the whole detailing thing

[Perfectlap]

Optimum No Rinse is something in between a full bucket and hose wash and a quick detail with a cleaning spray and towel. You add one or two ounces to a warm bucket of water and with a sponge (after wetting down the car first) you can clean the paint when its too dirty to quick detail. Dry it with a waffle weave towel. You don't have to rinse it with a hose. Before drying off the No Rinse I spray the car with a cleaning quick detailer too lubricate the drying and clean any spots I might have missed. I like FK1 146 or 425 for post No Rinse drying.

You can reuse the dirty water still in the bucket to wash your wheels using a wheel face brush like the Meguiar's Gold Class. I can do the whole No Rinse in 15 minutes without having to get out the hose and I don't get all wet. You can also dilute the No Rinse in a spray bottle and use it as a quick detailer. Last summer I only did a real car soap wash once. And of course I stay away from hand car washes.

I think I saw a foam gun on detailcity.com
I'm considering one myself but with a silver car it rarely looks too dirty. Maybe if I had more than one car like an SUV I would get the foam gun.