Using Dawn or something similar to wash car

[larry0071]

I've used gasoline as tar removal on paint for 20 years. Never had a reason to try anything else. I would follow it up with wax and be done.

I'm new to this enthusiastic amateur detailing hobby, so I'm open to trying out all of the new products on the market as well as being excited over the much improved finish I'm able to get using these more professional products and techniques.

[Dave6]

Re: Using Dawn or something similar to wash car

One other good use for a Dawn wash is after using bug/tar remover. Most of the ones at the auto parts stores are kerosene with fragrance added, or if you're old school (or pre-historic school, as I am), just buy kerosene and save some $$. I do tar removal before any washing.

That said, kerosene leaves a greasy film that I want to remove before claying or compounding. And the Dawn suds provide enough slip that clay can be used on top of the soapy surface, thereby saving time (and your #34).

[jankerson]

Re: Using Dawn or something similar to wash car

Well said! Yes, this thread has become a bit borderline as far as civility goes and we want to make sure it doesn't go any further. Of course, sometimes it's just a bit tricky to really get someone's intentions across with written words so things can easily be taken the wrong way. Now, Mario knows I'm not picking on him here (heck, we've spoken about this very thing in person) but he sometimes comes across online as being a bit more gruff than I know he intends to be. Kudos to jankerson for taking Mario's comments in the spirit intended!

Kinda got a chuckle out of it all really thinking back.

One thing that I don't miss is getting all wrapped up and putting on a Respirator and goggles to compound cars.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Using Dawn or something similar to wash car

This thread is getting a little crazy. Why can't we just wash cars and live happy little lives?
This forum should be a place where everybody can come together to discuss detailing and our different methods and learn tips and tricks from the pros. No need to question what everybody does, or to start degrading other members practices. If you have a suggestion just calmly present that. No need to try and make some one out to be stupid. This is not directed at anyone in particular, but this mentality spreads. I love this forum, and I think everyone here does, so let's keep it a place of community and learning and get off each other's backs and get back to our detailing!

Well said! Yes, this thread has become a bit borderline as far as civility goes and we want to make sure it doesn't go any further. Of course, sometimes it's just a bit tricky to really get someone's intentions across with written words so things can easily be taken the wrong way. Now, Mario knows I'm not picking on him here (heck, we've spoken about this very thing in person) but he sometimes comes across online as being a bit more gruff than I know he intends to be. Kudos to jankerson for taking Mario's comments in the spirit intended!

Thanks yall!

As for my weigh in on the subject on hand:
Obviously you shouldn't use dawn or any degreaser as a regular wash solution. However, I have used it to degrease cars, but I usually mix it in with some milder car soap as well. It has worked quite well for me removing old wax and contaminates safely before paint correction. Should only have to do this once or twice in a car's life if maintained properly.

Thanks everybody,
Griffith Hawk

Agreed. We've said it before and we'll say it again - a quality car wash soap, whether traditional in-the-bucket, rinseless or waterless, should always be used for routine maintenance washing of any vehicle. But if you're prepping a nasty car for a full correction, then there is absolutely no harm in using something a bit more aggressive to clean the surface. If your preference is for a bit of detergent to help strip things, fine. If you're an IronX fan, fine. If you prefer to mix some APC in with your snow foam type product and let it dwell on the surface in a thick foam dispensed from a foam cannon, go for it. There is no one correct answer here - find the process that works best for you and use it when appropriate.

[jankerson]

Re: Using Dawn or something similar to wash car

Thanks yall!
As for my weigh in on the subject on hand:
Obviously you shouldn't use dawn or any degreaser as a regular wash solution. However, I have used it to degrease cars, but I usually mix it in with some milder car soap as well. It has worked quite well for me removing old wax and contaminates safely before paint correction. Should only have to do this once or twice in a car's life if maintained properly.

Thanks everybody,
Griffith Hawk

That's what I was saying too as nobody is saying to fill up the foam gun with straight Dawn and go for it or put it in straight in a bucket and cover the whole car with it....

I think moderation is the key here, a few drops in a 5 gallon bucket mixed in with car soap will boast the cleaning power of the car soap. I would hope that would be all we want....

Yeah I can see how it could be an issue if people go crazy and use it straight and strong...

I do like Mikes recommendation of using APC though mixed in with the car soap instead.

As far as Tide goes it really doesn't make much since to use it these days as the Car Soaps are a lot better than they used to be and they end up cheaper too in the long run cost wise.

Back when I used to use it the car soaps just plain sucked and just about anything worked better than what was available back then.

[Detailing by M]

Re: Using Dawn or something similar to wash car

It's a discussion, nothing getting "out of hand"

Yes I've been detailing cars since I was very young.

Also use what ever you want, use your Tide, Dawn or what ever you have under the sink.
just don't complain when things go wrong. See it all the time.

[Ghawk]

Re: Using Dawn or something similar to wash car

This thread is getting a little crazy. Why can't we just wash cars and live happy little lives?
This forum should be a place where everybody can come together to discuss detailing and our different methods and learn tips and tricks from the pros. No need to question what everybody does, or to start degrading other members practices. If you have a suggestion just calmly present that. No need to try and make some one out to be stupid. This is not directed at anyone in particular, but this mentality spreads. I love this forum, and I think everyone here does, so let's keep it a place of community and learning and get off each other's backs and get back to our detailing!

Thanks yall!
As for my weigh in on the subject on hand:
Obviously you shouldn't use dawn or any degreaser as a regular wash solution. However, I have used it to degrease cars, but I usually mix it in with some milder car soap as well. It has worked quite well for me removing old wax and contaminates safely before paint correction. Should only have to do this once or twice in a car's life if maintained properly.

Thanks everybody,
Griffith Hawk

[davey g-force]

Re: Using Dawn or something similar to wash car

Mario, you've been doing this for 40 years?

How old are you? Your profile says you're 45...

[jankerson]

Re: Using Dawn or something similar to wash car

Hu? what does that have to do with anything?
Since your talking about the past, I've been doing this since the '70. But that has nothing to do with people using "non" car care products on there cars, that's all I'm saying.

Here's a thread on filthy paint, and no "non" car car products were used to clean this paint up.
http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?59471-Ford-F150-should-be-Filthy-150!!!-Caution-This-might-make-you-sick-jk&highlight=filthy+f150

Same here, late 70's.

The truck turned out good.

I have one coming up soon that's in pretty bad shape, not dirty per say, just really neglected, an 05 Chevy Malibu....

Still has a little shine left from an angle..... LOL

[Detailing by M]

Re: Using Dawn or something similar to wash car

Sure they do these days......

And they do keep getting better, more so in the past 10 years or so, and then even more within the past 4 or 5 years....

I use all Professional car care products and all Megs except in extreme cases when one has to get more inventive....

Very large difference between 20 and 30 years ago and today....




Because that's the way we used to do back in the old days....

Half the time we would just grab the Rotary with a wool pad with some Compound and start from there...... Because it didn't matter and the wool pad and compound would remove everything anyway...

Things have changed though with the clear coat paint systems.

Hu? what does that have to do with anything?
Since your talking about the past, I've been doing this since the '70. But that has nothing to do with people using "non" car care products on there cars, that's all I'm saying.

Here's a thread on filthy paint, and no "non" car car products were used to clean this paint up.
http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?59471-Ford-F150-should-be-Filthy-150!!!-Caution-This-might-make-you-sick-jk&highlight=filthy+f150

[jankerson]

Re: Using Dawn or something similar to wash car

Your description perfectly fits in with our earlier comment above. There certainly are situations where a car is so neglected that you need something a bit more potent to clean it. While our preference is for APC in these situations, it's not uncommon for detailers to do exactly what you describe, or even to spray the car with something like IronX either prior to or after washing.

But we strongly maintain that things like APC and dish detergent be avoided when doing routine maintenance washing on any vehicle. There's just no need for it and it does more negative than positive (stripping of wax and potentially lubricants for window tracks, door hinges, etc as mentioned by the OP).

Mike,

There is no way I would use any of that for any kind of regular maintenance and we wouldn't need to.

The products today are a lot better than they used to be as you well know.

So I could add APC into the car soap from what you said.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Using Dawn or something similar to wash car

In reality, in the extreme majority of cases, an occasional wash with Dawn or similar isn't going to cause any problems with your paint. Yes, it will strip your wax so you certainly don't want this to be your wash soap of choice for routine maintenance.

Only time I use Dawn these days is when I have a severely neglected car that needs a full correction and it's very dirty.

It will strip all of the junk off the car, dirt, wax, everything and leave it pretty clean for the claying step as there won't be as much junk left on the paint for the clay to remove so it does save some time there and clay....

I mix it in with a car soap, it doesn't take much of it to really boast the cleaning power of the car soap so it's not like it's used straight as it doesn't need to be. Works better and a lot cheaper in the long run than using 3 times as much car soap that still won't work as well as a little Dawn added into the mix.

I know I don't want to have to spend 2 hours just washing a car with the so called proper products or some boutique car wash soap when I can cut that time in half or less using something stronger.

I guess we could add APC or APC+ into the car soap instead of Dawn for really dirty cars, but I haven't tried that yet.

Your description perfectly fits in with our earlier comment above. There certainly are situations where a car is so neglected that you need something a bit more potent to clean it. While our preference is for APC in these situations, it's not uncommon for detailers to do exactly what you describe, or even to spray the car with something like IronX either prior to or after washing.

But we strongly maintain that things like APC and dish detergent be avoided when doing routine maintenance washing on any vehicle. There's just no need for it and it does more negative than positive (stripping of wax and potentially lubricants for window tracks, door hinges, etc as mentioned by the OP).

[jankerson]

Re: Using Dawn or something similar to wash car

Washing a car doesn't mean Paint correction.

The act of washing is only to remove the "non-bonded" contaminates. Dawn or anything like it won't remove bonded contaminates.

Fist you wash, then de-contaminate, then paint correction.
These steps don't change.
So why do people try to combine all the steps into one?

I see this all the time "I used (non car thing) and it messed up my car, that's what you get.

Car Care Companys spend every working hour trying to develop "safe" products for cars, yet people go to the hardware store for car care products. Make no sense to me what so ever.

Let the pro's make the products you need and then USE THEM.

Sure they do these days......

And they do keep getting better, more so in the past 10 years or so, and then even more within the past 4 or 5 years....

I use all Professional car care products and all Megs except in extreme cases when one has to get more inventive....

Very large difference between 20 and 30 years ago and today....

Fist you wash, then de-contaminate, then paint correction.
These steps don't change.
So why do people try to combine all the steps into one?

Because that's the way we used to do back in the old days....

Half the time we would just grab the Rotary with a wool pad with some Compound and start from there...... Because it didn't matter and the wool pad and compound would remove everything anyway...

Things have changed though with the clear coat paint systems.

[Detailing by M]

Re: Using Dawn or something similar to wash car

Washing a car doesn't mean Paint correction.

The act of washing is only to remove the "non-bonded" contaminates. Dawn or anything like it won't remove bonded contaminates.

Fist you wash, then de-contaminate, then paint correction.
These steps don't change.
So why do people try to combine all the steps into one?

I see this all the time "I used (non car thing) and it messed up my car, that's what you get.

Car Care Companys spend every working hour trying to develop "safe" products for cars, yet people go to the hardware store for car care products. Make no sense to me what so ever.

Let the pro's make the products you need and then USE THEM.

[jankerson]

Re: Using Dawn or something similar to wash car

oh ****! Tide? Really?
Might as well use ammonia and vinegar, 409, glass cleaner, oven cleaner, bleach.

.... and you people wonder why your cars get messed up.

Gesh, stick to car care products.

there is really no need to do this.
I work paint all the time, no need to strip anything.
Learn how to polish a car.

Not everything is cookie cutter all the time.....

That means easy......

Take a soccer mom or Billy Joe Bob car that hasn't see any soap at all for 3 to 5 years and sits outside 100% of the time and you would want to use something that will cut down the work and time to get it to the claying stage...... And make that easier.

The latest and greatest boutique car wash soap won't likely even make a dent in it, even at 3X Strength unless one wants to spend a lot of time just washing the car....

And that's not even getting into the claying stage....... And the extra time that would take.......