Car washing products

Not Audi specific but I am conflicted (I don't buy the BS) about car washing products.

The question is: what is so special and different about the store bought car wash products versus dish soap?

I keep hearing about how 'harsh' the dish soap is but comparing cooking muck to road muck, I know the road muck is harder to clean. For tar and real greasy stuff I use an orange based cleaner which works much better than anything else. In fact, only the orange based cleaner will do the job. I also use it on my bike, BBQ and any where else grease and grime build up.

Anyway, so why would a car wash product be any less harsh or better than dish washing soap? I am having a hard time buying into the marketing. Soap is soap, pretty much.

TIA

Reply to
Cam Newton
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Dish soap is pretty good at cleaning because it is a rather strong detergent. Dish soap will strip carnauba wax, so if you just had your car waxed, it'll be removed the first time you wash it with dish soap. Most people like their wax to stay on little longer than that ;-)

Also, depending on how good/bad your water is, dish soap may cause more water spots to appear.

Well, it all depends on how long you want your paint to remain as nice as it was the day it left the factory. I suppose you won't see any damage overnight, but over the years there could be a difference.

Car shampoo is better because it's milder and doesn't strip wax (at least the good ones don't).

Cheers,

Pete

Reply to
Pete

Also, dish soap contains loads of salt, thats not going to help!

Ta

Nige

Reply to
Nige

Most car wash products are designed to not only clean, but to take care of any wax you might have already applied.

I have been cleaning Audi's and Porsches for more than 20 years. I have fallen for every gimmick out there for cleaning/waxing/polishing them. If I didn't buy it, my kids and grandkids gave it to me for my birthday or father's day. However, I have bought my last car cleaning tool. It is Mr. Clean's AutoDry car wash. It leaves a spot free surface every time, including windows.

If I haven't washed the car in awhile and it is very dirty, I will first go over it with a car wash soap (Turtles works well), then I will soap it with the Mr. Clean, rinse, and then go over it with Mr. Clean's mist rinse. No need to hand dry. No spots *ever*. Just make sure you do it in the shade.

Water spots are exactly that -- water spots. The Mr. Clean gadget has two filters that filter the water. I've never seen anything like it. It works! Dave

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Reply to
Dave LaCourse

Dish soaps are known to remove wax. To be avoided.

I suggest a car wash soap with Carnauba wax. Progressively, it creates a film, like a wax. MUCH better than expected. And not expensive..

Reply to
Saintor

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