What Detergent Should Be Used When Washing a Car?
2 Answers
Main car washing detergents include laundry detergent, dishwashing liquid, car wash soap, water wax, and scratch-free car wash products. The main classifications and steps for car washing are as follows: Main Classifications: Dishwashing liquid car wash; Laundry detergent car wash; Car wash soap, etc. Car Washing Steps: Dilute the car wash soap; Clean the car body surface, lift the wipers, first use a hose to draw water from the faucet and rinse the car body.; Clean the gaps; Dry the car body; Wipe the interior of the car, rinse the cloth with clean water, and wipe the central console, dashboard, steering wheel, gear shift, etc. in sequence. After wiping the central console and inner door handles, take out the floor mats for cleaning, and apply wax to the dashboard.
Over the years of washing my car myself, I've picked up some tricks. Special pH-neutral car wash soap is definitely the most reliable choice. Brands like Turtle Wax and Meguiar's available in supermarkets are quite good—they don't corrode the paint and even protect rubber seals. Never use household dish detergent though, as its high alkalinity will strip off the car wax. A friend who works at a car wash told me it's best to use a car shampoo that contains some wax components, which leaves a protective film after washing—you can see perfectly rounded water beads under sunlight. For long trips where the car gets covered with bug splatter or bird droppings, use a bug and tar remover for spot treatment first (remember to wear gloves). Every time I wash my car, I always rinse off loose dirt with a pressure washer first to avoid scratching the paint during scrubbing.
