Washing car with dish/laundry detergent

[matty6660]

I am aware that dish soap and laundry detergent can dull the paint and wax on your car. But I need my car really shiny for an important day tomorrow and I don't have car soap.

I read 1 cup of washing up liquid + 1/2 cup of laundry detergent mixed in a bucket of water is the best ratio for a good clean. Does that sound right?

Coincidentally, I'm planning on respraying my car in the next few weeks anyway so cut the bs.

[so called]

For a brilliant shine a friend of mine always polishes his car with Pledge

[steveo3002]

any petrol station will sell car wash soap ..or they might even have a jet wash too

failing that id just go with a small squirt of dish soap if you must

[traffman]

Usually washing up liquid is used to strip a car of any wax before you re wax or whatever. I think it contains salt. But if your only doing it once . Go for it.

Just dont ask on DETAILING WORLD!

[SV8Predator]

matty6660 said:

I read 1 cup of washing up liquid + 1/2 cup of laundry detergent mixed in a bucket of water is the best ratio for a good clean.

I seriously cannot imagine where you read that!

A couple of squirts of washing up liquid is all that's required, and make sure you rinse it really well to get rid of all the salt in the washing up liquid.

And if you do decide to use laundry detergent, rinse even more and be prepared for a few hour's work trying to get rid of the streaky marks.

Where is Streaky, by the way?

[KissMyRs]

As you're about to respray it anyway, screw it, wash it with bleach.

[matty6660]

steveo3002 said:

any petrol station will sell car wash soap ..or they might even have a jet wash too

failing that id just go with a small squirt of dish soap if you must

I can't go through car washes because of the spoiler lol :S

[MajorProblem]

Turps if your not bothered.

[SV8Predator]

A jet wash is controlled by you! You don't drive through it.

[panholio]

Take it to a hand car wash tomorrow.

[R_U_LOCAL]

so called said:

For a brilliant shine a friend of mine always polishes his car with Pledge

I worked as a junior mechanic/gofer for an F3000 team in the late 1980s. We always used pledge on the race car. Not very long lasting, but gave a good shine.

[matty6660]

so called said:

For a brilliant shine a friend of mine always polishes his car with Pledge

You mean the floor cleaner pledge?

[Superhoop]

matty6660 said:

so called said:

For a brilliant shine a friend of mine always polishes his car with Pledge

You mean the floor cleaner pledge?

I think I've highlighted the clue for you

[FreeLitres]

Just use car shampoo please.

Did you read about the Fairy/Ariel mix on Mumsnet?

[mwstewart]

Given it's going to be resprayed soon wash it with as much detergent as you want, in fact the more the better! It'll help strip off any polish, wax, or silicon residue.

[matty6660]

Just an update

I used a few squirts of suma star commercial washing up liquid in a bucket of water and it worked perfectly. Can't notice any difference from car shampoo. The glossy shine is still there as well contrary to what I thought.

[FreeLitres]

matty6660 said:

Just an update

I used a few squirts of suma star commercial washing up liquid in a bucket of water and it worked perfectly. Can't notice any difference from car shampoo. The glossy shine is still there as well contrary to what I thought.

Are you sure you haven't just stripped all your wax off to reveal the naked paint surface?

[matty6660]

FreeLitres said:

Are you sure you haven't just stripped all your wax off to reveal the naked paint surface?

Not at all. But I'm respraying it in the next few days anyway so I don't care either way.

[rb5er]

You are respraying a "tarted up Rover 25"?

[Wacky Racer]

so called said:

For a brilliant shine a friend of mine always polishes his car with Pledge

I've been using Pledge for over thirty years, (including on some quite expensive cars), never had an issue, great shine, and they smell nice too......

None of this £500 a tin rubbish.