As funny as this may sound, I’ve never washed the exterior of my car. I’d like to do that tomorrow, but I’m not sure what I should use. Just water? Can I use something like dish soap? Do I need to buy anything special?
Dish soap will work just fine. Sometimes, the special-purpose car soaps seem to leave a better shine on the car, though, so you might want to try one of those. At the end of the day, however, it’s all just detergent of one sort or another.
Cool. I figured that was the case, but I wanted to make sure before I did anything stupid. Thanks!
I wouldn’t recommend using dish soap. Many/most brands can strip the wax right off the car.
Use a soap meant for cars.
Well, yes – but that means that if washing with dish detergent, you must promptly polish/wax the exterior thoroughly, and then you’re OK.
Dish soap won’t take the wax right of a car. I am so tired of this lame notion.
Sure, it might contribute slightly to wearing down the wax over time, but used mildy it doesn’t hurt. This is tested everyday in driveways around the world. The water beads, the wax stays.
Specialty auto-soaps might be milder and might put a little on themselves, but dish soap is ok.
Soap is good because it suspends dirt away from the paint.
Just out of curiosity, how is it you haven’t washed a car before? Are you new to the suburbs from the city, new to driving, always just ran it through a car wash before…? I’m just wondering.
Well, I’ve owned my car for about three years now. I’ve ran it through a car wash maybe two times. Usually I just let the rain do its thing, and that seems to work quite well.
i’ve got a friend who washes his and keeps it shiny with plain old lemon pledge.
According to my father, the bastian of all car knowledge in my life…
Never use Dawn, as it stripped the wax from his corvette. Most other stuff is okay, he uses Joy.
I cannot vouch for the validity of this claim, but I believe him, because he’s my dad.
Snopes seems to have nothing to say on the subject. DIYNet says not to use dish soap.
I would suggest using dish soap and giving the car a good waxing afterwards. If it’s never been washed, it’ll probably need it.
Lemon pledge contains oils and waxes which are not soluble in water. If your friend set to scrubbing a dirty, gritty car that had been sprayed with lemon pledge I can envision abrasion of not only the wax coat, but the finish of the car itself.
Whatever you do use to wash your car, use plenty of water. And park your car on the lawn when you wash it, too.