Car Soap: What Do You Use?
#17
just a fair warning brah-- this detailing crap can get quite expensive quite quickly! i remember my first arsenal of detailing goods (wash products, accessories, towels, sealants, etc.) was about $350 in total. but again.. you just have to read and understand the process, then assess your needs.
I personally use Optimum Car Wash with an ounce of Optimum No-Rinse added to it to soften the water because my water comes from a well and at times has high levels of minerals (aka hard water) which can leave water spots if you don't wash fast enough. I buy everything buy the gallon so its last a long time and is cheaper in the long run.
#19
Lexus Champion
I also use ONR on both my cars, followed by Wolfgang QD.
To me, what soap you use is important, but not nearly as important as your method. Multiple buckets, grit gards, clean mits/towels, etc... This point cannot be emphasized enough.
To me, what soap you use is important, but not nearly as important as your method. Multiple buckets, grit gards, clean mits/towels, etc... This point cannot be emphasized enough.
#20
As a quick detailer i use Optimum Instant Detailer or Chemical Guys Hybrid V7 both work/look great, but the Hybrid V7 stained the crap out of my white microfiber towels.
#21
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: AZ
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Adam's crushes all and I've used Zaino, Mother's, Chem Bros.. The rinse-less car wash is friggin' awesome. Detail spray is where it's at.
http://www.adamspolishes.com/ - 15% off with SPRING14 code
Just dropped $750 on the complete kit.
http://www.adamspolishes.com/ - 15% off with SPRING14 code
Just dropped $750 on the complete kit.
#22
Because its the winter i've only been doing full traditional washes. For right now i just use it as an additive to my wash bucket along with OCW to break up the hard water because my water comes from a well. Once its the spring/summer i'm gonna start to use ONR straight as a touch up in between washes to deal with the pollen.
As a quick detailer i use Optimum Instant Detailer or Chemical Guys Hybrid V7 both work/look great, but the Hybrid V7 stained the crap out of my white microfiber towels.
As a quick detailer i use Optimum Instant Detailer or Chemical Guys Hybrid V7 both work/look great, but the Hybrid V7 stained the crap out of my white microfiber towels.
Adam's crushes all and I've used Zaino, Mother's, Chem Bros.. The rinse-less car wash is friggin' awesome. Detail spray is where it's at.
http://www.adamspolishes.com/ - 15% off with SPRING14 code
Just dropped $750 on the complete kit.
http://www.adamspolishes.com/ - 15% off with SPRING14 code
Just dropped $750 on the complete kit.
#23
Lexus Champion
Totally agree with you. however, placing one item more important over the other takes the importance away from the entire detailing process. I mean you're gonna need good MF towels so it doesn't scratch/mar. you're gonna need good technique because again you don't want to scratch/mar. you're gonna need good soap/cleaners in order to clean the car.. so i think all of those things, respective to itself are important, but more importantly, its to have the combination thereof.
#24
Fair enough, point taken re: the importance of the whole package. I consider those other items more important than the soap because those are the items that are more likely to damage your paint than the soap you choose, at least in my experience. If you are using cheap or dirty towels, dirty water, etc., it won't matter what kind of soap you use. Damage is done. That was my point. YMMV
#25
As for price if you spend $500 a year at detailed image you qualify for a wholesale account and everything is cheaper. and hitting that amount isn't hard if you start buying polishers or you do some weekend detailing jobs.
#26
#28
Lexus Test Driver
#29
I live in NYC we have soft water here but spotting is still a problem.
If my car is dirty, I will pull out the pressure washer to give a foam bath and rinse prior to a hand wash.
If the car is dusty, I use a one bucket method with ONR.
1 bucket, grit guard, 4 gallons distilled water, 2.5 oz ONR, and quality edge less microfibers.
I wash a panel at a time with drying by waffle weave towels
Sounds crazy, but an average automatic car wash charges 14 bucks here. They also damage your paint. My one bucket onr method costs like 6 dollars total.
It also only takes about an hour!
If my car is dirty, I will pull out the pressure washer to give a foam bath and rinse prior to a hand wash.
If the car is dusty, I use a one bucket method with ONR.
1 bucket, grit guard, 4 gallons distilled water, 2.5 oz ONR, and quality edge less microfibers.
I wash a panel at a time with drying by waffle weave towels
Sounds crazy, but an average automatic car wash charges 14 bucks here. They also damage your paint. My one bucket onr method costs like 6 dollars total.
It also only takes about an hour!
#30
I'm using several different soaps.
The favorite is optimum car soap. It smells good, does the job of cleaning without any problems, gives a good glide and leaves no residue.
I've used chemical guys a lot to, but some of their soaps leaves residue and streaks.
Worst of them is honeydew soap. It smells like heaven, but the car looks like you've just left the soap on wafter washing, even if you use a high preassure washer for 15 minutes on the car.
CG makes a lot of different soaps. The citrus wash works great, but still my favorite is optimum, because of the things I stated earlier about the soap.
In the foam gun cannon I use surfex HD degreaser in about 1:20, and some chemical guys maxi suds soap to add extra foam that sticks to the car for while.
The favorite is optimum car soap. It smells good, does the job of cleaning without any problems, gives a good glide and leaves no residue.
I've used chemical guys a lot to, but some of their soaps leaves residue and streaks.
Worst of them is honeydew soap. It smells like heaven, but the car looks like you've just left the soap on wafter washing, even if you use a high preassure washer for 15 minutes on the car.
CG makes a lot of different soaps. The citrus wash works great, but still my favorite is optimum, because of the things I stated earlier about the soap.
In the foam gun cannon I use surfex HD degreaser in about 1:20, and some chemical guys maxi suds soap to add extra foam that sticks to the car for while.