Any difference in car wash products?

[Donald]

Assuming one does not use Tide or Dawn as a car wash is there much difference between the $5 container and the $10 container of name brand of products made as car wash? Soap is pretty basic assuming the pH is right. Pour a couple of capfuls in a bucket of warm water and good to go.

 

[Slick3914]

I think Meguiers Gold Class car wash is well worth the extra couple dollars.

 

[Chris Meutsch]

I doubt it. On the rare once a year time I wash my own, I use an older bottle of Turtle Wax carnauba wash. I probably paid like $4 for it and it's like a 1/2 gallon's worth. Seems to work just fine.

 

[rob1715]

Nope. Most car soaps are pH neutral which means they cannot truly clean you car and remove unwanted contaminants. Best car wash is Purple Power Vehicle and Boat Wash. Then use a quality spray wax like Turtle Wax Ice. This way the vehicle is decontaminated with every cleaning and always waxed and hydrophobic.

 

[B1974]

I've been using Turtle Wax Max Power wash the last few years and it works well for me. It's inexpensive and I also use it on resin patio chairs.

 

[FowVay]

I have found Turtle Wax Ceramic Wash and Wax to be amazing. All of the ceramic products are pricier than the mainstream detergents but they seem to perform far above what I've been used to.

 

[vwmaniaman]

I have been using a Camco wash and Wax product on our campers and it works great. Takes off the tree sap like nothing I have used before. Also pine sap comes off easily too.

 

[RooflessVW]

PH neutral soap is vital to conserving whatever layer of protection you put on the paint. Any soap from a reputable brand works well.

You should not need a high PH soap to properly clean a car. That said, Superior Products Dirt Buster has a PH of 10 and cuts through pretty much anything.

 

[Donald]

So if you are going to wax or apply sealant after wash does it matter if you get a wash & wax product to wash car? Or plain wash product is best.

 

[RooflessVW]

So if you are going to wax or apply sealant after wash does it matter if you get a wash & wax product to wash car? Or plain wash product is best.

If you are planning to apply a LSP after washing then it's best to use a wash without wax.

 

[dbias]

I dont see any difference other than if it smells good lol. I like the smell of meguires gold class or what ever it is, the yellow stuff.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Best car wash I have use is a tbsp or two of Paul Mitchell Shampoo One in a 1/2 gallon of warm water ( I have it on hand as I am not using due to silicone glossifiers and humectants (Polydimethylsiloxane). Somehow its works stupendous as a car wash and doesn't overly dry the clear coat so if you not a "waxer" then you are good to go till the next wash.
In the past I have used Turtle Wax car wash and maybe Raindance- with performance not even worth mentioning.

 

[skyactiv]

Lubricity matters and is overlooked.

Meguiers Gold Class is the best value. It has good lubricity which is what you want when moving a sponge/brush/mitt.. across the finish of a vehicle.

I actually have this on hand now and plan on switching back to Meguiers Gold Class when I use it up.

 

[aquariuscsm]

My favorite was always Eagle One Nano Wash and Wax, but I can't seem to find it anymore.

 

[The Critic]

Not really, but I think most people do not use enough soap so lubricity becomes lacking. The instructions often state xx/gal and most people add a few capfuls with the assumption that it is adequate for a 3-4 gal bucket of water.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Whatever Costo has.

 

[Tifosi]

I use "car care system" as oppose to one single production from one manufacture. I am old school when it comes to car care and I use the Finish First products ( https://finishfirstpolish.com/ ). Another company I trust and would switch to is Griot's ( https://www.griotsgarage.com/ ). I do use Griot's wheel cleaner since Finish First does not have a wheel cleaner.

 

[Donald]

Nope. Most car soaps are pH neutral which means they cannot truly clean you car and remove unwanted contaminants. Best car wash is Purple Power Vehicle and Boat Wash. Then use a quality spray wax like Turtle Wax Ice. This way the vehicle is decontaminated with every cleaning and always waxed and hydrophobic.

Are you saying you do not want to use a pH neutral car wash soap if you want to remove contaminates?

 

[rob1715]

Are you saying you do not want to use a pH neutral car wash soap if you want to remove contaminates?

To remove build-up or road film, a higher pH and surfactant cleaner must be used. pH neutral soaps can only go after loose dirt, and cannot remove harmful contaminants. Any parking spot has oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, etc. drips. Those are on the road as well. When it rains, those oils and contaminants are on the panels. Using a pH neutral soap will not remove this, and eventually they'll become bonded contaminants which can damage the clear coat. If you have light dust after a week or two and want to do a maintenance wash, Megs Gold Class is fine. Blue Coral is fine. But if you want to truly clean the panel to 100% or as close to it as possible, use a high pH soap as mentioned. It doesn't matter if it breaks down wax, which is most petroleum distillates. Use a good spray wax like Turtle Wax Ice and get around your vehicle in 5 minutes. That way your panel is 100% clean and decontaminated and 100% waxed and hydrophobic, always. Scott from Dallas paint Correction made a video on this and is corroborated by professional carpet cleaners, Tennier Sanitation, Corvus. If you have greasy clothes, add a little Borax to the washer. It helps break down the grease by increasing the pH. If you want to clean your vehicle's panel (remove oils and grease which is road film) use Purple Power, and even a shot of Super Clean. Manipulation of pH is desired for targeted cleaning. Acids are more effective when working on minerals like rust spots and calcium buildup. Higher pH and surfactants are desired when removing grease and oils.

 

[RooflessVW]

You do not need a high PH soap to remove grime.

That's what agitation is for.