Auto Detailing and Appearance Share tips and tricks on how to make your Third Gen shine! Get opinions on products or how something tasteful looks on your Chevrolet Camaro or Pontiac Firebird.

what household products are good for washing your car

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 02-25-2001, 01:53 PM
  #1  
Senior Member

Thread Starter
 
KS91Z28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Gardner, KS
Posts: 686
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
what household products are good for washing your car

I've heard that you shouldn't use dishwashing liquid. What can you use?
Old 02-25-2001, 02:42 PM
  #2  
Moderator

 
Vader's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 19,369
Received 219 Likes on 179 Posts
Most household cleaners are very caustic and/or have a high surficant content. Some had a base that will leave a residue. The best thing to use is a soap designed for auto washing. They are very mild and have a minimum chealate/surficant content, and rinse well in cold water.

Some dishwashing detergent will strip wax and leave a residue that is almost impossible to rinse off. Unless you are planning to repaint the car and want to strip it clean, avoid this soap on the finish.

If you are cleaning parts, on the other hand, dishwashing or laundry detergent does a very good job of stripping greasy deposits and oil film. Just plan to rinse thoruoghly and don't expect the surface to remain shiney when it dries.

------------------
Later,
Vader
------------------
"No matter how hard you try you can't stop us now..."
Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0
Old 02-25-2001, 02:49 PM
  #3  
Member
 
Da91Bird's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Atlanta, GA - USA
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Get a good car wash liquid. I recommend Zip Wax, by Turtle Wax. It's cheap and leaves a good, one step shine.
Old 02-25-2001, 03:28 PM
  #4  
Senior Member

Thread Starter
 
KS91Z28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Gardner, KS
Posts: 686
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks guys, but I'm a little low on cash right now. That's why I was looking for something around the house that would be safe to use on the car, but Vader made it sound like there isn't really anything around the house that would be safe. So it looks like I'll just be using plain old water for now.
Old 02-25-2001, 04:53 PM
  #5  
Junior Member
 
Dsaint's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: New York
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Sorry to say this dude but you sound pretty poor.
Old 02-27-2001, 10:32 PM
  #6  
Senior Member

 
zee28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: US
Posts: 581
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 86 iroc
Engine: 305
you can get car wash soap cheaper then dawn.Your better off to use only water then any dish soap.

------------------
~mike~86 IROC-Z
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
specialized
TPI
27
06-18-2022 09:26 AM
Linson
Auto Detailing and Appearance
40
08-21-2015 02:12 PM
MY87LT
Transmissions and Drivetrain
12
08-17-2015 08:43 AM
kyleb24
Camaros for Sale
2
08-15-2015 08:24 AM
bryan623
Auto Detailing and Appearance
2
08-10-2015 11:33 AM



Quick Reply: what household products are good for washing your car



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:46 PM.