Can You Use Dish Soap to Wash Your Car?

November 9th, 2021 by Freedom Chevrolet Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM

Taking care of your vehicle with regular washes will make it look nicer and last longer. Having a professional clean and detail your car will give you great results. However, some people prefer doing it themselves to save money, or they enjoy the process. If you plan on washing your car yourself, you need to know the proper technique, tools, and detergent. Follow our suggestions, and you'll enjoy the luster and shine on your vehicle.

What Type of Soap Should You Use to Wash Your Car?

Image via Flickr by wuestenigel

Many people mistakenly believe dish soap works well for cleaning their cars. Dish soap does get the dirt and debris clean, but that's not all it does. It also removes the wax coating, and with prolonged use, can strip away your car's clear coat and damage the paint underneath. 

Sure, the first time you use dish soap, your vehicle will have a nice shine to it. But, eventually, the dish soap will strip away the wax, and your car will begin to look dull. Ultimately, the clear coat will deteriorate, and the paint will then be exposed to the sun and weather and begin to fade, chip, and crack.

You should only use a detergent designed for cars. These detergents don't cost much more than dish soap, so don't skimp on a few extra dollars to help preserve your vehicle's exterior. We recommend checking your owner's manual for your car's particular type of paint. Then, you can find a detergent at your local auto parts store designed to clean and protect your unique paint.

Cleaning Supplies You'll Need

After you find the detergent, you'll still need a few items to clean your car properly. First, you want to use a sponge designed for washing cars, not the ones you use to wash dishes, especially the sponges with a scrub surface on one side. Using that abrasive scrub will quickly leave a mark on your car and quite possibly require a touch-up paint job. Instead of a sponge, you can use a mitt made from microfiber or sheepskin if you like.

You do want to find a brush to scrub your wheels. But, again, you'll find one designed for wheels at your local auto parts store. Using a brush that's safe will avoid unsightly scratches. It's a good idea to use a special wheel cleaner too, particularly if your wheels have caked on brake dust and dirt.

Next, add bug and tar remover, wax, polish, microfiber drying towels, and a squeegee to your list of supplies. Finally, you'll need two buckets, one for soapy water and one for clean water. 

Proper Car Washing Technique

To begin, you should wash your car in the shade. Sunlight can cause the water to dry prematurely, creating water spots and soap stains. If you don't have a shady area, wash your car in small sections. We suggest starting with the wheels. Your wheels will have the most dirt and require more scrubbing, so you might as well get it over with first. After your wheels are clean, refill your buckets with fresh water and detergent.

Rinse off your entire car with a hose. As you do so, note any stains or hard-to-remove debris like bugs, bird droppings, sap, and tar. Next, you can pretreat these trouble spots with your bug and tar remover. Follow the instructions on the bug and tar remover label. Now it's time to start soaping up your car. Never soap the entire vehicle at once. Start with one side if you have shade, or start with a smaller section of one side if you must wash your car in the sun.

Work your sponge or mitt in straight lines, not circular motions. Using circular motions can cause swirl marks to appear on your clear coat. As you wash your car, periodically rinse your sponge in clean water to prevent dirt from accumulating. Dirt and debris stuck to your sponge will make it abrasive and can scratch your paint. It's also a good idea not to scrub too hard. If you have the proper detergent, scrubbing hard isn't necessary.

Rinse off the section you've washed before moving on to another section. As you move around your vehicle, be sure to keep the clean areas wet. Letting the water dry will create water spots. Then, when you've finished washing your entire car, you can start to dry it.

You can use the squeegee to remove most of the water. Once done, take your microfiber towel or a chamois and start to dry. Again, don't work in circular motions and dry everything thoroughly. 

Polish and Wax

You don't need to polish and wax your car with every wash. The polish will add the shine you want, while the wax offers protection against the elements. If you've used the proper detergent, your wax coating should retain its luster. Experts recommend seasonal waxing to maintain the protective layer over your paint. After washing your vehicle, water should bead up. If it doesn't bead up, your car probably needs another coat of wax.

How Do You Clean a Ceramic Coating on a Car?

Newer products have sprung up on the market, such as ceramic coatings. Much like the clearcoat, the ceramic coat protects the paint beneath it from scratching and fading. Yet, ceramic has different properties than the clear coat and should be treated accordingly. If you have a ceramic coat on your vehicle, use a formulated detergent that won't harm it. In addition, when waxing after cleaning, you need to apply a wax designed to protect the ceramic without damaging it.

At Freedom Chevrolet Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, we understand you want your car to look new. You feel better driving around Virden with a fresh wash and wax. If you've done it correctly, you'll turn heads for all the right reasons, and you'll have extended the life of your vehicle's exterior.

If you need advice or want to pick up the proper car shampoo, please contact us with questions. We sell various shampoos, wax kits, and sealants explicitly designed for your car, truck, or SUV. Order ahead, and we'll have it ready for pick up when you arrive.