESS water than the other methods available to consumers.

So yes, you will need to clean the microfibre cloths. They can be washed by letting them soak in a bucket of hot water with a little detergent. If you have a few cloths, save them all up and do one full load. The average cloth can be washed and re-used up to 50 times. Considering that the average person cleans their cars once ever two weeks, the towels will last you for about two years before disposal.


All waterless car wash products are the same.

No - There are many differences between the waterless car wash products out there. Here are some questions to ask when viewing the vast array of products:

• Water-based or petroleum-distillate based formula
• Does formula contain protective agents (e.g. silicone emulsion, carnauba wax, teflon, PEG, etc)
• Are bottles and sprayers 100% recyclable
• Can the formula be used on both paint & windows
• Are there fragrances or dyes
• Aerosol or pump sprayer

Fuze Products Waterless Shampoo  available HERE

• Promotes a brilliant shine that beads when wet
• Powerful blend of detergents lifts dirt from the vehicle and replaces with protective polymer finish.
• Suitable for paintwork, glass, metals, plastic trim & tyres.
• Neutral pH - does not strip wax, gentle on hands
• Hazard free
• Fully biodegradable

Prices from £4.95

Water Based Degreasers

Water Based Degreasers – The Safer Option

In the not too distant past, industrial cleaning and degreasing products such as Engine Degreasers and Parts Cleaners would have been solvent based. These products were expensive to purchase, evaporated rapidly, and quickly became ineffective. Add to that the environmental impact of the VoC's they contained and the cost of the specialist packaging and you soon see why companies started to move away from them. The latest water based degreaser technologies overcome all of these problems with no loss of performance compared to the old solvent technologies.

In order to really understand the advantages of today's water based degreasers, it is necessary to have some understanding of the traditional solvent based process.

Solvent degreasing is the process where grease, oil, wax and other surface contaminants are removed from work pieces by using organic solvents (such as trichloroethylene and Kerosene). Solvent degreasing is commonly carried out in metal working industries, and especially in garages and the automotive and related industries, for cleaning things like engines and other mechanical parts that get covered in oils and greases. Most degreasing solvents are, to a greater or lesser extent, harmful to health and therefore require some form of control measures to minimise or eliminate the risk to the user.

The Health Risks are numerous:

• Solvents can enter the body through inhalation, skin absorption and by ingestion of contaminated food or drink.
• Inhalation of solvent vapours is the most common route of exposure as solvents are usually volatile i.e. they can readily give off vapours even at room temperature.
• Exposure to excessive solvents may cause health effects such as:
  • Irritation to the eyes, nose and throat
  • Headaches
  • Nausea
  • Giddiness
  • Dermatitis

Strict guidelines have to be followed when using solvent based degreasers, and equipment has to be carefully designed to minimise the risk to the user. All degreasing tanks should be fitted with covers and have some form of extraction. If degreasing is carried out by hand, such as by using a rag or hand spray, adequate ventilation needs to be provided. PPE such as gloves, goggles or face shields and respirators are required, and an emergency shower and eye bath has to be available.

With recent restrictions on the purchase and use of solvents such as Trichloroethylene and Methylene Chloride there has been a move towards the development of safer, environmentally friendly degreasers.

The Benefits of Water Based Degreasers

• Fully Biodegradable
• VOC Free
• Respirator not required
• Low degree of evaporation
• Universal products – one product is able to clean parts, machines and surfaces within heavy industry
• Removes salt
• Suitable for preparation of painting with water based or solvent based paints
• No effect on rubbers or plastic
• Does not damage painted surfaces

FUZE Engine Degreaser is a water based product that can be used to remove dirt, dust, swarf, oils and soils from a range of surfaces including engines, components, painted surfaces and plastic. It is suitable for parts cleaning, such as auto and machine parts, without ruining the surfaces or causing long term damage

Water based cleaning has many benefits, for the environment, for your personal safety and for your bank balance.

www.fuze-products.co.uk

Cleaning Alloy Wheels

Alloy wheels are the most common type of wheels on the road today.
Most vehicles coming off the assembly line have clear coated alloy wheels, but many drivers enhance their vehicles with aftermarket polished alloy wheels. So, while the wheels may be aluminum alloy, the finish on top is what you have to consider when choosing a wheel cleaner.

Wheels’ worst enemy

Brake dust is made of an adhesive and carbon fibers that come off the brake pad and tiny metal shavings from the rotor. The intense heat and friction generated by the wheels makes this mixture highly corrosive. Because you probably drive every day, more brake dust is constantly being made. Frequent cleaning is the only way to keep your wheels safe.

Step by Step

We recommend cleaning the wheels before washing your vehicle. Cleaning wheels first will prevent brake dust and dirty water from splashing onto a clean car.

1. Rinse wheels to remove loose dirt and brake dust. Use a hose pipe to deliver a strong stream of water.
   
2. Spray one wheel at a time with an alloy wheel cleaner such as FUZE Products “Bleed N Kleen”
   
3. Use a soft bristled wheel brush to agitate the wheel
   
4. Don’t forget the wheel nuts. Brake dust hides wherever it can. Use a small brush to clean around the nuts, While you’re working with the brushes, the wheel should remain wet. The water and wheel cleaner help loosen grime, but they also lubricate the wheel surface to prevent scratching. Don't let a wheel cleaner dry out on the wheel because it will spoil the finish.
   
5. Clean the wheel arches - A lot of dirt and mud is kicked up here as the tyres roll. Use a long handled brush with sturdy bristles to agitate inside the wheel arch Note: Do not use your soft wheel brush.
   
6. Rinse the wheel and arches including the wheel nut holes and between the spokes.
   
7. Always dry wheels. Water spots are unattractive wherever they appear, even on the wheels.

 FUZE "Bleed N Kleen"

 is a powerful "bleeding" alloy wheel cleaner that rapidly removes iron,  traffic film, brake dust and other contaminants from your alloy wheels, leaving a  clean bright finish. It is pre diluted to the correct strength for safe use. Dissolves brake dust and other iron rich contaminants upon contact.