A car wash soap should be able to clean your vehicle without stripping off the wax or eroding the paint. Read on to know more.
Car washing facility is available at almost every turn on the road. Some offer hand-held washing facility, while others have a drive-through system. However, nothing can beat the joy of washing your beloved car on a lazy Sunday morning in your very own yard. As you hose the dirt off your car, you can see the unraveling beauty of it. But, did you know that the soap could be stripping the beauty of your car by eroding its surface? Choosing the right kind of car wash soap is essential to keep the coating of your vehicle’s surface intact.
How to Choose
A mild cleansing agent is always best for washing your car, as it cleans the dirt gently without damaging the surface. Soaps that offer very rich suds may not be always ideal for your vehicle, as they contain harsh chemicals to form rich lather. These chemicals may strip the wax, or even paint, off your car. However, you may use these soaps when you wish to strip the wax completely before re-waxing. Dishwasher soaps are a big no-no when it comes to washing a vehicle. Vegetable oil-based soaps are natural, and they clean the dirt gently, leaving your vehicle sleeker and shinier. Green or eco-friendly soaps are also good, as they are biodegradable and pose no harm to the car or the environment. Expensive soaps available in the market have some advantages over their cheaper counterparts. These products are pH balanced, meaning that they do not break down the wax on your car. Thus, it may be a wise idea to invest in these products.
Homemade Car Wash Soap
If you are looking for a homemade substitute, then you can find the ingredients right in your kitchen. Add a few shavings of moisturizing cocoa butter bath soap to a gallon of warm water, squeeze half a lemon to the water, and your homemade car soap is ready for use. The lemon cleanses the dirt and grime, while the moisturizing soap adds sheen to the car. Borax is also a good cleanser for vehicles. Add half a cup of borax in a warm bucket of water. Also add 1½ tsp of any vegetable oil based soap. Use this to wash your car.
Reviews
- Optimum Car Wash:
This is a product from Optimum Technologies. It is a pH balanced product that offers moderate lather and gentle cleaning. It is a biodegradable soap and does not inflict any damage upon your car. - Poorboy’s Super Slick & Suds:
This product offers a very rich lather. It has surfactants that encapsulate the dirt particles and clean them gently. It also contains lubricants, which render a sleeker and shinier finish to the car. - Mothers California Gold Car Wash:
It comes from a company that specializes in car care products. It is a concentrated product that offers lots of sud. It is also pH balanced and can be used with cold water. It does not leave any water stains on your vehicle. - 3M Car Wash Soap:
This is a completely phosphate-free soap and offers very high level of cleaning. It does not scratch the surface of the car and removes the dirt gently.
If you intend to wash your car using any of the soaps given above, then make sure you station your car in a shady place away from trees, as sap or leaves falling off the trees may ruin all your hard work. Always use a sponge or soft cloth to clean the car. A high pressure hose will enable you to clean your vehicle without much of efforts.