Can Dish Soap Be Used to Wash a Car?
2 Answers
Dish soap should not be used to wash a car. Harm of dish soap to the car body: Dish soap has the effect of removing oil stains, which can damage the car paint. Dish soap can also remove the wax on the car body, making the paint more vulnerable to damage. The car itself may lose its original luster or even develop a whitish appearance. Corrosion of rubber protective strips: Dish soap is alkaline and can corrode the rubber protective strips on the car body, causing them to discolor, lose elasticity, or even break. Dish soap produces abundant foam, and combined with the limited space for washing a car, it can make it difficult to clean the car body thoroughly. Precautions for car washing: A car that has been exposed to the sun should not be washed with cold water. After high-speed driving or prolonged exposure to the sun, the surface temperature of the car paint is very high. Washing it with cold water can damage the paint surface, and in severe cases, cause the paint to crack. Washing the car once a week is optimal. If the car body is contaminated with mud, rainwater, bird droppings, etc., the owner should clean the vehicle as soon as possible to avoid corrosion of the paint. Recycled water must be used for car washing; this helps avoid scratching the car paint and significantly reduces the original smoothness of the car body, preventing loss of luster or even fading.
As a regular car owner who frequently washes my car, I'd like to share some personal experience. Using dish detergent for car washing is really not a good idea. I tried it once and found the paint became dry and dull afterwards, making the car look particularly lackluster. Later, a car-savvy friend explained that the degreasers in dish detergent would strip away all the protective wax on the car's surface, and long-term use might even corrode rubber seals and plastic components like wiper bases or lamp covers – which could cause serious trouble if water gets in. Actually, dedicated car wash soap is formulated to be gentler with neutral pH that won't damage the vehicle, plus it contains protective elements. Car washing isn't just about removing dirt; it should also protect the paint from UV rays and other elements. My advice is don't try to save pennies on this – just buy a bottle of professional car wash soap from auto stores. It's quite affordable and could save you much bigger repair bills down the road.
