Mr. Clean Auto Dry works great without their crappy soap!

[pinkslip]

(Cliff's notes in last paragraph for those who already know about the Mr. Clean deal)

Okay, so I know the Mr. Clean Auto Dry system has been discussed before on here (and in the detailing thread most of us never look at), but I wanted to chime in with the opinion of an obsessive detailing guy (me) who found a great compromise.

Firstly, according to PB there is alcohol in the Mr. Clean soap. On this info (I haven't confirmed it for myself- just trusted PB), I did NOT use the Auto Dry soap. I used Meguiars Gold in a bucket. I didn't fill the Auto Dry res, fearing it would clog with the concentrated soap.

I washed the truck as normal with a nice wash mitt, top to bottom, yada yada. Then, when I would normally drive the truck around the block and bust out the mircrofibres to dry, I simply turned the setting to the filter and made sure to get the whole truck. I parked in the shade, brought the wash stuff inside, washed up, and the truck was 98% dry when I came back out.

I've been as obsessive about detailing as PB (apparently) since I worked in an auto boutique in Danville back in high school. I would never use anything potentially harmful for my paint just to save a few minutes. But this filter system (not including their "alcoholic" soap) is great. If you aren't a rich SOB with your own water softening system, this is a perfect substitute.

So the moral of the story is: The filtered water does wonders for drying the truck w/o towels and you don't have to use the crappy alcohol-laden Mr. Clean soap! Just use it for its filtering feature. As others have said, it doesn't work so well for the windows. But you can use nice car soap and be lazy at the same time. And it's cheaper and easier than buying a leaf blower.

Sorry if some of you feel this has been discussed already.

[360glitch]

Interesting concept... I might have to dig mine out and try just using the filter....

[docindahouze]

yeah it a good product. i clean my dads mercedes clean and did a final rinse with the mr clean. and later i went back over just a few spot with a microfibre. i am gonna wash my truck tomorrow.

[Chromelore]

[quote=pinkslip](Cliff's notes in last paragraph for those who already know about the Mr. Clean deal)

Okay, so I know the Mr. Clean Auto Dry system has been discussed before on here (and in the detailing thread most of us never look at), but I wanted to chime in with the opinion of an obsessive detailing guy (me) who found a great compromise.

Firstly, according to PB there is alcohol in the Mr. Clean soap. On this info (I haven't confirmed it for myself- just trusted PB), I did NOT use the Auto Dry soap. I used Meguiars Gold in a bucket. I didn't fill the Auto Dry res, fearing it would clog with the concentrated soap.

I washed the truck as normal with a nice wash mitt, top to bottom, yada yada. Then, when I would normally drive the truck around the block and bust out the mircrofibres to dry, I simply turned the setting to the filter and made sure to get the whole truck. I parked in the shade, brought the wash stuff inside, washed up, and the truck was 98% dry when I came back out.

I've been as obsessive about detailing as PB (apparently) since I worked in an auto boutique in Danville back in high school. I would never use anything potentially harmful for my paint just to save a few minutes. But this filter system (not including their "alcoholic" soap) is great. If you aren't a rich SOB with your own water softening system, this is a perfect substitute.

So the moral of the story is: The filtered water does wonders for drying the truck w/o towels and you don't have to use the crappy alcohol-laden Mr. Clean soap! Just use it for its filtering feature. As others have said, it doesn't work so well for the windows. But you can use nice car soap and be lazy at the same time. And it's cheaper and easier than buying a leaf blower.



thanks for the heads up! I have never tried it without the soap...it never worked worth a damn for me to be honest.

Ill let ya know how it goes when I wash my truck next week!

[pinkslip]

It seems a lot of people have the opinion that you lather the vehicle with the wash mitt and rinse with the filter setting. If anyone reading this is doing that, it explains why you are still getting spotting.

You need to thoroughly rinse the lathered soap off with the full blast tap water setting and rinse all the soapy residue off. Then you spray the clean surface with the de-ionized water.

Just a heads up.

[CPL]

Originally Posted by pinkslip

(Cliff's notes in last paragraph for those who already know about the Mr. Clean deal)

Okay, so I know the Mr. Clean Auto Dry system has been discussed before on here (and in the detailing thread most of us never look at), but I wanted to chime in with the opinion of an obsessive detailing guy (me) who found a great compromise.

Firstly, according to PB there is alcohol in the Mr. Clean soap. On this info (I haven't confirmed it for myself- just trusted PB), I did NOT use the Auto Dry soap. I used Meguiars Gold in a bucket. I didn't fill the Auto Dry res, fearing it would clog with the concentrated soap.

I washed the truck as normal with a nice wash mitt, top to bottom, yada yada. Then, when I would normally drive the truck around the block and bust out the mircrofibres to dry, I simply turned the setting to the filter and made sure to get the whole truck. I parked in the shade, brought the wash stuff inside, washed up, and the truck was 98% dry when I came back out.

I've been as obsessive about detailing as PB (apparently) since I worked in an auto boutique in Danville back in high school. I would never use anything potentially harmful for my paint just to save a few minutes. But this filter system (not including their "alcoholic" soap) is great. If you aren't a rich SOB with your own water softening system, this is a perfect substitute.

So the moral of the story is: The filtered water does wonders for drying the truck w/o towels and you don't have to use the crappy alcohol-laden Mr. Clean soap! Just use it for its filtering feature. As others have said, it doesn't work so well for the windows. But you can use nice car soap and be lazy at the same time. And it's cheaper and easier than buying a leaf blower.

Sorry if some of you feel this has been discussed already.

Thats what I also have been doing with mine. Since I traded my Civic for this truck I had to think of something to save me time cleaning her.

[BlkDCabTaco]

I thought about using a leaf blower since my neighbor uses it but it's too much work. I do have a water softening system but i think there will be water marks if i left the water on without wipeing it with a towel.

[tsl90]

I've used my Mr Clean with Zaino soap in it without any clogging issues. I didn't think the "spot free" effect was quite as good as with their (the Mr Clean) soap, but that might just be my opinion.

Either way I agree the filtered water does help.

TL

[J4RR]

I've washed my truck and my wife's 4runner with that soap and went through one bottle, after one of the last times I used that Mr. Clean soap, I noticed that my truck was slowy loosing its shine and glossiness. (I waxed 2 months ago, bought the truck 5 months ago)
Thanks, for the info I new it was the soap it seemed really harsh like dishwashing soap! It was stripping my wax!!

They filter is great though.

[Pb]

I think the filter cartridges are expensive in the long run. They don't last long enough. I use this water filter system. http://www.autogeek.net/deluxe-filter-system.html