What is the best detergent to wash your car with?

Best Car Wash Soaps
  • Meguiar's Ultimate Wash & Wax.
  • Chemical Guys Mr. Pink Super Suds Car Wash Soap and Shampoo.
  • Chemical Guys Honeydew Snow Foam Car Wash Soap and Cleanser.
  • Adam's Car Wash Shampoo.
  • Armor All Car Wash.
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What can I use to wash my car at home?

4. Readily Available Options at Home:
  1. Dish Soap. Can I use dish soap to wash my car? Yes! ...
  2. Laundry Detergent. This is another solid car soap substitute. Like dish soap, it is highly recommended for its cleaning capabilities. ...
  3. Hair Conditioner. Yes! ...
  4. Hand Soap. Hand soap is a typical household staple. ...
  5. Baby Soap.
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What is the best thing to wash a car with?

Specifically, use mild laundry detergent that isn't too strong so it doesn't strip away your paint. Mild laundry detergent can get rid of almost any dirt or grime on your vehicle (as it should, considering it's the stuff we rely on to clean our clothes).
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Can you use Dawn dish soap to wash your car?

Never use dish soap to wash your car. According to Consumer Reports, dish soap isn't formulated for use on a car's paint. Even a detergent like Dawn is an abrasive cleaner and can strip away a vehicle's protective top coat.
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Is it OK to wash your car with laundry detergent?

Laundry detergent: Like dish soap, the detergent you use to clean your clothes sometimes utilizes chemicals to remove grease and oil from the fabric — which can just as easily seep into the porous coat on your car and remove its luster.
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Is it OK to wash your car with dish soap or laundry detergent? Auto Expert John Cadogan



Does laundry detergent mess up car paint?

Answer provided by

Okay, so this is a bit of a tricky situation—it's not recommended that you use laundry detergent to wash your car because most detergents contain harsh chemicals and degreasing agents that can seriously damage both your car's paint and protective coating.
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Will Dawn dish soap hurt car paint?

Is liquid dish soap bad for a vehicle's paint? The short answer is no, damage to a vehicle's paint or clear coat is nothing to worry about. Regular old Dawn liquid dish soap won't damage a vehicle's clear coat, but is not ideal for general maintenance washing since it will remove wax, leaving your vehicle unprotected.
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Can I use Windex on my car?

You can use Windex® Ammonia-Free Glass Cleaner on your car's tinted windows, mirrors, glass, chrome, stainless steel, plastic, and vinyl surfaces. For a streak-free shine, clean car windows when the surface is cool and out of direct sunlight whenever possible.
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How do you make homemade car wash soap?

All you need to do is fill a bucket with warm water, and add a cup of liquid dishwashing detergent and 12 tablespoons of powdered laundry detergent. If your car is very dirty, you might have to make more than 1 bucket of this mixture.
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Can I use baby shampoo to wash my car?

Can I use baby shampoo to wash my car? Yes, baby shampoo is a great solution to try, more so when you want to protect the wax coating. Baby shampoo is quite mild, and it will be gentle on the body.
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How do I wash my car like a pro?

Wash Your Car Like a Pro at Home
  1. 1 First clean the interior. ...
  2. 2 Tackle the floor mats and the tricky spots. ...
  3. 3 Dust cracks and crevices. ...
  4. 4 Vacuum the floor and the upholstery. ...
  5. 5 Wipe down the dashboard using a damp microfiber cloth. ...
  6. 6 Clean the seat belts.
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How do you get rid of haze on inside of windshield?

A quality glass cleaner will do away with spots and film on the inside of your windshield. Use a streak-free glass cleaner, apply to a terry cloth towel and work in straight lines for best results. Applying a defogging product to the inside of a clean windshield provides a barrier against the residue in the future.
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Can you use vinegar to wash car?

Vinegar is perfectly suitable for cleaning the interior of a car and is safe for all surfaces. It is important, however, to not let the vinegar dry on any surface, but to wipe it off with a clean microfiber towel immediately. Vinegar should not be used on car paint, as it will dull and damage the paint.
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Can I wash my car with shampoo?

Using shampoo to remove built-up dirt and grime from your vehicle is an effective and safe way to wash your car on a budget. If diluted correctly, shampoo is an excellent replacement for store-bought chemicals. However, do not let the soap dry onto your vehicle's paint as it may cause damage.
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Can I wash my car with just water?

The Quick Answer. Washing your car with just water will not remove much dirt, can cause water spots and result in scratches if you use a mitt or sponge without a shampoo. You should only ever rinse without washing if you are using distilled water, or have a hydrophobic coating and plan to drive the car afterwards.
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Can I use Palmolive to wash my car?

Don't use household cleaning agents like hand soap, dishwashing detergent, or glass cleaner on the paint. These aren't formulated for use on a car's paint and may strip off the protective wax. Do use a dedicated car-wash product, which is milder and specifically designed for use on automotive paint.
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Does vinegar destroy car paint?

It's not a good idea to use vinegar on your car's paint job. As a result of vinegar's acidic nature, over time the clear coat might get damaged, resulting in a dull appearance.
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Will vinegar harm auto paint?

Vinegar is not a strong enough or corrosive enough substance to damage paint and you can minimise the risk by using a cloth or sponge wet with vinegar on the glass and not spraying the whole car or leaving it in the surface for an extended period.
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Can baking soda clean cars?

Try to get all the areas of your car with the hose at least twice to help break up dry dirt and debris. Create a baking soda mixture. Pour one cup of baking soda into a gallon of water and use this to lightly clean the exterior with a sponge. The baking soda will remove grime without being too harsh.
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How do you get the cleanest windshield?

Apply rubbing alcohol to a fresh microfiber towel and wipe down the inside of your car's windshield. The rubbing alcohol will remove fogginess and boost visibility through the windshield. Apply glass cleaner or polish once more time for extra shine and even better visibility.
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How do I get cigarette smoke off my windshield?

A spray bottle can also be filled with a mix of 1 part vinegar and 2 parts water. Simply spray the surfaces and wipe them with a soft cloth. If the residue is tough, use only vinegar, no water. Rinse the cloth frequently and continue cleaning until all of the residue is removed.
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Can I use a magic eraser on my windshield?

“Use microfiber cloths to wipe the inside of the glass in a circular motion, then vertically. Next, use a magic eraser with water, using the same method. Lastly, spray glass cleaner on a microfiber cloth and wipe to finish.”
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