is it safe to wash a car with......

[BiH]

dishwashing liquid I must say it shines very well especially the chrome wheels :D

[97chevycamaro]

no, it will strip your clear coat off

[pontiac nino]

Dishwashing liquid will remove any wax or components you used to shine up you're car, I wouldn't recommend it unless you're going to re-wax(eh). A family member actually used to do the same thing as you, cuz dishwashing soap made his car look shiney till the clear coat on his roof started coming off.

[MustangEater8251]

Its ok used to do rarely, but like said it removes all contaminants off the paint, and starts to strip the clearcoat. Its a good thing to use if you are claybaring your car, and waxing it afterwards.

[5SpeedBird]

no never use any form of dish washing soap.

If need be use shampoo. Much less harmful.

Wash your hair with dish soap once and see what the difference is.

That is the number 1 reason to not visit an charity car washes. They never use the right stuff and you could actually sue the business that lets them use the parking lot.

[StudlyCamaro]

Originally posted by 5SpeedBird:
They never use the right stuff and you could actually sue the business that lets them use the parking lot.

how do you figure? if you let them wash the car isnt it your fault?? people are too damn sue happy these days

[hockeyman]

I knew a guy a few years back that used Tide Laundry Detergent (powder form) to wash his car.

[Earnhardt132000]

Hmm... I always use Dawn dish soap to wash my car. Guess I better stop, but my dad always uses it and all his trucks are still nice looking.

[Loochy88]

you would have to use a heck of a lot of dish soap to hurt the clearcoat. i wouldnt recomend using it on a regular basis though as it definitely does strip all the wax. if you used it a few times in small quaitities you have nothing to worry about.

[5SpeedBird]

It hurts the clear coat as it strips the wax or Teflon coatings they spray on the car off. Then the sun/UV destroys the clear.

no dish soap is powerful enough to harm paint[except for old lye soap]

Though as long as you wax after you wash, it would be OK, I guess. But most people don't do it every time so it best not to even get in the habit or recommending people use it.


I have used hair conditioner before when I had no other choice. Talk about gentle.

[sac2165]

I use old-fashioned ivory soap before a good waxing

[Rob Bell]

Dish soap supposedly strips the oils out of the paint, drying it out quicker. I would never use anything but soap designed for cars. It's not that expensive.

[FireStorm]

it definately is not good, one time i used a little to take a few scuffs off and it made the area i rubbed dull

[eDoog]

how hard did you rub?