can you use detergent to wash car

[OErin]

No, you should not use regular household detergent to wash your car. While it might seem like a convenient and inexpensive alternative to car wash soap, dish soap and laundry detergent are formulated to be harsh on grease and grime, which makes them equally harsh on your car's clear coat—the transparent, protective top layer of your paint. Using them regularly will strip away the wax and can degrade the clear coat, leading to a dull, swirled finish that is more susceptible to UV damage and oxidation over time.

The key difference lies in the pH level. Car wash soaps are pH-neutral, meaning they are designed to clean effectively without damaging the sensitive chemistry of your vehicle's paint and any applied protective wax or sealant. Household detergents, on the other hand, are often alkaline and can be too strong for automotive finishes.

The potential damage includes:

• Stripping Protective Wax/Sealant: The primary function of most detergents is to cut through oil and grease, which is exactly what your wax layer is. A single wash with dish soap will remove this protective barrier.
• Accelerating Paint Oxidation: A compromised clear coat exposes the colored paint beneath to the sun's ultraviolet rays, causing it to fade and chalk over time.
• Creating Micro-Scratches and Swirls: Detergents lack lubricating polymers found in car wash soaps. Without this lubrication, dirt particles drag across the paint surface during washing, creating fine scratches.

For a safe and effective wash, always use a dedicated car wash shampoo. The small investment protects the long-term value and appearance of your vehicle.

Product Type	Typical pH Level	Primary Use	Effect on Car Paint & Wax
Car Wash Shampoo	Neutral (pH 7)	Gently lift dirt without stripping wax	Safe for regular use; preserves finish
Dish Soap	Alkaline (pH 8-10)	Cut through tough grease on dishes	Strips wax; dulls paint with repeated use
Laundry Detergent	Alkaline (pH 9-12)	Remove stains from fabrics	Highly aggressive; can damage clear coat
Hand Soap/Body Wash	Varies, often alkaline	Clean skin	Can leave a filmy residue on paint

[LaMaya]

Absolutely not. Think of it like this: you wouldn't use a heavy-duty degreaser to wash your face, right? Your car's paint is just as sensitive. Dish soap is designed to obliterate grease on pans, and it'll do the same to the protective wax on your car. After just one wash, your paint will feel dry and look less shiny. It's a shortcut that ends up costing you more in the long run to fix the damage. Stick with products made for the job.

[DiJulianna]

I learned this the hard way after using a little dish soap on my old sedan. The car looked clean, but the finish lost its deep shine and felt rough. A detailer friend explained that I had stripped off all the wax, leaving the paint bare. The sun quickly made it look faded. It's a false economy. A bottle of proper car wash concentrate costs about the same as a name-brand dish soap and lasts for dozens of washes. Protecting your investment is worth using the right tool for the job.

[VonAllie]

My rule is simple: keep the kitchen stuff in the kitchen. Car paint has a clear coat that needs specific care. Dish soaps and laundry detergents are too strong and will slowly degrade that protection. If you're in a real pinch—like you have bird droppings that are about to etch the paint and you have nothing else—a tiny, highly diluted drop of dish soap might be okay for that one spot. But for your entire car? Never. It's just not designed for automotive surfaces and does more harm than good.

[SanKendra]

Here's the deal from a maintenance perspective. Your car's finish is a system. The paint is protected by a clear coat, and you add a layer of wax or sealant on top of that. Household detergents disrupt this entire system. They are engineered to be rinsed completely off smooth surfaces like plates and glasses, not porous ones like clear coat. They can leave behind residues that attract more dirt. A proper car soap includes lubricants to help dirt slide off without scratching. Using detergent is an aggressive cleaning method that sacrifices long-term protection for short-term convenience.