Anyone into detailing cars?

polrbehr

It’s all good, there’s enough there to last me quite awhile, for less than 20 bucks. It beats stealing a capful of Tide from the Mrs. every now and then LOL

mantis

I also use a free and clear detergent to wash my micro fiber towels in but I use warm to hot water and heavy duty cycle. My towels come out clean lint free and ready to go. They seem to last years and years.
What's the advantage of washing them in cold water?

tonyb

I know a lot of guys who use Dawn dish soap. Is there a reason NOT to use it ?

pitdogg2

strips wax, can be harsh on paint. I personally do not think it should be used at every wash, but can useful to get off old wax and coatings for a fresh base for a new wax or coating.
My .02

polrbehr

tonyb wrote: »

I know a lot of guys who use Dawn dish soap. Is there a reason NOT to use it ?

If we are speaking about washing cars, @pitdogg2 is spot on. If we are speaking about washing microfiber towels, I would say not to use Dawn or any other dish soap, especially in front-loaders. That stuff produces lots of suds, I think too much trial and error would be involved in putting just the right amount in?

halo

mantis wrote: »

I also use a free and clear detergent to wash my micro fiber towels in but I use warm to hot water and heavy duty cycle. My towels come out clean lint free and ready to go. They seem to last years and years.
What's the advantage of washing them in cold water?

Hot water can melt the microfiber(s) causing them to be unable to grab items/dirt/gunk any longer. Can also potentially scratch paint.

https://youtu.be/FhZBikIIbPo

halo

tonyb wrote: »

I know a lot of guys who use Dawn dish soap. Is there a reason NOT to use it ?

A lot of "dedicated" car wash soaps on the market are PH neutral so they won't strip the wax finish you applied. However, they also won't get a majority of the road grime/tar/grease/gunk off your vehicle either.

I agree that you shouldn't use it every time you wash unless you're going to reapply wax every time you wash.

Automatic car washes use soap that strips off all the road grime and is more aggressive than Dawn and the "wax" you get at an automatic car wash isn't really a wax; it's just a gloss enhancer that doesn't offer any protection for your paint.

halo

Here's an interesting read on automatic car washes:

autodetaildoctor.com/will-an-automatic-car-wash-hurt-my-car/

charley95

I usually don't use anything that strips wax from the surface. By the time I need to correct my paint the polish will remove any residue from the previous coating. I can usually go a year between paint correction and coating. The Adam's H20 & Ceramic Boost do pretty good maintaining finish until my next correction.

BDT

Thanks for the heads up on the collonite wax.....good prices too!

For those that don't clay bar.....if you are going to polish and wax, why skip that step?

FWIW, I only use Dawn if I'm doing the whole clay, polish, wax routine. If it's just a wash...I use whatever car wash is on sale......

BDT

charley95

I always clay before I polish. I guess I just don't see the need to Dawn if I'm claying and polishing.

SCompRacer

halo wrote: »

Here's an interesting read on automatic car washes:

autodetaildoctor.com/will-an-automatic-car-wash-hurt-my-car/

Over time you'll need clear coat correction, eh?

When I traded my '15 'Bu LTZ in, a couple guys from the back asked me what I used on it. It looked good for a four season Chicago area ride.