People on other forums recommend using Dawn Detergent Dish Washing Soap to wash my ca

[Mary S]

Re: People on other forums recommend using Dawn Detergent Dish Washing Soap to wash m

TOGWT, I love the informative articles you post. May I ask how one would gain access to the Detailing Technical Papers library? I had no success trying to search the internet to find it.

[TOGWT]

Re: People on other forums recommend using Dawn Detergent Dish Washing Soap to wash m

Washing-up Liquids (Detergent)

Dawn® and similar type washing liquids chemistry relies primarily on detergent and surfactant technology. This type of chemistry has advanced to the point that it can be engineered to specific soils (i.e. organic grease) Detergent and soap chemistry and product formulation is a lot more complicated than this, suffice it to say; modern car wash formulations are automotive soil specific.

I would not recommend using a harsh dishwashing detergent such as Dawn® on a regular basis, as they contain a degreaser, although most of them are approx pH 8.0 the other ingredients will tend to oxidise the paint system and emulsify, breakdown and leach out oils found in rubber moulding, trim and the paint system, which causes the plasticizers to dry out and oxidize, causing them to lose their flexibility.

The MSDS indicates that this product contains sodium hydroxide, which is highly alkaline the same ingredient used in engine degreasers to chemically ‘burn’ hydrocarbon oils and grease from engine surfaces (sodium hydroxide) it will severely stain aluminium, magnesium, etc. It will emulsify, breakdown and leach out oils naturally found in your paint, and also any oils you have applied in the way of a polish or glaze.

Generally you should avoid the use of household cleaning products for automotive detailing as they are formulated for an entirely different type of cleaning. [Your car surface and the dirt that gets on it are a lot different from the food soils and dishes that dishwashing liquids clean effectively. We don't recommend them for cleaning your car] [Proctor and Gamble]


An extract from one of a series of unbiased Detailing Technical Papers, a library of educational materials that has become the #1 reference for car care on the Internet

Chances are you'll learn something about detailing if you read any of these; although these articles will not improve your detailing skills, lead to a successful business or change your life. Applying what you learn from it, however, will. That's where your commitment comes in - you need to make a commitment to yourself right now that you will take action on what you learn.

© TOGWT ™ Ltd Copyright 2002-2010, all rights reserved

[eyezack87]

Re: People on other forums recommend using Dawn Detergent Dish Washing Soap to wash m

The only thing about the citrus wash that doesn't make sense is that yes it will strip the wax off but you would still be wise to clay bar the vehicle to remove any unseen contaminants. So all in all, it seems like extra money spent on a product that really isn't necessary.

Depends on the user I guess. I don't bother claying every single month so it could be geared towards people like me. Also, it works great as a polishing oils remover after you polish

[Murr1525]

Re: People on other forums recommend using Dawn Detergent Dish Washing Soap to wash m

If my wax is good enough to survive washing, claying, and paint cleaning, it can stay there....

[Garage Troll]

Re: People on other forums recommend using Dawn Detergent Dish Washing Soap to wash m

The only thing about the citrus wash that doesn't make sense is that yes it will strip the wax off but you would still be wise to clay bar the vehicle to remove any unseen contaminants. So all in all, it seems like extra money spent on a product that really isn't necessary.

[eyezack87]

Re: People on other forums recommend using Dawn Detergent Dish Washing Soap to wash m

As Mike Stoops said, claying should remove the wax but if for some reason you really really have the need to use a wax stripper as your wash soap, do not use dawn, but there are a few soaps out there that claim to remove wax and are car wash soaps. One I believe is Chemical Guys Citrus Wash and Clear. I'm not too sure how harsh it is, but its probably better than Dawn. I've used it a few times before and I couldn't tell if it stripped wax but it definitely took off the dressings on my plastics which led me to believe it did the same for the wax.

But in reality, clay barring is really all you need to remove the wax and if you are doing correction steps, there is not way that you will have any wax left by the time you are ready to do your LSP.

It works pretty well. I bought a gallon just to strip off old wax since I strip/rewax every month. Its a great all in one washer since it produces some sick foam in my foam cannon

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: People on other forums recommend using Dawn Detergent Dish Washing Soap to wash m

Yeah, it just never made sense to me. Thern after I joined the forum. I found out why. So I never use dawn on my vehicles, never.

[Garage Troll]

Re: People on other forums recommend using Dawn Detergent Dish Washing Soap to wash m

I can honestly say that my Dad taught me this at a very young age so I have never let dish soap touch my cars.

Thanks Dad!

[Andrew C.]

Re: People on other forums recommend using Dawn Detergent Dish Washing Soap to wash m

As Mike Stoops said, claying should remove the wax but if for some reason you really really have the need to use a wax stripper as your wash soap, do not use dawn, but there are a few soaps out there that claim to remove wax and are car wash soaps. One I believe is Chemical Guys Citrus Wash and Clear. I'm not too sure how harsh it is, but its probably better than Dawn. I've used it a few times before and I couldn't tell if it stripped wax but it definitely took off the dressings on my plastics which led me to believe it did the same for the wax.

But in reality, clay barring is really all you need to remove the wax and if you are doing correction steps, there is not way that you will have any wax left by the time you are ready to do your LSP.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: People on other forums recommend using Dawn Detergent Dish Washing Soap to wash m

If your car hasn't been waxed in several months then odds are there isn't much wax left on the surface to begin with. Wash with a quality car wash soap and then clay it. The claying will remove the bulk of what's left, if not all of it, and any paint cleaner will speed the balance with no effort at all.

[Bullitt4814]

Re: People on other forums recommend using Dawn Detergent Dish Washing Soap to wash m

So what is the most effective way to strip wax from your vehicle? Will a clay bar remove the wax itself or does it glide over the wax and remove contaminants on top of the wax? Its been a couple of months since my car's last waxing and I want to start from the bare clear coat and do the 5-step system.

[onnfire]

Re: Dawn Soap

Any Soap you use in the kitchen should not touch your car. I know its an old thread, but it bears repeating. Not everyone understands this, as car washes for fundraises always seem to use dawn or some other soap.

[Rick]

Originally posted by xjdmb16a2six
off topic: so you dont have to use dawn before clay baring your car?

No never use dawn or any dish detergent for that matter. Use a high quality automotive car wash and then clay bar. This will remove anything thats on the surface as it is anyways.

[xjdmb16a2six]

off topic: so you dont have to use dawn before clay baring your car?

[Mike Phillips]

Hi Duckman,

Dawn is somewhat famous for it's strong detergent cleaning action enabling it to remove grease from dishes and pans. The idea being if it will remove grease, food and things like cooking oils from your dishes, it will be strong enough to do a stellar job of cleaning your paint before you begin a detailing session.

There is also a certain camp of people that recommend with a zeal, the use of Dawn to wash your car before the application of some paint protectants to insure some company's polymers will be able to bond to the finish.

The problem with using strong detergents to wash your car is that not only do high alkaline, strong detergent soaps like Dawn dull your car's paint and strip off wax/polymer protectants, it also dries out all of the non-paint components such as vinyl, rubber and plastic.

Meguiar's car washes clean effectively, and more importantly, safely, so you don't have to resort to antiquated and harsh methods of cleaning your car, truck or s.u.v.

The finish on this neglected Mercedes-Benz could have been harmed even more than it already was had a strong detergent wash been used on it in it's starting or Before condition.

Before



As you can see, the paint already looks much better after merely washing it with a Meguiar's car wash.


After washing with Gold Class Car Wash Soap



Richness, color and clarity have been increased just by using a high quality car wash soap.My own personal experience tell me washing paint as neglected as the paint on this car with a detergent like Dawn Dish Washing Soap would have made it look worse, not better.

See the rest of this extreme makeover here,

Blast from the Past! - The dead brought back to life!


After












Hope this helps...

Mike