Starting a detailed business is not as simple as it used to be. Increased environmental regulations are forcing old car washing methods into decline. A detailer can no longer take out a soapy pressure washer and shoot a car. In fact, many newcomers to the industry learn the hard way when local authorities impose hefty fines when they are caught cleaning a car without water recovery mats.

Fortunately, the car care industry has made significant improvements to its product offerings, allowing retailers to comply with the regulations. One major advance is the introduction of waterless car wash products. These formulas allow a detailer to safely clean and protect a vehicle without allowing a drop of water to reach the ground. For obvious reasons this is of great benefit to the environment. In the past, retailers simply let their wastewater flow directly into the environment. Brake dust, phosphates, oils, and other contaminants quickly polluted local waterways and wreaked havoc on aquatic life. However, these products not only save the planet, but also make life easier for retailers in other ways.

A waterless car wash frees the detailer from having to transport a large tank of water. This, in turn, also improves gas mileage and allows them to maneuver around their local town with much more freedom. Previously, retailers would find a local source of distilled or deionized water and fill it up every morning. This is not only inconvenient, but it actually costs money to buy this type of water.

Additionally, many of today’s waterless car wash products integrate synthetic or natural protective agents, such as polymers or carnauba wax, that will give customers’ cars a slick, shiny finish just by washing.

Implementing a waterless car wash at a detailing business is a relatively straightforward process. First of all, you need to find the product that best suits your needs. Many leading manufacturers offer their products in a concentrated form, resulting in greater cost savings compared to the RTU (ready to use) product. You’ll also want to keep a large stock of microfiber towels, as these are necessary to properly use a waterless product.

Last, and perhaps most important, is the fact that the term ‘waterless’ is foreign to many consumers and they need education on how the products actually work. For example, show them a demo ahead of time so they have a proper understanding that the products will not harm the vehicle’s finish. Show them some past customer cars you’ve done or offer testimonials. As time goes by, the waterless concept will surely become the norm. However, until then, you will have to do a lot of helping the consumer to get their buy-in.