Car Cleaning

[Jock Strap]

Can I use dishwash liquid to wash my car?
Car waxing is expensive, what alternatives are there?
Why do I get water marks when I hose down and it dries but when a car wash
rinses and I drive out wet, I don't?
Any car cleaning tips?
What about the electric polishers, do they work?

[Joe]

> Can I use dishwash liquid to wash my car?

Yes. Preferred brand is Joy (not concentrated re-fill) and about 1/2 to 1
teaspoon of soap per half bucket (2-3 gallons) of water unless you are going
to wax the car afterwards, then you can use much more.

> Car waxing is expensive, what alternatives are there?

For long-term quality of finihs? None. There are alternatives to wax, bot
the process is basically the same.

> Why do I get water marks when I hose down and it dries but when a car wash
> rinses and I drive out wet, I don't?

Their soaps use a "sheeting agent" I think. many also recycle and filter
their water. Jet Dry for dishwashers probably does the same thing although
I've never tried it on a car. The only way I know to avoid the spots is to
dry the car by hand with cotton towles - labels removed or the more
expensive chamois available out there...

Or just wax it after it is dry.

> Any car cleaning tips?

Buy a book or video tape (library rental) on car detailing. Ignore all the
accessory talk and focus on the cleaning talk.

> What about the electric polishers, do they work?

Yes. Orbital work just fine for most people and are about 99% safe as long
as you keep moving and keep the pads clean. High-speed "wheel" polishers
are needed for deep polishing of finishes or buffing out rough or oxydized
paint, but if you don't have experience with them they can remove the paint
down to the bare metal in a second.
--



Joe - V#8013 - '86 VN750 - joe @ yunx .com
Northern, NJ
Ask me about "The Ride" on July 31, '04:
http://www.youthelate.com/the_ride.htm

Born once - Die twice. Born twice - Die only once. Your choice...

[Jim]

On Sun, 27 Jun 2004 11:09:29 +0100, "Jock Strap"
<jockstrap@smellypants.com> wrote:

>Can I use dishwash liquid to wash my car?
>Car waxing is expensive, what alternatives are there?
>Why do I get water marks when I hose down and it dries but when a car wash
>rinses and I drive out wet, I don't?
>Any car cleaning tips?
>What about the electric polishers, do they work?


From reading a lot in the car newsgroups, most do NOT recommend
dishwashing liquid to clean the car unless you plan to wax it soon
afterwards. They claim dishwashing liquid strips the wax off the car
finish.

I too hate the hard water spots and my best guess (I never did this)
is to use a water softener when rinsing the car. I wash (car soap)
and dry my cars each time and try to wax as often as possible but I
still see spotting over long periods of time. My guess is
professional waxing or electric buffing will help to lessen spotting.

[TOM KAN PA]

<< I wash (car soap) and dry my cars each time and try to wax as often as
possible but I still see spotting over long periods of time. >>
____Reply Separator_____
I'm guessing that spotting over a long period of time is acid rain affecting
the clear coat. The Mr. Clean car washing system does do as claimed, dries with
no spots.
And also, when you wash the towels that you use to dry the car, don't use
fabric softener. This will make the towels less absorbent and can also leave a
film/haze on the finish.

[Joe]

> From reading a lot in the car newsgroups, most do NOT recommend
> dishwashing liquid to clean the car unless you plan to wax it soon
> afterwards. They claim dishwashing liquid strips the wax off the car
> finish.

They (we) say that because the soap is so strong... If you use very little
then there is no danger... Unless you're talking AJAX powder. :)

The key is to NOT use concentrate (from re-fill type containers) and to use
1/2 to 1 teaspoon per 2-3 gallons of water or less if you can.

The only properties of soap that are important when washing a car are the
suds and the mild grease cutting action. If you need to remove real greasy
grime, you must use stronger or more soap and then wax afterwars as the wax
ona vehicle (regardless of whether they say it is silicone or not, etc.)
comes off with degreasers.
--



Joe - V#8013 - '86 VN750 - joe @ yunx .com
Northern, NJ
Ask me about "The Ride" on July 31, '04:
http://www.youthelate.com/the_ride.htm

Born once - Die twice. Born twice - Die only once. Your choice...

[Bill 2]

"Jock Strap" <jockstrap@smellypants.com> wrote in message
news:2k7kjgF18kichU1@uni-berlin.de...
> Can I use dishwash liquid to wash my car?

You can, if you use a mild one, and very little of it. As others say it can
wear away the wax job. Which is why I don't wash my car that often (only if
it's really dirty, or if I plan on waxing it).

> Car waxing is expensive, what alternatives are there?

Not really. Car wax isn't THAT expensive, and it adds a protective coating
to the paint job. Polishes contain abrasives, which could wear down the
finish. They also cost as much as wax. I wax my car every few months and
leave it at that.

> Why do I get water marks when I hose down and it dries but when a car wash
> rinses and I drive out wet, I don't?

When it stays there any dries any dissolved minerals will spot where they
are. With a car wash they may have additives to the water, plus when you
drive away, it "blows" off the water.

> Any car cleaning tips?

Wash in the shade. Use a soft cloth, make sure you aren't grinding dirt into
the finish. Towel dry and wax immediately if required.

[Ned Flanders]

"Jock Strap" <jockstrap@smellypants.com> wrote in message news:<2k7kjgF18kichU1@uni-berlin.de>...
> Can I use dishwash liquid to wash my car?
> Car waxing is expensive, what alternatives are there?
> Why do I get water marks when I hose down and it dries but when a car wash
> rinses and I drive out wet, I don't?
> Any car cleaning tips?
> What about the electric polishers, do they work?

Dish detergent will strip wax and attack the clear coat/paint. Some
of the name brand car washes sold, if strictly measured as directed,
can be cheaper than dish detergent in the long run.

Spray on waxes; however they are not as durable as carnauba wax—a
natural wax from the Wax Palm.

Car washes use softened water for the rinse—even the self service bays
[that's what's in the center building—that and 55 gallon drums of wax,
degreaser, foaming soap, and the spray wax.]

Yes, don't let dirt build up. It gets increasingly more difficult to
remove the longer it stands.

If you use a buffer correctly, and keep the pads clean--dust and dirt
free [in a plastic bag when completely dry after washing] they can
greatly decrease the chore of waxing.

Cheers,

Ned

[Rod Speed]

Jock Strap <jockstrap@smellypants.com> wrote in
message news:2k7kjgF18kichU1@uni-berlin.de...

> Can I use dishwash liquid to wash my car?
> Car waxing is expensive, what alternatives are there?
> Why do I get water marks when I hose down and it dries
> but when a car wash rinses and I drive out wet, I don't?

They use a wetting agent.

> Any car cleaning tips?

Dont bother to clean the car. By far the best approach.

> What about the electric polishers, do they work?

You can wear the paint out on the edges.