Latest edition of Consumer Reports says their tests show this gadget is
an effective addition to your car-washing kit

They actually liked it and said it averages out to $1.40 per wash.

Someone bought me the system as a present and after I finished off the initial soap and filter I really have no desire to buy anymore of the soap/filter.

I have seen mixed reviews of it but have to say it has worked very well for me. Especially when used properly. The first time I used it I was disappointed but then I realized that I didn't use the "DeIonized" spray. The car was clean and all. The system worked extremely well removing about 6 months of road salt, tree sap, bird crap, dust, dirt and everything else that had accumulated over the winter. I washed 3 cars in about an hour and a half but they all came out spotted. Then I noticed that the gun had 3 settings. Water, Soap and DeIonized Filtered Water.

Some have expressed concerns that the DeIonized setting is very low power and isn't adequate. Remember though, This setting isn't for washing the car. Nor is it for rinsing the car. The main water setting is very sufficient in pressure to clean the car. The only thing you are doing with the DeIonized spray is rinsing down all the crevaces and seams and other areas where water has settled. Flushing out the LAST of the soap and regular water. Spray down the car as though you were painting it with a spray gun and concentrate on the door seams, areas around the windows, trim, around headlights and grill, the mirrors..... Flush out all the old water. Then the car should dry spotless. Last couple times I have done it according to the instructions I did, in fact, get spotless results. That could have to do with my water here though. Maybe some people don't have as good results because their water is harder than the filter is capable of. Also, you are supposed to change the starter filter after 3 washes and replacement filters when the little window in the side changes. Can't remember if it gets clear or what. Again, read the instructions here.

A few steps to remember.

Rinse the car,

Spray with soap and soak a rag with the soap mixture and wipe down the car in small manageable sections.

Spray with the full power water setting to rinse off the car.

Move to next sections and repeat as above. Then rinse the whole car again with the full power water.

Once the whole car has been washed and rinsed throuroughly then use the DeIonized Filtered setting and simply wet down the whole car concentrating on all those formentioned areas where water might be accumulated. Start from the roof and just let the water run down the sides and through all those seames and crevaces etc. Work your way down the sides, hood, front and back hitting every seam, crevace, joint.....

Your car should dry spot free.

I've found Consumer Reports to be the most qualified objective sources for product testing around. I depend on them for all big $ purchases like my cars, appliances, electronics etc..... They did explain the process and if the final demineraliztion step is skipped, the results will not be good.
I'm going to give it a try but appreciate your feedback folks.

Can anyone tell me how much the started kit costs? And what about all the refills/filters that you have to get later on?

Thanks!

I don't remember the cost but don't recall it being that expensive. When I bought the system I bought 1 filter and 1 bottle of soap. I think I got about 10 washes out of the first bottle of soap and have been able to stretch the filter to about the same. The instructions say that you should replace the starter filter after 3 washes.

One thing that I had happen that I don't know if it is an odd situation. I did replace the filter and as I was using it heard a loud POP. Then water started pouring from the bottom of the gun. I put the old filter back and everything works fine. I still have to get a new replacement filter to see if it was just one of those things or a major problem.

We have a few days of rain coming and my car is filthy. I should be washing it again this weekend or early next week. Will post again any further experiences.

Other than this problem with the filter, as I have posted here before, I have been having great results with the system. I would still recommend it uness that filter issue turns into an ongoing problem.

I am new to the E, 10 days to be exact. However, I have used this on a black vehicle I once drove.

Pros:
I like the fact that I don't have to fill and carry a bucket around the vehicle.
I can wash and do the wheels at the same time. It really works 98%. It cuts washing time by 60%. Lots of flexibility.

Con:
No matter what you do, it some how leaves water stains especially on the windows but not much.

I take great pride in washing my vehicles and waxing them. This product is worth the investment. Hands down.

I do NOT consider Consumer Reports to be the final word on anything beyond MAYBE a toaster. At best they are A data point.

Still seems a lot of gimmickry to replace a bucket and sponge and a cheap car wash like "Kit".

And as far as drying, I dry off the car as I towel the mirror finish onto my Element with a quick and easy and cheap coat of Eagle One Wax as you Dry.
TOTALLY hooked on that stuff with driveway full of mirror bright cars with almost no effort or investment, other than a couple of old towels.

But to each his own. If the gizmo helps make the car washing more fun for you...Go for it..

If the gizmo helps make the car washing more fun for you...Go for it..

I'm have to agree with Honu... Eagle One is amazing when I weigh effort vs results. :)

8)

[quote:4824d5a330=" "]Someone bought me the system as a present and after I finished off the initial soap and filter I really have no desire to buy anymore of the soap/filter.[/quote:4824d5a330]

Ditto -- More hype than help. And as far as CR goes... :roll:

I am a little confused here. Isn't Eagle ONE a wax product?

Does one really need to wax their car with every wash?

I try to wash my car, weather and time permitting, about once a week or every two weeks or so. The MR. Clean product helps me to wash more regularly in a busy schedule etc. There is, I will concede, no substitute for a good hand washing and thourough wax and detailing. But just for a routine wash, Mr. Clean has worked great thus far.

Also depending on the weather etc. Here I have a lot of trees around and when they are dormant we don't have much problem. However, while they are active in their cycles there is a lot of dirt and sap that fall and can, if not damage the paint, make it look really dirty. Also, winters can be bad or not so bad depending on precipitation and temperatures. While temps and snow or rain don't mean much in themselves, when there is freezing that brings out sand and salt. These mentioned situations will require more frequent cleanings. Again, Mr Clean works good if you simply need to wash the grime off your car.

My 90 Lumina has sat in the driveway all summer and been washed once. Last time I washed it it was thick with sap and all the construction dirt that had stuck to it. You couldn't see through the windows and it was filty. I sprayed it with MR Clean Auto Dry and let it sit while did as the instructions said washed section by section spraying then wiping with a dampened sponge or rag. After covering the whole car I then rinsed it again with the wash and soap and then rinsed with the NORMAL rinse spray. Then, with it clean I sprayed it down thouroughly with the filtered water. The car looked a million times different and I only spent about 45 minutes on it. If it can do that good with cars that have been neglected and allowed to accumulate with dirt than what does it do with a normal weekly wash.

The Mr. Clean will not do me much good in the winter as I don't want to be out in the frozen weather washing my car but during these summer months it has been really good for the routine weekly or whatever washes.

So far, with my Element, I washed and waxed about 2 weeks after I got it. I noticed a lot of residue in the grooves etc. due to the rush job they did to deliver it to me so I thought I would give it a thourough once over to get all that off and make sure it had a good coat of wax for the summer the bird droppings and the tree sap..... I have been washing it every couple weeks and will probably wax it again before cold weather sets in for the late fall and winter. While it is still fairly warm out and before we have to turn off the outside water. In the past, with my cars, I have waxed another time, maybe in the middle of the summer. So, maybe a good wax every few months, using a good paste wax actually, or other intermittant spray waxes with the Eagle or other similar, wax as you dry, products might be good also. Mr. Clean, in my opinon, does as it is supposed to. It is great for routine wash. Again, it shouldn't be a substitute or replacement for a good hand wash and wax.

i got one so it would make life easier for me to wash the car but mulling over the costs of the soap and filter. screw that.

shure, the system does a decent job of cleaning but that doesnt mean you dont have to wipe, you still have to do all the scrubbing. plus, even when your done, the water still leaves marks. MINUTE marks, not really noticible but they still are MARKS.

so i guess its good for a quick week end wash but if your looking for show room quality, your better off just going to the coin-op

I was given one for X-mas......gf got it from CAA with her member ship.....its still sitting in the box.....may re-gift it this year.......i'm not into gimmicks....and i prefer a gold old hand wash any day.

Was given this product twice as a gift, After trying it twice (didn't want to count it out after one shot) I threw away the set except for the Wash solution. NBP doesn't dry streak free no matter what.

I have the Mr Clean washer and I think it is great.
I bought it shortly after I bought the E and love it.
I use it every weekend on the E and the wifes Cooper S, and monthly on the Expedition (it only gets weached monthly).

I do a real wax job maybe twice a year and in between I use the Wax as dry.

Car looks great.

I'm pleased with the results, I don't don't get any spots and it dries up nicely. For good results I think you really have to rinse it thoroughly, removing all soap traces and for the deionizing part, just make sure you overlap your spray courses, go from top to bottom and flush out all the nooks and crannies.

Would also help if you have a nicely waxed surface to begin with. I always follow up with Nanowax and it gives a very nice shine. Although thinner than liquid or paste, I don't mind since its really quick and I do it regularily. They also say you can spray it on trim and even glass giving it some water sheathing properties. Good luck.

I absolutely love it. It took me a while to get the hang of using the deionized spray to remove the spots..but it works like a charm. The spayer has a strong enough spray to really get the car rinsed well (and get the spots that I may have missed with my cloth!)

All in all...I really like it.

Was given this product twice as a gift, After trying it twice (didn't want to count it out after one shot) I threw away the set except for the Wash solution. NBP doesn't dry streak free no matter what.It worked fine for me when I used it on my NBP.

I have the Mr Clean Auto Dry kit and Like it a lot.

Its not the be all end all of washing, but is ok if you keep your car decently cleaned most of the time. You still need to scrub lightly with a microfiber sponge when using it during th soap part.

If your car is filthy then you need to do the two bucket thing and only do the deionized water at the end after rinsing.

I use it on my Vette and my E and the results are good.

It is sort of gimicky, but it seemed to do a lot better than just washing and rinsing with the hose. My water has a lot of minerals in it so it did seem to keep water spots from forming.

I have seen water de-ionizer/filters that go for over $400 just for car washing and the Vette guys swear by them. I dont need to go that far though.

Its the minerals in the water that cause the spots and streaks, so anything to reduce them is better.

Overall a decent gadget, but if you are good with the two buckets and your water is mostly mineral free then you probably dont need it.

I bought the Mr clean system when it first came out (2000?) and have been using it ever since. Love it.