Take Two Bottles In To The Shower?

[//j17]

Hi all,
There seems to be plenty of coverage of waxes and polishes but not much on shampoos.

I'm looking for some opinions/recommendations for car bodywork shampoo - what people user/recommend and how may different types are required.

Obviously if your going to spend hours applying wax to your car you need something that won't strip the wax off for the weekly wash but do you need something that DOES remove all the wax to wash the car before claying?

Thanks

[TheDetailDoctor]

Mequiars Shampoo plus is very good.

Available in 1gal containers for about £15 from www.cleanyourcar.co.uk

[belleair302]

During the winter months many people prefer to use a product like Snowfoam, which will lift away most of the grime, before pressure washing the car to remove further dirt. remember to never point the pressure washer nozzle straight at the bodywork, tyres etc.

For a decent wash I like Chemical Guys Citrus Wash and Gloss, but the Bilt Hamber Auto-wash is outstanding too.

At the start of the spring I strip off all the wax using (horror of horrors washing up liquid), then wash again with Citrus Wash and Gloss, before claying , washing again and then polishing, and finally adding coat after coat of wax over a couple of days.

Most of the mainstream car shampoos are very similar in the job that they do, the devil as always is in the detail, the wash, the mitt, the rinse and the drying process.

My top five would include in no specific order....

Chemical guys Citrus wash and Gloss
Victoria Wax Super Soap
Zaio Z7 (If Zaino is your preferred total care package)
Meguiars Gold Class
Bilt Hamber Autowash
Poorboys SuperSlick and Suds.

[PJ S]

//j17 said:

Hi all,
There seems to be plenty of coverage of waxes and polishes but not much on shampoos.

I'm looking for some opinions/recommendations for car bodywork shampoo - what people user/recommend and how may different types are required.

Obviously if your going to spend hours applying wax to your car you need something that won't strip the wax off for the weekly wash but do you need something that DOES remove all the wax to wash the car before claying?

Thanks

As above, use Bilt Hamber Autowash almost exclusively, but there's very little in it between it and Dodo's Born To Be Mild.
I prefer a free-rinsing shampoo, rather than something like Duragloss 901, and others, which leave behind a gloss enhancing look (which in DG's case, I didn't see).
Haven't used the Zaino Z-7, but it is recommended by those who have - but then that's not unlike me and all things Bilt Hamber!

If you are looking to strip the wax, a wee bit more safely, then again, Bilt Hamber does the job in the guise of Surfex HD, at 10-15% strength, sprayed on with a manual sprayer (garden plant type). In fact, 5% is good for bugs, door shuts, and pre-wash treatment, and 10% for wheels and engine bay, with 20% if a bit more power is required for very grimy bays.
There's a good chance the claying process will remove any wax on the panels anyway, but it does no harm to try and rid most of it in the wash stage.
Again, if you haven't already got one, Bilt Hamber's Autoclay (soft, for this time of year) would be the preferred choice.
If you venture down the route of snow foaming as a pre-wash stage, then Autofoam is considered the best currently, but you must have a foam lance (£45 ish) on the end of your pressure washer.
When Auto Express tested it, I believe they used the detergent tank, which only operates at low pressure - AF was not designed for low pressure usage, so don't think you can get round spending the required amount on a proper foam lance.

[Cpt Stirling]

Duragloss 901