Can You Use Dish Soap To Wash Your Car? ( What And How )

Can You Use Dish Soap To Wash Your Car? ( What And How )

Never wash your car with dish soap. Dish soap is not designed to be used on a car’s paint, claims Consumer Reports. Even a mild detergent like Dawn can remove a car’s protective top coat because it is an abrasive cleaner.

Continue reading, you will learn the right products for washing car, and the best way to wash car.

What Soaps Should Be Used for Washing Car?

The best soaps for washing cars are those that are made especially for the job. The fact that they are made to be used on car exteriors makes them milder than dish soap or laundry detergent. It is always advised to use the recommended amount of water to dilute them in accordance with the product’s instructions for the best results.

What Soap is Safe for Cars?

When washing a car, is dish soap safe to use? No, it’s not. Let’s examine why in more detail. There are many right ways to wash your car, as well as many wrong ways, to do it. Weekly homemade car washes can improve the appearance of your car as well as extend its lifespan. At Meineke, we want to save our clients money while assisting them with the proper upkeep of their vehicles. Using the wrong soap, tools, or techniques can cause more harm than good.

What Makes a Good Car Soap?

Now that you know not to use dish soap to wash a car, what does that leave you with? Other household cleaners, hand soap, and laundry soap are prohibited as well. These soaps can harm your car’s paint because they are not pH-balanced. Simply using car soap will yield the desired results. When you move the soap behind your fingers, you’ll notice that it has more lubricant than regular soap. For the surface of your car, the slick formula is much better.

What Car Cleaning Products Will You Need Besides Soap?

  • Sponge or Washing mitts made of sheepskin or microfiber
  • A brush or additional sponge for tires
  • Multiple buckets – one for soapy water and one for plain water
  • Wheel cleaner
  • Microfiber drying towel, chamois cloth, and/or squeegee
  • Bug and tar remover
  • Wax, either spray or rub-on (optional)
  • Polish (optional)

How to Wash a Car?

Using the correct auto soap for the right vehicle will increase the effectiveness of these steps:

  1. Initially, wash the wheels. The wheels, which will be the dirtiest and need the most scrubbing, can be cleaned with car soap without damaging the rubber. Refill your buckets with new soap and water when you’re done.
  2. Make sure to remove any debris from beneath the wiper blades as you use a hose to thoroughly rinse off your entire car. Unlike other harsher soaps, car soap will rinse more thoroughly.
  3. By directly applying bug and tar removal soap to any stains (such as blood, bird droppings), you can pre-treat them.
  4. Start washing the car from one side. To avoid the mitt accumulating dirt, be sure to periodically rinse it in the water bucket.
  5. Wash in straight lines and refrain from using too much pressure. Swirl marks can be made by circular movements.
  6. Before beginning to soap up the next side, rinse off the side you’re working on. Once more, a good soap will be helpful in this situation.
  7. You still need to make sure to dry your car properly after washing all four sides of it.

What Are the Other Car Washing Tips?

While washing your car may seem simple enough, it’s important to do it correctly. Here are some expert car washing tips to keep in mind:

  • Prior to using car soap, always thoroughly rinse the car with clean water. This will remove any dirt or grime that might otherwise scratch the paint. Allow the water to pour down the entire vehicle starting at the top.
  • Wheels, tires, and the rest of the car’s body should all be cleaned with different sponges. There will be more dirt on the tires and wheels, and you don’t want to spread it across the car’s body.
  • Avoid spinning the sponge in circles. It may cause swirl marks on the surface that are actually light scratches. Move the sponge along the length of the body panels and hood to wash your car properly.
  • Create a lather with the car soap to ensure that there is enough lubrication on the vehicle’s surface. Rinse the sponge in an additional bucket of water.
  • To shine your car, use soft terry cloths or microfiber towels instead of diapers, T-shirts, kitchen towels, or paper towels.

Can You Air Dry a Car After Using Car Soap?

After washing, air drying can leave water stains. Use a car squeegee to carefully wring out the majority of the water before drying your car. After that, wipe everything down with a microfiber towel. The towel must be flat and moved in straight lines only; no circles allowed.

Should You Use Polish And/or Wax?

Only use polish or wax after a car has been thoroughly washed with an auto-specific soap and allowed to dry completely. Waxes shield the car’s paint while polishes add shine. Another wax coat is necessary if water doesn’t condense into droplets on your car’s surface.

Only when used with the right car soap are waxed effective. When people are frustrated that their waxing product only lasts a few weeks, they frequently ask this question. If you use car soap, you should only require seasonal waxing.

If you have any inquiries about car cleaning supplies or methods, head over to your neighborhood Meineke Car Care Center.

Conclusion

When washing your car, never use dish soap. The most crucial thing to keep in mind is that you should always have a protective coating on your car to keep it in top shape and prevent nicks and scratches. Because of this, you should apply a protective coating immediately after using dish soap or wax remover.