Car Wash Soap Comparison?

[jwardell]

Has anyone done a comparison test or had a wide experience with various car wash soaps? Does it even really matter that much? Obviously you simply want high lubricity, and hopefully no "extras" like added-in waxes. I'd like to know if you've found any differences between brands (not just "I use this and it's good").
My surprisingly long-lasting bottle of Zaino Z7 is almost empty. I do have a full small bottle of Sonus Gloss that I assume is also decent (a freebie that I have yet to try). I'm sure many will recommend Prima Mystique. But I believe Octaneguy simply uses Meguires Gold class which is much cheaper than the others and leads me to believe there's no need to go for the enthusiasts brands.

[DjR53]

I use mothers car wash soap , and i think it works just fine plus it smells nice too . But it would be interesting to see what differences people bring up

[summeroflove]

After trying lots of brands you can find at any auto parts store, I was introduced a few years ago to Griot's Garage. I've used their car wash (and other products as well) and haven't looked back since.
I think the most imporatant thing, though, is to never use dish detergent!

[Chimera]

Originally Posted by summeroflove

I think the most imporatant thing, though, is to never use dish detergent!

What?? I thought Dawn was almost a pre-requisite around here for starting a good thorough detailing job....

[Jeremy1026]

Originally Posted by Chimera

What?? I thought Dawn was almost a pre-requisite around here for starting a good thorough detailing job....

For starting one, yes. To maintain one, no. We dawn probably every 6months or so, unless your Kenchen, then you use Griots Paint Prep, to strip everything off to start fresh.

[bamatt]

I can only offer my opinion but I am a freak for Smart Carwash
When I use it my mitt glides across my finish so smoothly that it feels like there is a layer of baby oil under it & the dirt practically falls off. I have started buying it directly from Smart as they usually have it on sale so it is pretty affordable

[kenchan]

meg GoldClass vs griots's CarWash.

gold class was like a joke as far as lubricity and scent.
all i use now is griot's CarWash.

i haven't tried Prima Mystique.

[smedley]

Originally Posted by kenchan

meg GoldClass vs griots's CarWash.

gold class was like a joke as far as lubricity and scent.
all i use now is griot's CarWash.

i haven't tried Prima Mystique.

Ken, if you like Hydro you'll love Mystique

[kenchan]

Originally Posted by smedley

Ken, if you like Hydro you'll love Mystique

yah, i still have like 3/4 gal of CarWash so ill try it maybe next year.

[SHRTSTAK]

Meg's NXT Wash. You can get a huge bottle that will last a summer if you wash every week. Cheap, effective, and cheap.

Ima go out on a limb and say that MOST name brand (Meg's, Mother's, Turtle Wax, Griot's, Mystique) washes are pretty close to the same. So my advice is get what smells the nicest.

DO NOT CHEAP OUT ON A MITT. Be sure to get 100% lambswool. Pay the extra couple bucks. The good ones last.

[kenchan]

Originally Posted by SHRTSTAK

DO NOT CHEAP OUT ON A MITT. Be sure to get 100% lambswool. Pay the extra couple bucks. The good ones last.

im using a MF wash mitt and it does well.

its not so much just the mitt, but the amount of carwash/water you use
in the large washbucket. try to reduce the contaminate concentration
as much as possible by using a larger bucket and plenty of solution.

a full 3gallon wash bucket + a super nice lambswool will not work
as efficiently as a full 6gallon wash bucket + a decent MF wash mitt.

[Detailers Paradise]

For the most part, and from the perspective of what is safe to use, car wash soaps are not what I consider a picky category (unlike many other categories!). As long as you use a brand name soap (most brand names avoid using the harsh chemicals that can harm paint and trim and that can strip wax), most are completely safe to use.

Here are some of the differences you usually encounter between brand name car wash soaps which sway people from one to another and vice versa:

Concentration Level:
This is often one of the biggest differences between the "boutique" name brands and the "mass marketed" name brands. Although there are certainly exceptions, the boutique brands tend to be significantly more concentrated than the mass marketed brands.
For example, most mass marketed soaps require ~1 oz soap per gallon of water.
Most boutique soaps require ~1 oz soap per 3-5 gallons of water.
This is something that is often forgotten when comparing soap prices. (note that a boutique exception is P21S soap... although an excellent soap with a large following, it is oddly diluted!)

Scents:
Although some people could care less about what a car wash soap smells like, many find washing their car therapeutic; thus, the scent is part of their aroma-therapy.

Cleaning Ability:
Each car wash soap has varying concentrations of cleaning agents, like surfactants and other dirt/grime lifters. The type of cleaning agent and the quality of the raw chemicals also play a part in the soaps cleaning ability. You'll notice that some soaps simply clean better than others.

Polymer vs. Non-Polymer:
Although it's almost hard to find a basic soap anymore that does not contain at least a little polymer, there are both kinds out there.
The non-polymer soaps rely on lubricants (which are often some form of a polymer) but these do not add shine or protection. They're just lubricants to aid in preventing scratching while washing. Non-polymer soaps just do the traditional job of cleaning.
Polymer soaps, the common style these days, also contain the cleaners (surfactants) and lubricants, but also a polymer (and often beading agents) designed to add a little boost of shine and a little (in some cases) protection.
I need to emphasize there that the intention here is to simply give the user a nice pack on the back for handwashing their car... In even the best cases, polymer soaps do not add long-lasting shine nor long-lasting protection... a few days or maybe a week at best. Also, most polymer soaps do not create a great deal of suds- this bothers some people (but the suds don't matter anyway... it's the lubricants and cleaning agents that do the work and keep it safe).

Bottom Line:
Almost all brand name car wash soaps are safe to use and won't harm your paint/trim and won't strip your wax.
There are lots of variations in brand name car wash soaps which lead to different preferences. It can be fun to try lots of the variations but they aren't what I would call mission-critical (well, maybe cleaning ability to an extent- but most brand names do at least decently, IMO)
Concentration levels, in particular, are worthy of note when doing price comparisons between car wash soaps.

That's my 2-cents on car wash soap.

-Heather

[Yucca Patrol]

It all depends on what I want to do.

Yesterday, I wanted to remove everything and start fresh. So I added a small amount of a simple green type degreaser to my bucket of regular car wash soap. It helps to get rid of the wax and bugs and other weird stuck on goo that accumulates over time.

[mcdbrendan]

Mystique is awesome. Looks so good after Mystique alone, and it smells awesome too. I need to wash something, I'm in Detailing withdrawal.

[bolar]

I'm almost out of my Z-7 and was looking around for something to use until I make another Zaino order (probably in two years ). Most washes out there have some kind of wax in them, "All In One" sort of thing. You really have to look for just straight car wash. I just got some Simple Green Car Wash . Reading the bottle, it sounds good .

[bamatt]

Originally Posted by bolar

Most washes out there have some kind of wax in them, "All In One" sort of thing. You really have to look for just straight car wash.

Why is that so important? My Smart Carwash has polymers in it & I consider that to be a good thing because it adds shine & more protection

[bolar]

Originally Posted by bamatt

Why is that so important? My Smart Carwash has polymers in it & I consider that to be a good thing because it adds shine & more protection

I'm just looking for a car wash. I don't want the other stuff on top of the Zaino I've worked so hard for. I can't tell you if a wash/wax would make a difference to my shine, but I don't want that many variables thrown in the mix .

[Detailers Paradise]

Originally Posted by bolar

I'm just looking for a car wash. I don't want the other stuff on top of the Zaino I've worked so hard for. I can't tell you if a wash/wax would make a difference to my shine, but I don't want that many variables thrown in the mix .

I know I've just said this maybe thrice now , but just to point it out to your specific concern...

If you have a hard time finding a non-polymer-based soap, know that the polymer in any of them doesn't last very long since it's not the intention. So, you wouldn't have to worry about changing the look you just spent time getting.

There are still lots out there without a polymer though. P21S makes a good one called Bodywork Shampoo with a big following (although it's not as concentrated as some). It has no polymers and is bio-degradable.

-Heather

[bolar]

Originally Posted by Detailers Paradise

I know I've just said this maybe thrice now , but just to point it out to your specific concern...

If you have a hard time finding a non-polymer-based soap, know that the polymer in any of them doesn't last very long since it's not the intention. So, you wouldn't have to worry about changing the look you just spent time getting.

There are still lots out there without a polymer though. P21S makes a good one called Bodywork Shampoo with a big following (although it's not as concentrated as some). It has no polymers and is bio-degradable.

-Heather

My concern was not with the polymer/non-polymer base of the soap, but I was noticing many of the washes I was looking at were "All In One" wash/wax combo's. I never really considered what was used for lubrication in most car washes. Thanks for bringing that to light .

I'm really not that picky with car soaps. I like something that feels slippery and lifts the dirt off. Also since I use more of it than anything else, soap that is cheap helps also .

[kenchan]

here's a newb question for ya cause ive yet to try Mystique.

does it have some polymer/wax type of protectant other
than for lubricity?

[bamatt]

Originally Posted by kenchan

here's a newb question for ya cause ive yet to try Mystique.

does it have some polymer/wax type of protectant other
than for lubricity?

According to the website yes. It says:
"Unique polymers brighten the paint while leaving it feeling slick and conditioned"

Originally Posted by bolar

I'm just looking for a car wash. I don't want the other stuff on top of the Zaino I've worked so hard for. I can't tell you if a wash/wax would make a difference to my shine, but I don't want that many variables thrown in the mix .

That's cool you just made it sound like that was a must have characteristic for any good carwash & to me that's just not the case

[bee1000n]

I use P21S car "shampoo" because it's biodegradable.

Plus it's made in Germany so I figure it gets along well with the Klasse AIO and SG on the car. They have a friendly chat and catch up on things until it's time to rinse the car. Then they say their auf wiedersens and promise to keep in touch until next time.

[Detailers Paradise]

Originally Posted by bee1000n

I use P21S car "shampoo" because it's biodegradable.

Plus it's made in Germany so I figure it gets along well with the Klasse AIO and SG on the car. They have a friendly chat and catch up on things until it's time to rinse the car. Then they say their auf wiedersens and promise to keep in touch until next time.

It is indeed nice when products can speak to each other in their native language!

Good point about the biodegradability of P21S. Prima Mystique is also biodegradable, by the way. In fact, much of the Prima line is biodegradable, as is much of the P21S line.

-Heather

[sequence]

Originally Posted by bee1000n

I use P21S car "shampoo" because it's biodegradable.Plus it's made in Germany so I figure it gets along well with the Klasse AIO and SG on the car. They have a friendly chat and catch up on things until it's time to rinse the car. Then they say their auf wiedersens and promise to keep in touch until next time.

See PM I will send regarding Klasse

[Detailers Paradise]

Originally Posted by kenchan

here's a newb question for ya cause ive yet to try Mystique.

does it have some polymer/wax type of protectant other
than for lubricity?

As bamatt already quoted, yes, Mystique contains a polymer in it.

As I said in my loooong post about car washes, the polymers in polymer-based soaps (like Mystique) are very short-lived in terms of shine boost and protection. They're just for that initial "wow my car looks nice now that I just handwashed it" feeling.

-Heather