What kind of car wash detergent is best for washing your car yourself?
3 Answers
For washing your car yourself, it's better to use a neutral car wash detergent, preferably one containing water wax. Here are some relevant details about car wash detergents: 1. Car wash detergents are generally neutral and won't harm your hands or the paint surface. The worst thing to use for washing your car is a strongly alkaline detergent or soap powder, as although they have strong cleaning power, they also cause significant damage. Frequent use of such detergents will quickly erode the glossy finish on the car's surface and accelerate the aging of rubber parts, tires, windows, etc. 2. Car wash detergents often contain natural car wax and ingredients that naturally eliminate static electricity from the car body. These can give the car a clean and shiny appearance and provide a certain elasticity to the paint surface, so that minor flying sand generally won't scratch the paint.
You should choose dedicated car wash soap, those labeled as pH-neutral in supermarkets will do. Don't cheap out and use dish detergent or laundry powder - their strong alkalinity will strip away the wax layer on your car's paint, making it look dull over time. When I wash my car, I dilute the soap in a foam sprayer; only with ample foam can you suspend the sand particles. Never use stiff-bristle brushes as they'll scratch the paint. There's also technique when rinsing - direct the water flow diagonally along the car body to minimize water spots. I wax my car every two months - after washing, the paint shines so bright it could serve as a mirror. My neighbors all say this old car of mine is maintained better than brand-new vehicles.
Don't get too hung up on brands when choosing car wash soap for DIY cleaning—neutral pH formula and cleaning power are what really matter. I usually use that blue concentrated solution, a big bucket for just over ten bucks lasts me half a year. Dilute it 1:10 with water in a foaming spray bottle to cover the whole car. The key is thorough rinsing afterwards, especially around emblem crevices and door handle recesses—dried soap residue leaves sticky water marks. Tires need separate scrubbing with a brush; regular car wash soap won't remove brake dust from wheels. My car frequently hits the highway, gets washed weekly, and after five years the paint still looks showroom-fresh.
