PHOTOS BY DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Clyde Kamishita's reflection was crystal clear after he washed his car using a waterless process involving an aerosol cleaner.
The way Clyde Kamishita describes it, washing your car doesn't have to be a time-consuming process. And as far as water is concerned -- who needs it? Two towels and a spray bottle are all that are necessary to clean your ride and give it a high-gloss finish.
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jason@starbulletin.comKamishita, a part-time distributor for Las Vegas-based DWG International, only needs a few minutes with Dri Wash 'n' Guard Powerblast and those two towels to illustrate the product's effectiveness. "I could do a Honda Accord in about 15 minutes," he said.
In order to wash a car without using water, DWG Powerblast utilizes 47 ingredients including "wetting agents, lubricants and protectants," according to the company's Web site. In addition, DWG International says its product will "soften and emulsify surface grime, while a specific blend of polymeroxane fluids and hydrophenolic lubricants attach a microscopic layer of exclusive PolyGuard-3® to the surface."
Forget the scientific mumbo-jumbo; just spray DWG Powerblast and use a pair of towels to remove the crud and buff your car to a shine. Shortly after meeting Kamishita for the first time, I watched him do exactly that to my truck in the parking lot of Kakaako Waterfront Park.
Armed with a 10-ounce aerosol spray bottle and the requisite towels, Kamishita quickly sized up my truck's hood and front fenders. As he flicked away some of the gifts passing birds had bestowed on my black Nissan Frontier, Kamishita explained that it's a good idea to remove anything that could scratch the vehicle's paint before starting to clean.
With a few quick shakes of the aerosol can and a cloud of mist, work was under way. Kamishita sprayed only a small portion of the hood each time, replacing the can in his hand with a towel used to remove the dirt with a few effortless-looking circular strokes. The waterless car wash's formulation "basically allows the product to go between the dirt and the paint so it won't scratch ... and the towel picks up all the dirt," he said.
PHOTOS BY DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Photographer Dennis Oda challenged Kamishita to clean the back of his 1994 Honda, which hadn't been washed since it was purchased. Moss and lichen, along with dirt and grime, covered the area. Kamishita sprayed the area, top, left the cleaner sit for a minute, then began to wipe the area clean, center. Bottom, the clean result.
"I think people notice the shine and the feel of the car as a lot better than what they've been using. Once they get this product, they can forget all the other car washes. Basically, this is washing and polishing at the same time."
As Kamishita continued to work on my hood, I started to see my reflection again in areas that had been filthy just minutes before. Each passing swipe of his towel removed the layer of dust and dirt that had accumulated since I had last washed the truck a month earlier. Once he had buffed the area there was no comparing it to the rest of my truck; it was clean.
But before I could encourage him to finish the rest of the Frontier, Star-Bulletin photographer Dennis Oda threw down the gauntlet for Kamishita: get the back of his 1994 Honda Civic clean.
Oda hadn't washed the car since he bought it new eight years ago, and now its trunk was covered with some sort of growing green fuzz. Kamishita looked worried but nevertheless wiped his brow and began to spray. And spray. And spray.
Lo and behold, most of the crud disappeared, with Oda remarking that Kamishita's feat would prove legendary to all who knew about his car and its washing schedule.
Kamishita added that the car could look even better with more use of DWG Powerblast. "The more you put it on, there is a cumulative effect on the paint. It gets real glossy. Usually, it takes several applications."
Which brings up the issue of cost. According to Kamishita, a $22 bottle of the aerosol version of Dri Wash 'n' Guard would allow for application to a compact sedan up to "four or five times." A bigger, nonaerosol bottle of the waterless car wash is available for about $42. Using the applicator that comes with the 32-ounce bottle would yield about 16 applications. The bulkier bottle with a separate applicator is "for people who are concerned about economy," Kamishita said.
"You can use (DWG Powerblast) once a month; some people do it twice a month," he said. "You can do a wipe-down in between if you want. Just use a damp rag to loosen the dirt and wipe it down."
Along with DWG Powerblast and the original Dri Wash 'n' Guard, DWG International offers a line of automotive care products that includes a fabric and carpet cleaner, leather and vinyl treatment, metal polish, tire treatment and oil treatment. Hawaii residents can purchase products from one of approximately 150 distributors in the state to get products immediately.
"I generally have a good number of stuff in my trunk that I can sell," Kamishita said.
If you're not comfortable with buying something out of the back of someone's car, all Dri Wash 'n' Guard products are available by phone. Call 800-820-6893 or order online at www.dwgint.com/shop. The product sells for $21.50 (10 ounces) or $42 (32-ounce refill bottle with 8-ounce spray applicator). Tax and shipping are extra. Call Clyde Kamishita, 598-2673, for information or a free demonstration.
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