How to Detail Your Car Without a Pressure Washer

There is no getting around the fact that pressure washers are one of the most important tools in detailing. Allowing for high-pressure rinsing of paintwork and hard to reach areas, as well as the application of thick snow foam, I would be completely lost without my trusty Karcher. 

Not owning a pressure washer (and there are many valid reasons for not having one) should not stop you from detailing your car. For this article, I will not be covering ‘waterless’ washing and instead, look at how to detail your car without a pressure washer. 

The process that you can use here will likely depend on the state of your car to start with. The dirtier it is, the more creative you will have to be. 

One thing I will add before I dive in is that not having a pressure washer is not the end of the world. You’re still going to be able to get great results without one. However, they make life a lot easier if you are able to get one by whatever means.

Recommended Products for Detailing Without a Pressure Washer

Like all forms of detailing, there are tools that will help when it comes to a process about How To Detail Your Car Without a Pressure Washer. I talk throughout the page about products you can use, but below I’ve included some of the tools that are going to make your life so much easier.

Hozelock Hose Nozzle

A decent hose nozzle is going to make the process of your hosepipe that little easier to use. What this does is allow you to change the spray of the water to offer more concentrated power where needed and then a wider spray for rinsing.

You don’t need to spend a lot of money on these products and they are built to last as well.

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Hozelock 2292 Hose Nozzle HOZ2292B10
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Hozelock 2292 Hose Nozzle HOZ2292B10
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Chemical Guys TORQ Foam Blaster 

A lack of pressure washer means that you won’t be able to use a traditional snow foam gun needed for several pre-wash processes. However, Chemical Guys have come up with a brilliant product in the TORQ Foam Blaster that makes for a handy alternaitve.



It’s designed to mimic the work of a snow foam gun, but without the pressure washer. Does it have the same effect? No. Is it a good alternative? Most definitely, yes!

Any process or tool that encourages a contactless wash is well worth the investment in my opinion. I know that if I were unable to use a pressure washer, this would be one of my first investments.

Gloria FoamMaster FM 10

Similarly to that of the Foam Blaster above, a good inclusion for detailing without pressure is that of foam pressure sprayer. These can be used with several pre-wash products and even some snow foams as well.

They are pump-action, which then creates the pressure needed to propel the product onto the car. I actually use these on pretty much every car detail that I complete for a mix of wheel cleaner and traffic film removers.

GLORIA FoamMaster FM 10 | Foam Sprayer | 1 Litre Filling Capacity | Exchangeable Foam Cartridges | Pressure Sprayer for Car Cleaning
8,401 Reviews
GLORIA FoamMaster FM 10 | Foam Sprayer | 1 Litre Filling Capacity | Exchangeable Foam Cartridges | Pressure Sprayer for Car Cleaning
  • Effective cleaning: foam has the advantage that it adheres to any surface in the house, garden or of vehicles and can work intensively
  • This loosens the dirt easily and a thorough cleaning effect is achieved
  • In this way, cleaning agents can also be savedVariable foam consistency: the degree of foaming can be variably adjusted in three stages by the plastic…

Very Dirty/Contaminated Car

If your car is extremely dirty, to the point where you can hardly tell the colour of the paint, a pressure washer is needed to safely wash your car. I recommend driving to a petrol station that has a self-service pressure washer. This will allow you to remove any of the heaviest contamination before you touch the paint.

You will need some form of pre-wash to use when at the pressure washer. I like to use KKD Citrus Magic as a pre-wash. I dilute it to about 1:25, so 1-part product and 25 parts water in a spray bottle.

Krystal Kleen Detail Citrus Magic Pre Wash 1 Litre - Suitable for Paintwork, Fabric and Plastics
17 Reviews
Krystal Kleen Detail Citrus Magic Pre Wash 1 Litre – Suitable for Paintwork, Fabric and Plastics
  • KRYSTAL KLEEN DETAIL CITRUS MAGIC was developed from a need for a prewash that would provide a bit more bite to road dirt than our A-KLEEN
  • It also has a pleasant citrus fragrance. It contains a gentle combination of degreasing agents and citrus solvents which help suspend dirt to help…
  • Can be used as a prewash through a hand sprayer or pressure pump

First, give your car a thorough rinse with the pressure washer.



Next, liberally apply the prewash to the surface. Citrus is an active cleaner which will eat away at the surface dirt. If you have a sealant on your car you want to preserve, consider using a weaker dilution of the cleaner.

Leave the citrus to dwell for several minutes.

You could use this time to pressure wash the wheels and arches. Pressure rinse the bodywork. If there is still a visible film of dirt, you should do another round of citrus prewash to remove as much dirt as possible. The more you remove now, the less there will be on the surface when we do a contact wash later.

With the thick dirt now removed, you can head home or wherever you have access to a garden hose.

I realise this does not seem like a very practical way to go about washing a car, but in my opinion, it’s the safest way to go about washing a very dirty car.

Moderately Dirty Car

If your car does not appear extremely dirty, you should be safe enough just using a garden hose at home.

I still recommend using a pre-wash, as this will remove a large amount of dirt before you need to touch the car. Just follow the same process as above – liberal application, leave to dwell, and rinse off.



Any stubborn bug remnants on the front bumper can be removed using a dedicated bug remover. 

Autoglanz Bug Off Citrus Bug & Grime Removal Gel Wax & LSP Safe 1Ltr
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Autoglanz Bug Off Citrus Bug & Grime Removal Gel Wax & LSP Safe 1Ltr
  • Advanced gel based formula for increased contact time
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As usual, it is best to start with the wheels as it gets the dirtiest job done first. Without a pressure washer, you may not be able to remove as much brake dust.

Spray your wheel cleaner on and leave to dwell, then rinse off – this is just to get more dirt off before touching the wheel. For more info on wheel cleaning, check out my article on how to clean alloy wheels.

With the wheels out of the way, give the car another rinse to keep the surface wet.

Fill up your wash water and add your wash shampoo. For this, I would add slightly more than the manufacturer recommends in order to provide extra cleaning power.

For a shampoo with excellent cleaning ability and lubricity, check out Bilt Hamber Auto Wash or Adams Car Shampoo. Check out my full Bilt Hamber Auto Wash Review.



Bilt Hamber Auto Wash Car Shampoo (500ml)
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Bilt Hamber Auto Wash Car Shampoo (500ml)
  • Up to 60 washes from one bottle
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Without a pressure washer, you won’t be able to use a foam cannon, but what you could use is a foam blaster. These work in a similar way to foam cannons; however, they connect to your garden hose. The foam will not be as thick as from a foam cannon, but it may help reduce swirls.

You could also use Adam’s car shampoo in the foam blaster. The Chemical Guy’s blaster is more expensive than the foam cannon but might be a good investment if using a pressure washer is not an option. 

Something else you may want to consider is a hand-operated foam sprayer. They are a bit cheaper than buying a foam blaster and can be used for multiple purposes, such as pre-wash, carpet cleaning and wheel cleaning.

Carry out a safe wash, starting at the top of the vehicle working your way down. After each panel, clean your mitt using either the hose or a clean bucket of water. Wash the bottom panels last, before giving the car a final rinse.

Dry the car using a plush microfibre drying towel taking your time to make sure that no dirt is still on the car at this point. 

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Gtechniq Microfibre Car Drying Towel, Scratch Resistant Microfibre Towel with Ultra Split Fibres, Machine Washable, 60 x 90cm 450gsm, Car Accessories for Car Detailing Kit
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Gtechniq Microfibre Car Drying Towel, Scratch Resistant Microfibre Towel with Ultra Split Fibres, Machine Washable, 60 x 90cm 450gsm, Car Accessories for Car Detailing Kit
  • DRY YOUR CAR QUICKLY AND EFFORTLESSLY – 450gsm super thick short pile microfibre towel absorbs and removes all water leaving you with a spot free…
  • SCRATCH RESISTANT AND INCREDIBLY SOFT – microfibre cleaning cloth constructed of super plush ultra-split microfibres with a soft hem to ensure that…
  • STRONG AND DURABLE – the microfibre cloth is machine washable so you can use this thick and ultra-absorbent car drying towel again and again for…

Protection

It is important to have a layer of protection in the form of a wax or sealant on every car, but especially if you don’t have access to a pressure washer.



The LSP (last stage protection) will provide a smoother surface, which dirt is less attracted to than to bare paint. This will not only keep your car clean for longer but will also make the car easier to clean moving forward.

These articles may be of some help to you:

I hope that gives you the confidence to wash your car even if you do not have access to a pressure washer. Prep My Car is all about making detailing more accessible for everyone, so as always, feel free to get in touch with any enquires!

FAQ

Are petrol station car washes safe?

Automatic car washes are not safe for your car paintwork. The bristles will leave nasty swirl marks in your paint and may cause damage to wing mirrors and aerials. Self-service car washes are a better alternative, the pressure washer is usually quite powerful. It is important not to use the brush provided, as this will probably have been left on the ground and contain grit which will scratch your paint.

You could consider bringing your lidded buckets full of your wash solution and a rinse bucket. Some petrol stations may object to this, but if you go at an off-peak time you should not have any issues. Meguiar’s sell a bucket with a lid that will let you drive to the garage leak-free.

Is pressure washing bad for your car?

No not at all, as long as you use with a bit of caution. Most domestic pressure washers come with two lances, one for cars and one for masonry. Ensure you are using the correct attachment and keep the nozzle about 30 cm from the surface of the paint. If you have areas where the paint appears to be peeling or rust is showing, avoid these areas completely.

Do you need a pressure washer to detail your car?

It's not so much as you need a pressure washer, but it will help. Not only will aid in removing dirt without having to touch the car (contactless) but it allows you to get the most of out things such as snow foam and pre-wash products.

Are pressure washers expensive?

Not always. You can get one of the base models from any of the bigger brands for around £60. For most people, this will be all you will ever need. Professional grade pressure washers can coss thousands in comparison.



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