Washing your car is an essential part of maintaining its cleanliness and appearance. It may be tempting to clean your automobile with a bottle of hand or dish soap from your kitchen or bathroom. However, employing the wrong cleaning chemicals on your car’s paint and overall appearance might have long-term consequences.
This guide will explain why neither hand nor dish soap is acceptable for washing your car. We will also discuss the best alternatives and the benefits of selecting the appropriate products.
Understanding Your Car Paint and Finish
The vehicle paint scheme has a purpose beyond cosmetics. It also serves as a protective coating for the metal body underneath. Modern automobiles use a multilayer paint system with a clear coat to protect the color and give the vehicle a beautiful finish.
This clear coat is durable but not indestructible. Poor cleaning methods or harsh chemicals might cause damage. Once degraded, the clear coat can no longer protect the underlying paint. It becomes more prone to scratches, oxidation, and fading.
Why People Consider Hand Soap or Dish Soap
Hand soap and dish soap are everyday home goods. They are inexpensive, simple to find, and good at cleaning specific surfaces. Some individuals believe that because these soaps are for washing hands or dishes, they will be equally effective on a car. Sadly, this is not the case.
Hand Soap: Gentle, But Ineffective
Hand soap is used to cleanse the skin. It is mild and has hydrating elements that prevent dryness. However, the same qualities render it inefficient for car cleaning.
Hand soap effectively cleans the automotive surface of grease, sludge, and filth. While it may remove tiny dust, it will not give your vehicle the deep cleaning it needs. Furthermore, hand soap may leave residue or streaks on the paint, decreasing its gloss.
Dish Soap: Powerful, But Too Harsh
Dish soap is designed to cut through grease and stubborn food residues. It contains powerful detergents that remove grease and grime from surfaces. While this may appear to be a benefit while washing a dirty car, it is a problem.
Dish soap is too harsh on your car’s paint. It does more than just clean dirt; it also removes the wax or sealant that protects your vehicle. Despite this shielding layer, the paint is vulnerable to environmental factors such as UV radiation, filth, and moisture. Over time, this exposure can cause fading, oxidation, and corrosion.
Why Both Options Are a Bad Idea
Hand soap and dish soap are not pH-balanced for vehicle use. Acidic or alkaline compounds can damage a vehicle’s finish. Dish soap, in particular, can upset the equilibrium and cause long-term harm. Hand soap, while less abrasive, is still not designed for vehicles and may contribute to flaws.
What Should You Use to Wash Your Car?
A car-specific shampoo or soap is the ideal product to use when washing it. These are specially formulated for automobile finishes. They are pH-balanced and clean without damaging the paint or removing the protective wax.
