The original formula of Optimum No Rinse Wash & Shine (ONR) was created nineteen years ago in 2005 and released to the public in January of 2006. It has since been revised five times making incremental improvements throughout its history. To this day it still the best selling rinseless car wash with over eighty five percent market share. It changed the way we detail cars and stands as one of the most versatile auto detailing products ever created.
The concept of rinseless washing was met with skepticism at first but as more people used it and became exposed to the science behind the product and how it works in the real world it became mainstream in the auto detailing industry. Today it seems like everyone is releasing their own version of a rinseless wash however no one has been able to replicate the encapsulation technology in the original No Rinse formula.
As a company, we’ve spent a considerable amount of time analyzing market data, auto detailing trends, and listening to our professional and consumer customer bases. This has led to the development of focused products like Optimum Power Wheel & Tire Cleaner, Optimum Interior Cleaner and Optimum Waterless Wash in 2023. This year it has led to the development of Optimum No Rinse Hyper Foam, Optimum Touchless Decon Wash and Optimum Hyper All In One (AIO).
While our customers love ONR many of them have asked for a foaming version. They wanted one product that can be used as a rinseless wash, foaming pre-wash, or even as a regular car wash. Some people just wanted the comfort and familiarity of suds or foam, something not possible with the polymer encapsulation technology used in original ONR. The result is a product that can be used in the same ways as the original ONR with even greater versatility.
Optimum No Rinse Hyper Foam is so versatile, the challenge is explaining to customers all the various ways they can use this new product. In addition to the foaming capabilities with foaming sprayers, foam cannons, foam guns, etc., it can also be used in the ways original ONR has been used such as glass cleaning, clay lube, waterless wash, quick detailer, interior cleaning, general cleaning and a multitude of other uses.
Our products are created by our chemist, company owner and CEO, Dr. David Ghodoussi, or “Dr. G,” as he is called by detailers. We’ve been manufacturing and distributing all of our products in Memphis, TN since 2001. Our focus is heavily on product development and creating the best auto detailing products available that are also safe for the environment and our users.
Dr. G spends a considerable amount of time in the lab developing and experimenting with products. He keeps his lab coat hanging on his chair in his office. If the lab coat is missing we know he is working on something in the lab. I’ll often find bottles of experimental products in my office with handwritten labels or he will bring test samples to our detail shop to have us test something he just created moments earlier. Once we perform initial tests in-house we send out samples to some of our professional installers and distributors for further testing and feedback.
We had several metrics for a foaming No Rinse. First, it had to foam. Second, it couldn’t just foam, it needed to foam substantially well, better than anything else available. Third, it had to work and clean as well as original ONR as a rinseless wash. Additionally, it needed to leave no residue behind. We call Optimum No Rinse, NO RINSE because it is a true no rinse wash. It doesn’t suffer from residue buildup that would need eventual rinsing after repeated use. Hyper Foam had to feature this same quality as it sets ONR apart from other offerings.
True to his chemistry background, the first sample Dr. G developed was called No Rinse Surfactant. The first test sample was a clear liquid, combining the original ONR formula with a soap to create foam. It didn’t provide us with the type of performance we were looking for and we had concerns with residue buildup when introducing a standard soap into the formula. He went back into the lab and created more prototypes and we got closer to what we were looking for but the formula wasn’t quite right. I’m sure much to his frustration, I kept telling him we needed more foam. We discussed having the user add higher amounts of product to achieve the desired foam but our goal was to create high levels of foam with less product.
Later that week Dr. G had planned to be out of the office but he came into the office mid-morning, retrieved his lab coat from his office and went into the lab. When he was finished, he brought us a new test sample. He said he changed his plans and came in that day because he had an idea for how he could reformulate the product. He had developed a new polymer surfactant. This test sample is what would become Optimum No Rinse Hyper Foam. It worked brilliantly without any of the drawbacks we had encountered with other formulations. After a few minor tweaks to dial in the foaming and tweaks to the color and scent, we had a product we could put into full testing.
We sent the product out to a network of testers, including international testers to see how the product performed in different regions, with various vehicle types and uses cases. Some of our testers are the same people who tested the original ONR nineteen years ago. We are grateful to have a long list of top level professional detailers and ceramic coating installers, some who have been with us for nearly two decades.
We are extremely pleased with how Optimum No Rinse Hyper Foam has performed and the feedback we’ve received from both our professional and enthusiast customers. We now have an option for users who prefer foaming and surfactant based solutions. Of course the original ONR, ONR Wash & Wax, and Opti-Coat No Rinse will continue to be staples in our product lineup. Original ONR, now on revision 5, is the backbone of our company but we are excited to venture into new product territory with Optimum No Rinse Hyper Foam.
No Rinse Surfactant, the first ONR Hyper Foam Test Sample
The First Batch of ONR Hyper Foam Being Manufactured in our Facility in Memphis, TN
The Final Test Sample of ONR Hyper Foam. This Sample Would Become the Production Product
Drying Time Test, Watching Hyper Foam Create a Hexagon Pattern on the Paint as the Product Dries
ONR Hyper Foam Dirty Sponge Dunk Testing – Before
ONR Hyper Foam Dirty Sponge Dunk Testing – AFTER showing clean sponge
Extreme Dirt Testing ONR Hyper Foam, Control Bucket and Test Bucket
Color and Scent Testing, The Almost Finished Product
Testing Color and Scent at Standard Dilution Ratio
ONR Hyper Foam Foam Cannon Testing on a z06 Corvette
