stripping wax

[01SOMSS!]

kinda dumb Q',but what's the best way to strip wax of a car? I know dawn usually strips wax very well. I yes I know you're not supposed to use household detergent on cars because they fade paint in the long run.

[davey g-force]

Re: stripping wax

Using Dawn or equivalent every now and then to strip wax will not harm anything.

Go for it! Using it too often can dry out your exterior plastic/rubber trims etc. but I wouldn't worry if you rarely do it.

[Murr1525]

Re: stripping wax

The bigger question would be why are you wanting to?

Can have its purposes, but want to have a good reason.

[Blueline]

Re: stripping wax

Using it too often can dry out your exterior plastic/rubber trims etc

Nonsense. Another internet myth.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: stripping wax

Nonsense. Another internet myth.

The real problem with dish detergent is that the vast majority of people never properly dress exterior vinyl and plastic trim. If you never do that, and you use dish detergent all the time, it will accelerate the inevitable degradation of this material.

Since dish detergent is so effective at stripping grease and making things squeaky clean, it will do a very good job of removing wax and protectants. It may not remove 100% of everything on the first wash, but for the average consumer who wants to save a few bucks by washing their car at home, and who waxes maybe once a year and throws a bit of tire shine on once a month (maybe), regular use of dish detergent is a terrible idea.

Now, if you want to rewax and fully dress all plastic and vinyl every single time you wash the car, dish detergent is maybe not the horrible monster it is so often made out to be. But there are far, far better and more gentle ways to routinely maintain a vehicle's finish.

It really comes down a "best practices" mind set. But for the odd situation where you want to strip everything and start with a clean plate (no pun intended..... or was there????) then the every-once-in-a-while dish detergent wash isn't going to damage your car. Just don't make it a routine process. There has to be a reason why even Dawn, on their own website, says not to use their detergent for washing your car. If they don't think it's a good idea, why should anyone else?

[davey g-force]

Re: stripping wax

Nonsense. Another internet myth.

If you never do that, and you use dish detergent all the time, it will accelerate the inevitable degradation of this material.

:p

[Blueline]

Re: stripping wax

I have posted this before, however once again...My Dad had a 2000 LeSabre and all he ever used was whatever Mom had under the kitchen sink . His rubber door seals were like new as was the shine on that car when the traded it in couple of years ago. He took good car of his car, in that the seals were always silicone sprayed, bird poop always cleaned, vacuumed, and so on.
Further, Mom washe dishes every day, sometimes twice, and her hands are not dried out.
I would like to see some proof. Otherwise, I will continue to believe it is a myth perpetuated by the internet, and those companies "with a dog in the race". Maybe I will send this in to Myth Busters.

[DogParkGuy]

Re: stripping wax

Why bother stripping wax? Don't see the point.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: stripping wax

I have posted this before, however once again...My Dad had a 2000 LeSabre and all he ever used was whatever Mom had under the kitchen sink . His rubber door seals were like new as was the shine on that car when the traded it in couple of years ago. He took good car of his car, in that the seals were always silicone sprayed, bird poop always cleaned, vacuumed, and so on.
Further, Mom washe dishes every day, sometimes twice, and her hands are not dried out.
I would like to see some proof. Otherwise, I will continue to believe it is a myth perpetuated by the internet, and those companies "with a dog in the race". Maybe I will send this in to Myth Busters.

Care to speculate, then, why Dawn themselves tell you not to use their own product to wash your car?

But you've also proven my point about doing (very) routine maintenance to prevent the negative effects of the detergent. The extreme majority of people don't do what your dad did. Industry studies show that only something like 10-15% of car owners actually even bother to wax their cars!

[Pro01]

Re: stripping wax

Well..that means we're all in that 10-15%...

[davey g-force]

Re: stripping wax

He took good car of his car, in that the seals were always silicone sprayed...

There you go. No wonder his seals were still in good condition.

[k3ith]

Re: stripping wax

Why bother stripping wax? Don't see the point.

You need to know what your about to apply your product over. Often you don't know and the only option is to start clean. Or you do know and know the new product isn't going to bond well, etc. However usually it's a non-issue because your going to be applying a cleaner or polish that's going to remove the wax anyway.