To clean your car’s exterior, combine ¼ cup of soap with one gallon of hot water and a vegetable oil-based base. Avoid dishwashing soap as it can damage the car’s finish. Use a sponge for the exterior and a stiff-bristled brush for the tires and wheels. Avoid using dish soap and laundry detergent, which can damage the wax coating.
Choose the best car wash soap for different purposes, such as classic cars, eco-friendly cars, and easy washing. Compare prices, features, and pros and cons of each product. Car wash soaps are specifically formulated to remove dirt and grime while protecting the car’s paint. Start with the roof and work your way down using specialized car wash soap or wash wax, a sponge, clothes, and car polish.
When cleaning the car, use a dedicated car-washing soap, as dish or household soaps can contain harmful chemicals. The best car wash soaps and shampoos are designed to be less aggressive on the car’s paint and finish than products meant for other tasks. High-end detailers use Dawn soap to strip old wax off of a car’s finish, but it should not be used regularly due to its drying nature.
Nonabrasive dish soaps are safe to use when washing a car, and soap maker Dawn recommends using its dishwashing soap to remove grease. Start with a detergent cleaner to strip off old waxes and contaminants (Dawn) and clay bar everything, including paint, windows, and headlight lenses. Non-detergent car wash soaps are also an excellent option, as they are usually biodegradable and environmentally friendly.
📹 Is DAWN Dish Soap the HOLY GRAIL of Detailing products ??
In this video I’m using Dawn Dish Soap as a pre-wash / pre-soak soap, 5 way car wash also we use dawn dish soap to clean the …
What alternative soap can I use to wash my car?
Hand soap can be used to wash your car, while vinegar can clean dirt and grime without damaging the exterior. A paste made from water and baking soda can be used to target stains or spots. If you don’t have time for a traditional car wash, alternatives like dish soap or laundry detergent can be used. However, avoid solvents that can damage the vehicle’s coats and protective wax layers. Dish soap can ruin the clear coat, paint sealant, or protective wax on the vehicle’s exterior due to its abrasive formula, which can accelerate the oxidation process, leaving it dull and lacking luster.
What is a good substitute for car shampoo?
Dish soap is the most effective auto wash detergent due to its low paint toughness and ability to remove dirt. If you don’t have a car wash detergent, you can use other options like dish soap, hand soap, baby shampoo, pH neutral shampoo, and hair conditioner. However, it’s crucial to use a dedicated formula car wash soap for the most efficient cleaning. Alternatives to car wash soap can clean your car, but they may not be as effective and can cause damage to the paint if not used correctly.
What should I wash the outside of my car with?
To clean your car, use a specially formulated car washing soap from your local auto parts store, as liquid soaps can be harmful to the car’s finish. Choose a microfiber cloth instead of a sponge or old t-shirt, as these materials may not pick up all the dirt and abrasive materials can harm the car’s exterior. After washing, dry the car with a clean, dry microfiber cloth to avoid water spots. These steps will help maintain the car’s appearance and protect its paint.
What soap not to use on a car?
Avoid using household cleaning agents like hand soap, dishwashing detergent, or glass cleaner on car paint as they are not formulated for use on automotive paint and may strip off protective wax. Instead, use a dedicated car-wash product, which is milder and specifically designed for automotive paint. Use a soft natural sponge or lambswool mitt to apply suds. Remove grease, rubber, and road-tar deposits around wheel wells and body edges using a soft, nonabrasive cloth.
Use a separate sponge for cleaning wheels and tires, which may be coated with debris like sand and brake dust. Use mild soap and water or a dedicated wheel cleaner if necessary. Ensure the cleaner is compatible with the type of finish used on the wheels, as strong formulas may damage the clearcoat used on modern cars. Choose a cleaner labeled as safe for use on all wheels.
What is the best homemade car wash soap?
To clean automobile exteriors, a combination of baking soda, peanut butter, and baby shampoo is recommended. In order to clean windows and windshield wipers, a solution of rubbing alcohol, vinegar, and water should be prepared. To clean leather seats, a solution of toothpaste, rubbing alcohol, vinegar, and linseed oil can be used.
What kind of detergent can I use to wash my car?
Avoid using household cleaning agents like hand soap, dishwashing detergent, or glass cleaner on car paint as they are not formulated for use on automotive paint and may strip off protective wax. Instead, use a dedicated car-wash product, which is milder and specifically designed for automotive paint. Use a soft natural sponge or lambswool mitt to apply suds. Remove grease, rubber, and road-tar deposits around wheel wells and body edges using a soft, nonabrasive cloth.
Use a separate sponge for cleaning wheels and tires, which may be coated with debris like sand and brake dust. Use mild soap and water or a dedicated wheel cleaner if necessary. Ensure the cleaner is compatible with the type of finish used on the wheels, as strong formulas may damage the clearcoat used on modern cars. Choose a cleaner labeled as safe for use on all wheels.
Is Dawn dish soap safe for car exterior?
Dish soap is not an appropriate choice for car washing as it is not formulated to be compatible with car paint. Even detergents like Dawn can potentially damage the protective top coat of a vehicle.
What soap to use to clean car exterior?
Dish soap is a common solution for cleaning a car, but it can be harsh on hands and strip away wax from the paint job. Baby shampoo is another option, gentle enough to leave the car smelling fresh and clean without stripping the paint. It can be mixed with water to create suds, making it a simple yet effective solution. Vinegar is a natural option that can cut through grime and won’t damage the paint job.
However, it’s important to rinse thoroughly after use, as it can leave spots if not fully rinsed off. For best results, you may want to combine vinegar with baby shampoo. Ultimately, the choice between dish soap, baby shampoo, and vinegar depends on your specific needs and preferences.
📹 What Car Soap Cleans the best? | FOAMING PRE WASH CAR SOAP
“What Car Soap cleans the best?” is a question that I get all of the time. If you’re looking for a soap that will do the majority of the …
My thing is I’m starting out. I’ve seen tons of these articles love the content very informative. I’ve notice most you guys have 100’s of different types of everything it is overwhelming to see that and is confusing which soaps to buy and stick with without spending money on products that all work the same.
Bilt Hamber Touchless or Autofoam is amazing. In fact all BH products are very high quality. It’s expensive in the US because of shipping costs but in the UK it’s fantastic value as well as being a phenomenal product. Good to see our North American friends getting to grips with PIR too – far more accurate way of measuring chemicals through your sprayer.
@Josh When I first used Wash Chem 50, I would use it as you demonstrated in the article with out pre-rinsing first, but then I quickly realized that it would often leave a film of dirt behind, making it difficult to dry the vehicle with a blower. I would often have to towel dry the vehicle instead in order to remove the residue, hence why I now perform a pre-soak first then use the pre-wash soap, followed by Mirrior Finish Polishes ” Touchless ” spray on ceramic paint sealant to perform a completely touchless wash and protection.
Hey, Josh! Great article. Are these products something you’d recommend for people who live in cold climates and regularly deal with road salt in the winter? I find using Adam’s mega foam on a weekly wash is perfect, but in this Chicago area the salt can really do a number on my paint. Do you think a pre wash with active foam followed by a contact wash with my Adam’s would be a good idea specifically for winter time salt heavy washes? Loved your articles. Long time subscriber!
Curious… What’s the difference in using active foam and diluting, let’s say 1:100, to get it somewhat pH neutral vs using super foam and diluting 1:150 (or whatever the math is to be similar to the active foam in regards to the 12 and 9 pH levels)? Is the purpose of diluting to become pH neutral? If so, why not use super foam and dilute more, and still get more washes out of your jug. Am I thinking about this wrong? Now that I’m thinking about it, this can be a topic for a new article. Just saying… Lol.
One important thing about panel impact ratio (PIR) is that it doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with the PH, which honestly is making this a bit more confusing than it really is IMO. I’m not familiar enough with Autofoam to know what the PH is supposed to be at a 4% PIR, but there are definitely some soaps that will be at a non neutral pH when using the recommend PIR. It’s actually a much easier thing than it seems and an easy way to think about it or remember it is this: The Pir is nothing more than the percentage of soap that should be in the mixture coming out of the foam cannon and impacting the panel. This is different than a dilution because a dilution only accounts for the solution in the foam cannon container itself and doesn’t take into account the water actually flowing through the hose. The most complicated part is the initial measurement for your pressure washer and foam cannon (because every pressure washer and foam cannon are different). TLDR: The PIR isn’t inherently related to pH. Autofoam may have been formulated to have a neutral pH at a 4% PIR, or it could just coincidentally be that, but that’s just that product and not a rule. A product that recommends a 4% PIR just means that the amount of product you use should be the amount that allows the water in your cannon + amount of water coming out of the pressure washer to make up 96% of the total solution impacting the panel.
Looks like Bilt Hamber Touchless is the beat pre wash at the moment. I just used CarPro Lift this weekend on 2 cars for the pre wash and it removed 0 dirt. lol. I was like What the heck. There was no dirt or anything on the suds that came off the car. Really disappointing to be honest. I used deionized water as well with the MJJC foam cannon.
Do you use the stripping/decontamination shampoo only in the foam cannon, or do you use it for the contact wash as well? I’m looking to buy a stripping/decon shampoo to remove the minerals from bad water spot etchings. Is Gyeon Restart Wash a good option? Unfortunately where I live I cannot find other reputable brands such as CarPro and Adam’s, and those Koch chemie’s are incredibly expensive.
Would you be able to steer me in the right direction to produce better foam from my twinkle star foam Cannon. I have the 1.1mm orifice and have the green works Lowe’s special (1800psi & 1.1gpm). I am using Maguires gold class. My suspicion is that the soap is the limiting factor. Produces pretty watery foam. Any advise?
sweet article bro thanks! i mainly use rinseless but i have been looking to go back to pre foaming i just gave up on it because a balanced soap doesn’t do much as a pre, and i never dug too deep to find a good dedicated pre soap, sounds like super foam is a winner at just pennies a car how could you ever go wrong! in a pinch i just throw some apc in a cannon and while better than a balanced soap i would guess super foam would be much better and obviously cheaper! thanks man!
Add a metering tip inside your foam cannon pick up tube. You can run straight soap, choose the tip fitting your final dilution choice, and never have to worry about dilution ratios internally again. It would certainly modernize this discussion, is more efficient when operating mobile, and leaves that PIR testing comparison of swinging before/after PH behind because there is far less loss of PH cleaning power in the dilution outcome.
Problem with higher PH soap is that it will strip waxes from your car. For this reason I specifically don’t use higher PH in order to retain the protective coatings I apply every 6 months. Griots Garage makes a good foaming soap that is specifically designed to remove dirt while not stripping any sort of protection you have on your car. Works well for me