It’s difficult to underestimate the importance of water when it comes to car cleaning. But what if there’s a hosepipe ban, or you simply don’t have access to a tap and running water? That’s where we have you covered with the best waterless car wash products.
As the name suggests, these products require either a reduced amount of water or no water at all in order to clean a car. Often sold as sprays or wipes, these are simple to apply and really easy to wipe off. Several will even claim to offer a layer of protection on the paintwork.
While a deep clean of your car is still handled best with running water and car shampoo, a waterless car wash is still a viable option for lighter cleaning duties. It’s also worth mentioning the time and water-saving benefits of waterless washes, it’s much quicker to use one of these sprays than to get busy with a wash mitt. So join us in finding the best waterless washes for fuss-free car care.
The best waterless car wash 2025 at a glance:
When does the hosepipe ban start?
Some water suppliers across the UK have already announced hosepipe bans in 2025 with some already enforced. To check whether you are affected by a hosepipe ban, you can use Water UK’s postcode checker which will direct you to your water supplier, to which you can check from there. The current list with dates is below:
Yorkshire Water – A hosepipe ban came into effect from 11 July, affecting its users across West, South, North, and the East Riding of Yorkshire. Parts of North Lincolnshire and parts of Derbyshire are also affected.
Thames Water – Is introducing a hosepipe ban across households in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Berkshire from 22 July. The postcodes affected are:
- OX,
- GL,
- SN,
- RG4, RG8, RG9.
Southern Water – Is introducing a hosepipe ban from 21 July, affecting its users across Kent, Hampshire, East and West Sussex, and the Isle of Wight. The affected postcodes are:
- PO14, PO30, PO31, PO32, PO33, PO34, PO35, PO36, PO37, PO38, PO39, PO40, PO41.
- SO14, SO16, SO18, SO19, SO21, SO22, SO24, SO31, SO40, SO43, SO45, SO50, SO51, SO53.
- RG19, RG20, RG26, RG28.
- SP5, SP10, SP11.
South East Water – A hosepipe ban is taking effect from 18 July for households in Sussex and Kent, but is exempt for those with the firm in Surrey, Hampshire, and Berkshire.
Can I wash my car during a hosepipe ban?
There are ways around washing your car during a hosepipe ban. Our preferred way is sticking the hose from your pressure washer into a bucket of water. If the bucket runs out, simply refill it. Waterless washing is another great idea. The products outlined below demonstrate how good a simple spray and buff can be if you’re getting rid of dust or light dirt.
When it comes to shoots on Parkers, we never tend to use a running water supply as there is often no access to them. Instead, we use some quick detailer or all-purpose cleaner (APC) to get rid of specks of dirt of a vehicle, ready to stand in the limelight.
Who is exempt from the hosepipe ban?
The households affected by a hosepipe ban are those supplied by Yorkshire Water, Thames Water, Southern Water, and South East Water. There are currently no plans for other water companies to introduce hosepipe bans at the time of writing.
Can you use a watering can during a hosepipe ban?
Yes, you can use a watering can during a hosepipe ban. All you have to do is simply fill it up with water at the tap and go ahead with watering your plants.
It’s only appliances that you connect to your main outside water supply that are banned from use, as these use a consistent and large amount of water. These include hosepipes, but if you have a pressure washer, you can stick the hose of that into a bucket of water instead and go from there.
The best waterless car wash in detail
Best waterless car wash for shine
To top it all off, Fukupika makes use of fluoropolymers to leave behind outstanding hydrophobic properties and keep your car protected. When trying it out in our quick detailer group test, I found that it was at its most effective as a waterless wash rather than the former.
It was quite soapy compared to others and managed to agitate dirt more than dust and light freckles on a car's paintwork. I was seriously impressed by its performance, and as it stands, is currently our favourite as far as waterless washes go.
Review by Aaron Hussain
Pros
- Affordable product at around £12 for 400ml of product
- Works excellently as a waterless wash with plenty of soap and agitation to dirt
- Leaves a pretty good finish on the paintwork - and claims to have a layer of protection that lasts up to six-months
Cons
- Smaller bottle size (400ml) than others on the market
The best quick detailer
It provides such an effortless clean in places that will save you getting your wash mitt and shampoo out. And what's more, it left a really pleasant, glossy finish to the paintwork which the others couldn't quite match.
If your car needs a quick spruce-up and don't want to get the pressure washer out, then a bottle of Gyeon's Q2M Quick Detailer is superb for the task. It should ideally be used after a full wash or detail, but we've found it to be excellent as a waterless wash product.
Review by Aaron Hussain
Pros
- It leaves a pleasantly glossy finish on the paintwork after buffing
- Works brilliantly at getting rid of light dirt, dust and little spots on the paintwork
- Is good value for money at around £13 for 500ml
Cons
- Isn't primarily designed to be a waterless wash product - more a quick detailer to be used after cleaning a vehicle
Best waterless car wash for versatility
In weaker ratios, it serves as a top-notch, quick detailer, clay lubricant or drying aid. This is what we tried it with, and in all honestly, it's really good at lifting up dust and little dirt freckles by itself and leaving a presentable finish.
The paintwork on the test vehicle was treated very nicely after using a dose of Auto QD. It was pretty-much spotless after application and buffing, so if you're cleaning a vehicle and after a quick detailer to sign off your work, this is a great option.
Review by Aaron Hussain
Pros
- Works nicely as a waterless wash, provided you dilute it with water
- Leaves an excellent finish on paintwork when used as a quick detailer
- Was a good companion to us when quickly preparing cars for shoots
Cons
- You'll need something to dilute Auto-QD into for it to work as a waterless wash
- Isn't as good value for money as the Gyeon or Soft99 products at £20 for 500ml
Best waterless car wash for wheels
After testing it, we found that with older baked-in brake dust, it isn't much use. However, on lighter specks of dirt which were gathered more recently, it was excellent and works well as a waterless wash - perfect for light wheel detailing during a hosepipe ban.
What's more, it helps dress up the tyres as well, so your vehicle can look surprisingly fresh even without a full alloy wheel detail.
Review by Ryan Gilmore
Pros
- Capable of cleaning wheels without water, provided the dust and dirt is relatively fresh
- Two-in-one product that helps dress up the tyres as well as spruce up the alloys
- The finish is surprisingly nice after a full going over of each alloy
Cons
- Only suitable for wheels instead of paintwork and other exterior surfaces
- Fairly useless on older, baked-in brake dust
Best waterless car wash for value
What's so impressive is the 5.5 litres of product included in this bundle, which also includes a proper spray bottle for applying the product. It promises an easy spray-on, wipe-off application which is excellent for those who value efficiency and time-saving during their car washes.
Pros
- Easy to use, promising a simple spray-on, wipe-off application
- Excellent value for money at 5.5L of product in total for a little over £20
- Leaves a glossy layer of hydrophobic protection, which is always handy on paintwork
Cons
- Don't expect the quality of the wash or finish to match the top performers
Best waterless car wash on a budget
To top it all off, it even claims to smell like candyfloss - which should make application undeniably pleasant.
Pros
- Excellent value for money at merely £10 per 600ml
- 600ml is more than most waterless washes and quick detailers, which can top out at 500ml at this price point
- A candy floss fragrance is claimed - which could be very pleasant upon use
Cons
- Don't expect it to be the most flawless product out of all available options
Waterless car wash FAQs
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How does a waterless wash really work?
Waterless car wash makes use of stronger cleaning agents than car shampoos because the entire cleaning process is condensed into one step, and there's no pressurised water to remove dirt. They'll make use of detergents to break down dirt and make it easier to be wiped away.
Dirt encapsulation is integral to how a waterless car wash works. It'll surround bits of debris, so when it comes time to lift it from the car, it won't be dragged across the car, leaving scratches. Lubrication is core to this process, which is why most waterless washes will make use of lubricating polymers and additives to keep everything slick. -
Is waterless wash more environmentally friendly than using water?
This depends on how many microfibre towels you use in the washing process. While it's true you'll use way less water than a traditional car wash, you'll go through a load of towels as you wipe away residue. These towels will need washing, and you'll more than likely use a washing machine for this task. So, no matter what, you'll be using some water to clean your car.
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Is waterless car wash safe for paint?
Provided that you're careful not to scratch the paint, waterless car wash products are absolutely safe for use on paintwork. You have to let the product agitate the surface dust and dirt a little before wiping it away with your microfibre towel.
Any attempt to drag around bits of hard dirt will result in light scratches, so be careful where you go. For heavy spots of bugs and tar, you're better off going for dedicated bug removers as these are stronger towards stubborn stains. -
How often can you use waterless car wash?
Truth be told, you can use it however much you like. At the end of the day, they are effectively stronger quick detailers, so even daily application can help maintain the paintwork's condition.
You will need to factor in a proper car wash with shampoo at some stage, but when there's a hosepipe ban in place and you just want a quick job, these waterless car wash products are excellent alternatives at maintaining the condition of your vehicle.
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