Using Dish Detergent before polish and to clean towels

[surfol]

Hello guys,

I'm new here and I'm eager to learn as much I can about detailing. I have some questions about using Dish detergent on a car. I hope you experts can help me out here

1. Is it advisable to clean a car with dish detergent before polishing, especially if the car still have some old wax in it (to remove old wax)? Or would the polish be enough to remove this old wax?

2. Can washing with dish detergent replaces the use of clay before polishing? 1 bar of clay can get a bit expensive and once they drop on the floor, it's gone. I'm wondering if there are other alternatives?

3. I've read a number of articles that advise to wash detailing towels/applicator pads used for polishing and waxing with dish detergent to remove the polish and wax particles. Is it really OK to do that?

[RedSoxRacer]

Re: Using Dish Detergent before polish and to clean towels

Unless your car is a dish, don't use dish detergent on it.

[RedSoxRacer]

Re: Using Dish Detergent before polish and to clean towels

But seriously, dish detergent is very strong and harsh on car parts. The detergent will remove the old wax, if there is any left, but it will also dry out plastic and rubber pieces and strip away any beneficial oils in your paint. You are much better off using car wash soap, it is plenty strong enough to wash off grime, yet much safer for the afore mentioned rubber and plastic.
There is no substitute for claying. You will see and feel an amazing difference if you clay your car, just don't drop the bar!
For washing your towels, same thing applies as for your car. Use a product that is designed for the material. Regular laundry detergent will work fine, just don't use any fabric softener or bleach.

[Mary S]

Re: Using Dish Detergent before polish and to clean towels

I've read a number of articles that advise to wash detailing towels/applicator pads used for polishing and waxing with dish detergent to remove the polish and wax particles. Is it really OK to do that?

I have been using Dawn before machine washing and even some of the blackest towels get pretty clean. I hadn't heard not to use Dawn on microfibers and pads, maybe I'm wrong.

[Fly Bye]

Re: Using Dish Detergent before polish and to clean towels



Dawn is good on paint, but rather harsh on plastics/rubber. I use dawn on MF's

[Shawn T.]

Re: Using Dish Detergent before polish and to clean towels

I usually pretreat any stains with Shout on my MF and then let them soak in a Dawn solution for a few hours. If I have time, then I will throw them in a regular wash with some white vinegar to reinvigorate them.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Using Dish Detergent before polish and to clean towels

While the odd wash with a dish detergent isn't the worst thing you can do to a car (regular use, on the other hand, is pretty high on the list), the cons probably outweigh the pros. If your vehicle is to the point where you plan on claying and paint cleaning anyway, then those two processes will strip off your existing wax very quickly and efficiently.

But even a harsh dish detergent wash wont' be a substitute for claying since claying removes bonded contaminants - the stuff that regular washing just break loose from the surface.

As for washing, or pre-washing towels in a dish detergent, we doubt that will have any detrimental effects on the towel, and it certainly will remove any paint cleaner, polish or wax residue from them. Then again, so does a thorough machine washing with a good liquid laundry detergent. If you want to do the extra step of hand washing everything before throwing it all into the washer and dryer, go for it. But it's probably overkill.