Dish washer soap for car washing

[F-150]

I was at school and my friend said he washes his family's cars with dishwashing soap. And he said his dad told him to and he's been doin it for years! I told him how bad it was to use it and he said I've always thought it was okay and his friend was next to him saying he's been using dishwashing soap too. After school I looked at his truck and it was covered in swirl marks and scratches and no wax whatsoever. Along with the roughest surface imaginable. I showed him the difference between his and mine but he said since his is his dad's he doesn't care. How'd so many people get such bad information?

[rusty bumper]

I believe people like this are the norm, and not the exception.

I hate to admit it, but I used to use it too. We even used Tide a way on back yonder.

We just didn't know any better at the time!

Thank goodness for Meguiars and MOL!

[benhui86]

in this world theres 2 kinds of ppl.... car crazy and normal.... we just happen to be the not so normal ones...

[travisdecpn]

I remember the Ford dealership telling my mom to only use Joy on her Grand Marquis. I'm still laughing 11 years later.

[Bama]

My parents had a 1980 Ford Fairmont years ago. It was washed with Joy for years. The clear coat eventually broke down, and in places, the paint became damaged beneath the clear coat.

There are too many quality and virtually, inexpensive, car washes on the market today to be using dishwashing detergant. Joy and Dawn are made for removing oils and grease. They aren't made for automotive finishes. I leave the Dawn, where it belongs, in the kitchen. Just my .02.

[Tim Lingor]

Originally posted by Bama
My parents had a 1980 Ford Fairmont years ago. It was washed with Joy for years. The clear coat eventually broke down, and in places, the paint became damaged beneath the clear coat.

There are too many quality and virtually, inexpensive, car washes on the market today to be using dishwashing detergant. Joy and Dawn are made for removing oils and grease. They aren't made for automotive finishes. I leave the Dawn, where it belongs, in the kitchen. Just my .02.

Many think it is just fine to use dish soap etc for washing their cars!

I am so glad that Meguiar's offers this site as well as the Saturday Clinics where the use of proper technique and products are taught!!!

Tim

[Accumulator]

Re: Dish washer soap for car washing

Originally posted by F-150
I was at school and my friend said he washes his family's cars with dishwashing soap....he said since his is his dad's he doesn't care...

I find the "who cares? It's my dad's.." attitude even more than his use of the dish soap.

[Alex7938]

i have heard of people doing this but for slightly differnt reasons,

a few people have told me that when they changed to Meguiars that they were recommended to use washing up liquid or dishwasher detergent to remove their old wax.

luckily they've always asked before doing this and we tell the to use clay

[Mark2]

A friend of mine has this BMW he really loves, but he has no idea how to treat it. He used to wash it with dishsoap and a dirty old sponge, never dried it, he just lets it airdry in the sun.
I detaled it last spring and told him how to treat it from now on and gave him a mitt, some NXT soap and a few other things too. It looks quite bad again , I think he needs another lesson.

[the other pc]

Originally posted by Mark2
...It looks quite bad again , I think he needs another lesson.

I think he doesn't care.


PC.

[SVT Lightning]

Originally posted by Rusty Bumper
[B] We even used Tide a way on back yonder.

Ha! I owned a '72 240Z in the early 1970's and I remember waxing it with Rain Dance when it first came out. That stuff was a PAIN to get off. About a week later washed the car at Mom's and all she had was Tide......it took ALL the wax off. Man was I p/o'd.

[Mark2]

PC I'm afraid of that He thought I was crazy when I showed him how I wash my car). And he thinks the marring in the paint came from claying it I know it didn't.It looked great back then. What can I tell him, he always starts an argument with me when I'm telling him how he should wash the car. If he doesn't care I won't either, I guess.
I just feel sad for his car

[Bama]

Mark, I understand your frustration, but I would let it go. As the old saying goes... you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.

Obviously, you can't reason with your buddy. Some people are just like that.

[travisdecpn]

Originally posted by Bama
Mark, I understand your frustration, but I would let it go. As the old saying goes... you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.

Obviously, you can't reason with your buddy. Some people are just like that.

I thought the old saying was you could lead a horse to water, but a pencil must be lead.

[SVT Lightning]

Re: Dish washer soap for car washing

Originally posted by F-150
I was at school and my friend said he washes his family's cars with dishwashing soap. And he said his dad told him to and he's been doin it for years! I told him how bad it was to use it and he said I've always thought it was okay and his friend was next to him saying he's been using dishwashing soap too. After school I looked at his truck and it was covered in swirl marks and scratches and no wax whatsoever. Along with the roughest surface imaginable. I showed him the difference between his and mine but he said since his is his dad's he doesn't care. How'd so many people get such bad information?

Mark.....just to show good will and to try and prove your point, why not offer to wash the rig for him. I am assuming you use the GC shampoo. I'll bet that even after just one wash, he will be able to tell the difference in the paint. Just a thought anyway!