Canadian Crimson
Well-known member
At least buy a bottle of car wash at Canadian tire or Costco. Dawn is the worst thing you can use.
My Maintenance Wash Routine
- Thread starter S197CS
- Start date
Rich06
Navigator
Not according to the shop that did the coating, Dawn is what they suggested
Canadian Crimson
Well-known member
I use it in the spring for a deep clean but not on a regular basis. I have been told that it’s hard on the plastic and trim pieces( all the black trim)
Rich06
Navigator
I’ve read that it’s a good product to strip off old wax and such.
67 AGAIN
Enthusiast
That’s the big reason no dish soap of any kind should be used on cars with traditional wax.
The properties of dish soap that make it clean cooking grease are the same properties that make it strip wax.
But, whereas ceramic is not a wax, things could be entirely different.
Dawn is soft on hands, so maybe not too hard on plastics.
I don’t know for a fact. Just spitballing.
The properties of dish soap that make it clean cooking grease are the same properties that make it strip wax.
But, whereas ceramic is not a wax, things could be entirely different.
Dawn is soft on hands, so maybe not too hard on plastics.
I don’t know for a fact. Just spitballing.
S197CS
Corner Carver
A) Dawn should not be near a car. Strips old waxes (not new wax, not sealants, not ceramic), but should still be avoided.
- The shop that instructed you to wash with Dawn dish soap should either be avoided or educated on the matter. Hitting your car solely with Dawn isn't the way in the long run. It can dry plastics and rubbers (not tomorrow, but on the long term). Quite frankly, you should only need a regular maintenance wash soap to do any of your washes, Coatings clean so well. (Disclaimer, you have the right to not take what I say as godspell, not meant to be anyways).
- Readily available maintenance wash soaps (NO WAXES or others): Adams Polishes Car Shampoo (canadian tire), Chemical Guys MR Pink (Canadian tire), P&S detail Pearl auto shampoo (online order), AND a lot of others.
- IF you have a ceramic coated vehicle, you don't wnat a ''wash and wax'' type of shampoo. it will hide the ceramic coating properties, not needed.
Please have a listen to this video (actually a recent one) from Pan the Organizer. It goes on that myth, very informative.
B) Car maintenance soaps are not all PH Neutral. Some are, but some are also PH ''balanced'', that ok and normal. Sometimes, harder/stronger soaps are needed (i.e.: first wash after a winter of bathing in salt, a good decon wash type of cleaning). Ton of information out there on them as well and their use (although they are made for cars, THEY as well should not be used at every wash). These more aggressive soaps are usually called decon soap, or something along these lines. With regular car cleaning routine, one would only need a heavier duty soap once/twice a year (ahhhh dear winter!!)
- The shop that instructed you to wash with Dawn dish soap should either be avoided or educated on the matter. Hitting your car solely with Dawn isn't the way in the long run. It can dry plastics and rubbers (not tomorrow, but on the long term). Quite frankly, you should only need a regular maintenance wash soap to do any of your washes, Coatings clean so well. (Disclaimer, you have the right to not take what I say as godspell, not meant to be anyways).
- Readily available maintenance wash soaps (NO WAXES or others): Adams Polishes Car Shampoo (canadian tire), Chemical Guys MR Pink (Canadian tire), P&S detail Pearl auto shampoo (online order), AND a lot of others.
- IF you have a ceramic coated vehicle, you don't wnat a ''wash and wax'' type of shampoo. it will hide the ceramic coating properties, not needed.
Please have a listen to this video (actually a recent one) from Pan the Organizer. It goes on that myth, very informative.
B) Car maintenance soaps are not all PH Neutral. Some are, but some are also PH ''balanced'', that ok and normal. Sometimes, harder/stronger soaps are needed (i.e.: first wash after a winter of bathing in salt, a good decon wash type of cleaning). Ton of information out there on them as well and their use (although they are made for cars, THEY as well should not be used at every wash). These more aggressive soaps are usually called decon soap, or something along these lines. With regular car cleaning routine, one would only need a heavier duty soap once/twice a year (ahhhh dear winter!!)
Well as all advice take it as you paid for it,
but around here Max is the cloest to having a PHD.
in car detailing, personally you guys spend more time cleaning than you do driving them,
I do use some level of an auto car wash soap, not sure I have ever read the tech part,
I try to buy good detailers, waxes etc.
I noticed no one would answer my question of costs ?
likely enough to pay a pro for the 1-2 serious details of the year,
as I wash and do quick details through the season,
might even be enough money to buy a good used Mustang
but around here Max is the cloest to having a PHD.
in car detailing, personally you guys spend more time cleaning than you do driving them,
I do use some level of an auto car wash soap, not sure I have ever read the tech part,
I try to buy good detailers, waxes etc.
I noticed no one would answer my question of costs ?
likely enough to pay a pro for the 1-2 serious details of the year,
as I wash and do quick details through the season,
might even be enough money to buy a good used Mustang
67 AGAIN
Enthusiast
SVT4MT
Well-known member
Not sure about total cost per year for all the potions and lotions, but I’m averaging two to three Sonax online orders a year, and I’m lucky to get out of there for $200 an order. Then again, free shipping over $150, so I’m actually saving money. 
For example, the Sonax foam cannon soap runs $30 a litre, concentrated, so you only use a couple of fingers each time, but multiply that by how many times I hose off two vehicles, and it’s easy to buy 4 or 5 litres for an eight month season. Cheaper than the coin op power wash, and infinitely better job. Saving money again by doing it at home and I’m pretty satisfied with how it works.
Bought a five litre jug of the Sonax wheel cleaner Plus….. $150, but it works amazing and with the amount of brake dust the car throws , it’s worth every cent and will likely get about two seasons out of it. Use a half a bottle every time and you get where I’m going.
Bottom line, all that pays for itself, and there’s no price you can put on a clean truck or car.
For example, the Sonax foam cannon soap runs $30 a litre, concentrated, so you only use a couple of fingers each time, but multiply that by how many times I hose off two vehicles, and it’s easy to buy 4 or 5 litres for an eight month season. Cheaper than the coin op power wash, and infinitely better job. Saving money again by doing it at home and I’m pretty satisfied with how it works.
Bought a five litre jug of the Sonax wheel cleaner Plus….. $150, but it works amazing and with the amount of brake dust the car throws , it’s worth every cent and will likely get about two seasons out of it. Use a half a bottle every time and you get where I’m going.
Bottom line, all that pays for itself, and there’s no price you can put on a clean truck or car.
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Canadian Crimson
Well-known member
Honestly for a weekly wash on a coated car I would not think supplies would be more than a couple hundred a year and that’s buying good quality products. If you stuck to generic’s on sale at CT I bet you could do 100$ or less. A decent shop will charge 200-250 just to detail and wax a car without any paint correctionWell as all advice take it as you paid for it,
but around here Max is the cloest to having a PHD.
in car detailing, personally you guys spend more time cleaning than you do driving them,
I do use some level of an auto car wash soap, not sure I have ever read the tech part,
I try to buy good detailers, waxes etc.
I noticed no one would answer my question of costs ?
likely enough to pay a pro for the 1-2 serious details of the year,
as I wash and do quick details through the season,
might even be enough money to buy a good used Mustang
Deep impact Blue 5.0
Well-known member
This finaly arrived, cant wait to try it out with the brake buster for the wheels.
S197CS
Corner Carver
Dilute brake buster 3:1, you will see, it should be just perfect foam
S197CS
Corner Carver
I am curious, you guys say these products cost alot and time.
how much, lets say per season and or wash or detailing?
how much time?
$$$$+ hours
To respond your initial question, last year my detailing products haul hit almost $1,300…
Not always like that, as these three hauls i did were major fill up on chemical and a few equipment buying instances…. Usually it hovers around the $150-300 mark per year if nothing major is needed.
SVT4MT
Well-known member
You certainly end up with a lot of stuff as you try different things.
I've got three different variations on the ceramic...... spray on, the Profiline I used last year and the Profiline EVO for this year.
Bottom left is my laundry detergent and fabric softener Marc.....just in case you're wondering.
I've got three different variations on the ceramic...... spray on, the Profiline I used last year and the Profiline EVO for this year.
Bottom left is my laundry detergent and fabric softener Marc.....just in case you're wondering.
Deep impact Blue 5.0
Well-known member
Got some stuff at Canadian tire this morning. I should be all set now lol The Auto Glym Fast Glass Cleaner was on Sale, Gonna give that a try.
I am curious if anyone Washes their Wash mitts in the wash after each car cleaning or do it after a few car cleanins etc ?
I am curious if anyone Washes their Wash mitts in the wash after each car cleaning or do it after a few car cleanins etc ?
Canadian Crimson
Well-known member
I have 2 or 3 body ones and a wheel one. They get tossed in the garage laundry bucket after every wash, even my drying towels get washed after being used.
S197CS
Corner Carver
Same.