Mr Clean AutoDry and "regular" carwash detergent

[y_p_w]

OK-

I've been using my new Mr Clean AutoDry car washing system for the
past few weeks. I noticed a comment in another NG that it might be
possible to use a conventional carwash detergent (rather than the
Mr Clean AutoDry detergent) with the Mr Clean deionized water rinse
as the final step. I tried it last night with Eagle 1 carwash detergent
and it didn't work. The water didn't sheet off like with the Mr Clean
detergent. Perhaps it had something to do with the Eagle 1 product,
which claims to "enhance waxed finishes".

I now have mild spots on my finish of my 2004 WRX, and the thing didn't
completely dry overnight. The water spotting doesn't seem to be too
bad - it looks like it'll come off with a proper washing. There's
something in their detergent that helps the water come off in sheets.
Perhaps there are other detergents that will do the same thing (maybe
Meguiar's Soft Wash?). I can't say that you HAVE to use the Mr Clean
detergent, but the wrong detergent did lead to a bad result in my case.

Another strange thing is that the unit, and water catridges (incl the
refill) are made in China. The trial size detergent is made in Vietnam,
although the refills are US made.

 

[CompUser]

I now have mild spots on my finish of my 2004 WRX, and the thing didn't
completely dry overnight. The water spotting doesn't seem to be too
bad - it looks like it'll come off with a proper washing.

I liked the idea of the spray-suds, and put some
Turtlewax car wash in an Ortho dial-a-spray hose
end sprayer...works good so far. I run the
softened house water thru the hose (since I'm
alone, I'm always under the "minimum flat rate"
consumption anyway), then use three old cotton T-
shirts to dry off. A lot more convenient than a
sponge or brush, for my efforts.

How's the set up on the deionizer cartridge? If
it's resin beads like a home softener, it should
be indefinitely rechargeable with a brine
solution...

Steve
MY04 WRX

 

[Less Ismore]

I've been using my new Mr Clean AutoDry car washing system for the

past few weeks. I noticed a comment in another NG that it might be
possible to use a conventional carwash detergent (rather than the
Mr Clean AutoDry detergent) with the Mr Clean deionized water rinse
as the final step. I tried it last night with Eagle 1 carwash detergent
and it didn't work. The water didn't sheet off like with the Mr Clean
detergent. Perhaps it had something to do with the Eagle 1 product,
which claims to "enhance waxed finishes".

I think you have to use the detergent that comes with the unit. Personally,
I am amazed at how well the system works. But you have to read and follow
the directions. AutoDry seems to work even better if there is a reasonable
coat of wax on the finish; at least, that is my observation. And even with
the initial cost, for me it comes out quite a bit cheaper than using a local
Do-it-yourself car wash.

As far as the components being made in China and Viet Nam; the manufacturer
of AutoDry, P&G, is now a global enterprise. Which seems to have worked for
that company if you have been following their stock prices.

 

[brentlz]

I've had pretty significant spotting when using just the Meguiar's "Gold
Class Car Wash Shampoo & Conditioner" combined with the Mr Clean rinse
on my WRX. Last weekend I used the Meguiar's as normal (rinse, bucket
wash with cotton towel, rinse) to get rid of the big mud clogs & bugs
(hey, a dirty Subaru is in its element , followed by a Mr Clean
soaping(no towel wash) & rinse. Resulted in no spotting...YMMV

Gotta say I do love the Mr Clean rinse...Prior to it I couldn't towel
dry my car fast enough before the spotting set in.

Brent.

 

[Jerry Johnson]

Gotta say I do love the Mr Clean rinse...Prior to it I couldn't towel

dry my car fast enough before the spotting set in.

My wife has always liked gloss black (groan goes here) paint on her
vehicles. And even with my best efforts I could not prevent spotting
when washing the car in the driveway or at a pay & spray car wash.
Even the expensive car wash drive-thru places left drying spots, often
times worse than had I washed the car by hand. I don't pretend to know
how AutoDry works, but the wife's car has never looked better. Not to
mention cutting down the time I spent washing and drying the car by half
or better.

 

[y_p_w]

I liked the idea of the spray-suds, and put some
Turtlewax car wash in an Ortho dial-a-spray hose
end sprayer...works good so far. I run the
softened house water thru the hose (since I'm
alone, I'm always under the "minimum flat rate"
consumption anyway), then use three old cotton T-
shirts to dry off. A lot more convenient than a
sponge or brush, for my efforts.

How's the set up on the deionizer cartridge? If
it's resin beads like a home softener, it should
be indefinitely rechargeable with a brine
solution...

I wouldn't be sure how to do that. I don't believe
these disposable catridges are built for recharging.
I tried soaking a Brita filter in saltwater once, but
the end result tasted like saltwater (surprise, surprise).
I've got some aquarium water softener filters which are
recharged in saltwater.

 

[y_p_w]

I think you have to use the detergent that comes with the unit. Personally,
I am amazed at how well the system works. But you have to read and follow
the directions. AutoDry seems to work even better if there is a reasonable
coat of wax on the finish; at least, that is my observation. And even with
the initial cost, for me it comes out quite a bit cheaper than using a local
Do-it-yourself car wash.

I tried washing again last night. The original spots didn't come out. I
removed the most visible spots with Meguiars cleaner/wax and/or Body Scrub
and some elbow grease this morning. I'll probably just wax the car tonight.
The biggest problems were with the hood and the top of the front bumper. I
left my WRX to dry on an inclined driveway with the front up; the water
somewhat pooled there. I should probably move it to level ground before
letting it dry.

As far as the components being made in China and Viet Nam; the manufacturer
of AutoDry, P&G, is now a global enterprise. Which seems to have worked for
that company if you have been following their stock prices.

I'm not sure why the detergent was made in Vietnam. It looks like it
the AutoDry system is packaged in the US. I've been to China, and have
seen lots of P&G products there. The Pringles cans I bought were made
in either the US or Belgium (go fig).

 

[CompUser]

I wouldn't be sure how to do that. I don't believe
these disposable catridges are built for recharging.
I tried soaking a Brita filter in saltwater once, but
the end result tasted like saltwater (surprise, surprise).
I've got some aquarium water softener filters which are
recharged in saltwater.

"I've got the theory down, it's just the
execution."

8^)

I'm *sure* they are not _intended_ to be
recharged...they want you to shell out another
six bucks, or whatever they go for.

Your Brita was probably a carbon/particulate
filter, and the brine wouldn't do anything but
make it give salty tasting water, yech! With the
resin beds, a rinse cycle is used to wash the
brine from the beads. I had one of those
aquarium deionizer pillow-pouches, years ago,
too...anyhoo, being a cheep bastidge, I'd try
recharging one if I had it. For now I'm
satisfied with spraying the Turtlewax wash on,
and dragging the three old T-shirts over my WRX.

Steve

 

[Ken Gilbert]

Perhaps there are other detergents that will do the same thing (maybe

Meguiar's Soft Wash?). I can't say that you HAVE to use the Mr Clean
detergent, but the wrong detergent did lead to a bad result in my case.

try a light solution of automatic dishwasher detergent. i haven't
tried it with the mr. clean apparatus, but that is my normal routine
when i strip the car for a full surface detail, and the water sheets
off just as it does on the glasses in my dishwasher.

jm2c
ken

 

[y_p_w]

"I've got the theory down, it's just the
execution."

8^)

I'm *sure* they are not _intended_ to be
recharged...they want you to shell out another
six bucks, or whatever they go for.

Your Brita was probably a carbon/particulate
filter, and the brine wouldn't do anything but
make it give salty tasting water, yech! With the
resin beds, a rinse cycle is used to wash the
brine from the beads. I had one of those
aquarium deionizer pillow-pouches, years ago,
too...anyhoo, being a cheep bastidge, I'd try
recharging one if I had it. For now I'm
satisfied with spraying the Turtlewax wash on,
and dragging the three old T-shirts over my WRX.

Brita uses a combination of activated carbon and ion
exchange resin beads. So does Pur, whose parent company
seems to have been bought by P&G as of Aug '99. No
wonder the Mr Clean system says it uses Pur technology.

As for the aquarium water softener pillows - they come
with recharging instructions. I've got other ion
exchange filters (like nitrate removers) which recharge
in salt water. The resin turns dark as it absorbs
the offending substance, and lightens as it's recharged -
the brine ends up turning brown as a result.

 

[Chill]

I bought the Mr Clean system the day after I picked up my new Impreza, just
out of curiosity.

I've found after 3 weeks and 2 washes that it works just as advertised, but
am a bit concerned about replacements/refills.

Am anxiously awaiting results of your experiments guys

FWIW, after (admittedly only) a couple of weeks, I have yet to find anything
I dislike about my new car - I love it.

OK-

I've been using my new Mr Clean AutoDry car washing system for the

past few weeks. I noticed a comment in another NG that it might be

possible to use a conventional carwash detergent (rather than the

Mr Clean AutoDry detergent) with the Mr Clean deionized water rinse

as the final step. I tried it last night with Eagle 1 carwash detergent

and it didn't work. The water didn't sheet off like with the Mr Clean

detergent. Perhaps it had something to do with the Eagle 1 product,

 

[Chris Phillipo]

My wife has always liked gloss black (groan goes here) paint on her
vehicles. And even with my best efforts I could not prevent spotting
when washing the car in the driveway or at a pay & spray car wash.
Even the expensive car wash drive-thru places left drying spots, often
times worse than had I washed the car by hand. I don't pretend to know
how AutoDry works, but the wife's car has never looked better. Not to
mention cutting down the time I spent washing and drying the car by half
or better.

Have you guys ever heard of a chamois?