Can I Wash My Car With Just Water?

Regularly washing your car is a low-cost way to protect the paint and finish and maintain its value. But with all the available shampoos, pre-soaks, and conditioners, it can be hard to figure out what products you need to keep your car clean.

You may even be tempted to save money by washing your car with plain water. Can I wash my car with just water?

Yes, you can, but water alone won't effectively remove road oil, salts, asphalts, and bugs as well as formulated cleaning products do.

The soap cuts through substances like road oils but also reduces surface tension. This helps carry away dirt and dust and reduces the risk of swirl marks.Finally, soap reduces water stains.

Continue reading below to learn why washing a car with soap is more effective than just water, along with what to do if you must wash your car with water.

Can I Wash My Car Without Soap?

It's possible to wash your car without soap, but it's not recommended. Soap helps to dissolve dirt and grime into water.

It also reduces friction, which would otherwise cause swirls and scratches on your car during washing.

What if you're in a hurry or want to wash your car but don't have soap? Some areas even prohibit using soap, so it doesn't enter the storm drains.In such cases, you may need to wash your car without soap.

If the car's surface is only dusty, you may get away with water-only washing. Be sure to avoid physically touching the car paint as that could cause scratches and damage to the paint.

Benefits of Car Washing Soap

Using a cleaning agent rather than just water has many benefits, including:

Bug Removal

Bugs and bug splatter are tough to wash off the surface of your vehicle. If left to stay on the car for long, they can form permanent stains and end up ruining your flawless paint job.

The good news is the versatile car washing soaps can break down bugs and bug splatter by neutralizing and releasing their organic acids, thus removing them from the car's surface in seconds.

A bucket of hot water mixed with your preferred car washing soap and a microfiber towel is the best way to clean bugs off your car and keep them off.

Road Chemical/Salt Removal

Plain water won't remove corrosive chemicals or road salts stuck in the frame, or other hard-to-reach areas of a dirty car. But the chemical reaction of 2-step car washing soaps like Touchless 1 & 2 neutralizes the corrosiveness of road chemical/soap.

The same chemical reaction breaks down the bonds that road salt has on the surface of the car, making it easy to rinse with water without needing to put a brush on your paint.

No Water Spots

Water-only washing will leave water spots all over the exterior when you clean your car. Car washing soaps will neutralize and dissolve minerals and salts left behind in unsightly water spot stains, leaving your car's surface clean and sparkling.

Protecting the Paint and Clear Coat

Car wash soaps feature lubricating agents that prevent friction during washing. This prevents your car from scuffs or scratches. You can even run a friction wash without worrying about damaging the vehicle.

To safeguard your car paint even more, go for a pH-neutral car shampoo without abrasives. These usually contain polymers or waxes that serve as lubricants.

The car's shine after the cleaning is another huge concern for many. The good news is some car shampoos include special ingredients that leave the vehicle with a gleaming appearance.

When to Wash Your Car with Just Water

The question here isn't whether you can wash your car with just water, but instead whether you should. As we've seen, using water will only remove loose dirt and debris but not the traffic film that builds up on the car.

Also, water is not a good lubricant. You could cause scratches on the vehicle as you wipe it down with plain water.

On the other hand, soap increases solubility in water, thus allowing you to get rid of all the grease and grime on your car.

That being said, a few circumstances may warrant you to clean your car with water only.

Car Wash Soap Is Too Expensive

A common argument for water-only washing is cost. Vehicle wash soaps can be costly, and good car wash services command a pretty penny.

Some of the best sellers on Amazon range from $15-$35, as shown below:

• Chemical Guys CWS_402_64 Mr. Pink Foaming Car Wash Soap

• Chemical Guys CWS207 Extreme Body wash

• Relentless Drive Car Wash Soap Kit (Gallon)

On the other hand, cheap alternatives like dish soap aren't the best options. These soaps aren't meant for car use and can strip their protective clear coat wax layer.

If you can't afford quality car washing soap, you may be better off rinsing your car with only water to remove dust.

Concern about Health and Environmental Ramifications of Car Soap

Car soaps contain chemicals that can harm users and the environment.

Hydrofluoric acid is a common compound in these soaps, used to break down roadway grime, remove rust, and lighten aluminum. But this compound can be toxic if it touches the skin.

Some chemicals have toxic fumes that can cause respiratory problems, skin or eye irritation, burns, etc.

Most vehicle wash soaps also contain phosphates and other compounds that can contaminate storm drains and waterways.

This will, in turn, harm water quality and aquatic life. Needless to say, using water to wash your car will help reduce soap's environmental and health risks.

Laws Restricting the Use of Car Soap

Depending on where you live, local laws may prohibit car wash soaps from running into sewers. If you live in such a place, you may not have a choice but to rinse your car with plain water.

How Do You Wash Your Car with Just Water?

There are a few methods to get the best results when resorting to water-only car washing. They include using a hose, a pressure washer, and a bucket of water.

Can You Wash a Car with Just a Hose?

You may get away with washing a car with only a hose if the vehicle's surface is not too dirty and you use the proper technique. Here's how:

1. Park in a shade: When washing your car in the sun, you're bound to end up with unsightly water spots and streaks.

2. Rinse the car down: Use the hose to spray the car down, hitting every inch of the vehicle. Be sure to work your way from the top to the bottom since wheels contain the most dirt.

3. Start washing the car in sections from the top down: Grab a microfiber cloth and gently rub the surfaces of the vehicle. Make sure to wash the wheels and tires separately.

4. Rinse and dry: Once you're done cleaning the entire car, use a hose again to rinse your car from top to bottom

Remember that a typical garden hose pumps out ten gallons a minute. At this rate, it will take a hundred gallons of water to hose down your car for ten minutes.

It goes without saying that using a hose to clean your car takes a lot of water.

Can I Wash My Car with A Bucket of Water?

A bucket of water is the most efficient way to clean your car at home. It also minimizes the water you use compared to a hose pipe.

There are three options for washing your car with a bucket. This includes:

• One Bucket Wash Method: Here, you wash the entire vehicle with one bucket of water, thus saving a lot of water. But, you're likely to carry bits of dirt and debris on your wash mitt, which can cause swirls and scratches when in contact with your car paint.

• Two-Bucket Wash Method: The use of a second bucket is to minimize the above risk of damaging your car. Use the second bucket of plain water to rinse the wash mitt before dipping it into the bucket with soapy water.

• Three-Bucket Wash Method: This is an extension of the two-bucket method, where the third bucket is dedicated to cleaning the wheels. This helps to keep a lot of dirt away from the bodywork. You can also opt for a stronger cleaning solution or the dirty wheels.

Whatever method you choose, the procedure for washing your car is the same, as follows:

1. Start with a rinse

2. Then wash the car section by section, starting from the roof as you work your way downwards

3. Be sure to keep the mitt dirt-free before coming in contact with the paintwork

4. Finish with the dirtiest part of the vehicle, which is the wheels

Can You Use Dish Soap to Wash a Car?

No, you should not. Household cleaning agents aren't formulated for use on automotive paint and may strip off the car's finish.

It would be best if you only used dedicated car washing soap, which is milder and designed for use on car paint.

Conclusion

If you don't wash your car often, the accumulation of dirt, grime, oil, and stuff like bird poop will eventually cause damage to your paint.

While spraying on water and rubbing the surface may dislodge some dried mud and light dirt, it doesn't remove stubborn dirt. It may also leave water spots.

Also, scrubbing without soap will leave swirl marks.

So, if your goal is a spotless car, using just water to wash your vehicle leaves a lot to be desired.

Use a mix of warm water and your favorite car wash soap or shampoo for the best results.

Specialized vehicle washing products — soaps, shampoos, etc. — are formulated to be gentle on car paint while removing all the dirt, dust, and grease.