"Windex" and "Fantastic" And other household cleaners...?

[Loochy88]

Can windex be used on anything besides the windows? There have been a bunch of times ive been cleaning my windows and it spills on the paint, and i just wipe it around to clean wherever it spills. It never seems to hurt anything. Can windex be used on car paint?

Also, that "Fantastic" grease cutter? How harmful is that to car paint? Ive used it on painted spots under the hood once or twice to get out some of the really heavy dirt and grease. It seems to work wonders. Ive never used it on the outside, but so far its all worked out with no problems.



Are there any other household cleaners that can be used on your car. I know you can wash it with some dish soap. Anything else?

[JohnC]

I'd rather not wash my car than use dish soap! Don't use dish soap its too harsh for the clear!

[Christian]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by JohnC:
I'd rather not wash my car than use dish soap! Don't use dish soap its too harsh for the clear!<hr></blockquote>

Yep! [img]graemlins/thumbsdown.gif[/img]

[Loochy88]

i never have, i use zip car wash or something like that.

but i heard if you dillute enough in a big bucket you can do it like that. oh well, either way. what about the other stuff... windex ect...?

[Bliggida]

If you don't wash your dishes with car soap, don't wash your car with dish soap. Dish soap contains a grease cutting formula. Which strips wax right off the car. Car Wash formula's try to pre-coat the car with a light wax. So you are doing the exact opposite of what you should be doing.

Windex is safe on the windows and should be used there. Unless you know your chemicals and what they can or can't do, I wouldn't be using them as 'universals' because you are too lazy or cheap to get the stuff that's going to make it last long.

99% of the time, if you don't have the right stuff, simply use water. Water is nothing short of amazing when you look at it as a chemical. Not too high in aciditc properties, not to high in PH.

Windex contains ammonia. Which strips wax and grease. If its just surface dirt that has stuck to a coat of Armor-All, you don't need that harsh of a chemical. If you actually do have grease or oil build up, then you should be using an automotive degreaser - dilluted to the correct strength of what you need it for.

"409" contains Isopropyl Alcohol. Another wax stripping bandit.

As said before, I use water majority of the time. I have a few bottles mixed (and LABLED) with stuff like 70/30 water-degreaser. That right there is safe for and will clean just about anything with a mild scrubbing.

If you are constantly applying and then removing several chemicals from plastics like your dash, you break down the surfaces. Over time, if they aren't injection molded you will begin to remove the color stain, and textures.

Also, heat is another factor. at 70 degrees windex might be some great stuff. When you close the doors on a summer day, what does intense heat do to Ammonia??? 180 degrees inside the car is not uncommon. While this is mild, inhaling ammonia based (now) gaseous form probably isn't a good idea. Not to mention what that does to be baked into the surface you are trying to protect.
Ammonia is a good chemical, but it is certainly not one that I would reccomend as an all around cleaning agent.

After years in the auto business as a professional detailer, I have seen and used them all. And in one of the rare instances the cheaper route is also the best one. I prefer to buy Castrol degreaser, and then dilute it with water.

You gotta read the directions on some of these things. Can't use wheel cleaner on the tires, can't use tire cleaner on the wheels. Can't tell you how many times I've seen chrome rims basically burned from harsh chemicals that were intended for the tires or an "All in one" tire and wheel cleaner.

[Loochy88]

thanks for the info Bliggida.

Another question.... i get a lot of tar and road grime on the inside of the wheel wells and bottom sides of the car. Its tough to get off most the time. I wash my car 2 times a week at least, and i wax it over every time. But everytime i wash it i end up having to use that tar remover stuff. Is that stuff too harsh to use on the car so often? is there any better way to get the tar and stuff off?

[F1GT]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Loochy88:
thanks for the info Bliggida.

Another question.... i get a lot of tar and road grime on the inside of the wheel wells and bottom sides of the car. Its tough to get off most the time. I wash my car 2 times a week at least, and i wax it over every time. But everytime i wash it i end up having to use that tar remover stuff. Is that stuff too harsh to use on the car so often? is there any better way to get the tar and stuff off?<hr></blockquote>

WD-40 seems to work very well at getting rid of tar and other crap that gets kicked up to the paint. After using it wash it and apply wax. I always make sure to apply wax on the area where the tires kick up garbage. If I am too lazy to apply wax ALL over the car, I at least apply it on ALL the horizontal surfaces and the area where the tire kicks up road debris. It's WAY easier to remove junk afterwards when there is a coat of wax.

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