Dawn Detergent

S

snowskate

New member
Do any of you ever recommend using Dawn Detergent?

I live in Boston and usually break it out for the first full detail day of the spring season. I figure it strips down the car and lets me build up an good coat of wax evenly throughout the year. But I notice that the first 2 waxing sessions or so are 'labor intensive', probably because the wax doesn't want to come off such a wax starved surface.

Is this a good idea? Or is there no reason to use Dawn detergent?
 
there are much more effective de-waxers. The Dawn thing is bordering on myth.



(it's difficult for me to understand the need to start another thread when there are already 100+ identical threads...)
 
Instead of using Dawn detergent, I would rather do a good claying and polishing. This will prep the surface and strip the wax better than Dawn would.
 
I think the whole Dawn thing got started because Zaino recommends that the prep work begin with a Dawn washing. It's on their website.
 
I have been using Dawn since the early 70's, during warmer weather I wash my cars at least once a week. I have tried them all & always go back to Dawn. I also have been using Zaino since 2000 & find that Dawn has no effect on Zaino. Dawn is not meant to replace claying or polishing, it is only used as a great car wash.
 
Carpet, you need to do a little research on Dawn as a wash soap......Its not a widely (Autopian) accepted product for regular car care maintanence......
 
But it just seems like a detergent designed for removing oil/grease is not the best wash shampoo for a car. I still think that car wash soap is a better choice, simply because it is designed for lubrication and removal of dirty particles.
 
a.k.a. Patrick said:
Carpet, you need to do a little research on Dawn as a wash soap......Its not a widely (Autopian) accepted product for regular car care maintanence......
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I do not require any research, nor do I have to use accepted products. I have, as a few winners of concours events have, used the product for many years. We use products that we find successful. As I said I have been using it over 30 years & I am very pleased.



Conrad
 
carpetyd said:
I do not require any research, nor do I have to use accepted products. I have, as a few winners of concours events have, used the product for many years. We use products that we find successful. As I said I have been using it over 30 years & I am very pleased.



Conrad
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You got to learn to ignore half the stuff on this forum. Half of it is all attacking words because it's not the "norm" that "autopian's" use.



If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
 
I dont find a lot of value in a product when its manufacturer recommends it not be used in automobile cleaning.....Of course theres bound to be a product in my arsenal that doesnt list a particular use for an item I have, and use it for.

As for Whitethunder, the other 1/2 of those responses/replies come from very knowlegable and experienced detailers.......Dont be so pessimistic.....



I dont recall ever seeing Dawn available at any detailing e-commerce sites, maybe theres a reason? Or even in a auto stores detailing section, makes me wonder a little....:work:
 
tom p. said:
there are much more effective de-waxers. The Dawn thing is bordering on myth.



(it's difficult for me to understand the need to start another thread when there are already 100+ identical threads...)
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Well stated advice that is about to be totally ignored. We're off and running, AGAIN!:laugh:
 
pogo123 said:
We're off and running, AGAIN!:laugh:
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Agreed. Why can't common sense prevail on this kind of material? The mfr says it's not suitable for use on vehicles. How much more do we "need" to know??
 
a.k.a. Patrick said:
I dont find a lot of value in a product when its manufacturer recommends it not be used in automobile cleaning.....Of course theres bound to be a product in my arsenal that doesnt list a particular use for an item I have, and use it for.

As for Whitethunder, the other 1/2 of those responses/replies come from very knowlegable and experienced detailers.......Dont be so pessimistic.....



I dont recall ever seeing Dawn available at any detailing e-commerce sites, maybe theres a reason? Or even in a auto stores detailing section, makes me wonder a little....:work:
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No, you don't see Dawn on any auto detailing shelves, but at the same time you don't see many PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS WINNERS purchasing their products from these shelves.

Wonder why?

There are many items used by detailers that are not found in auto stores, but does that make them not safe or not suitable for car use. Most, NOT ALL, manufactures of detailing products want to market only their products, if they recommended other items they would not be selling theirs.
 
I'm hearing that car show guys are now using Woolite on their cars.



Who knows.



Then again, terry towels and diapers were the rave for 20+ years until MicroFiber appeared. To each their own. If it works for you, you shouldn't should not be shunned upon for it.



I love NXT but damn near got murdered here because of it!



LOL!
 
justin30513 said:
I'm hearing that car show guys are now using Woolite on their cars.



Who knows.



Then again, terry towels and diapers were the rave for 20+ years until MicroFiber appeared. To each their own. If it works for you, you shouldn't should not be shunned upon for it.



I love NXT but damn near got murdered here because of it!



LOL!
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Woolite, Windex, lacquer thinner, wd-40, olive oil, .............



Thanks
 
carpetyd said:
Woolite, Windex, lacquer thinner, wd-40, olive oil, .............



Thanks
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Woolite, lets see, for fine washables.....

Windex, ummm, Im gonna take a guess and say glass and chrome?

Laquer thinner, used to thin paints, and clean brushes of paint, aka solvents, could be used to remove fresh paint or overspray, and other petroleum products.

WD40, another solvent/lubricant can be used for the same reasons one would use LT. They even recommend using it for crayon and paint removal. It did for car care, what asprin did for medicine.

Olive oil........you got me on that one...........

Dawn, for dishes......(just thought I'd cover that one)



Oh, now back to the original question, would I recommend Dawn fo cleaning a car? NO....

I love NXT but damn near got murdered here because of it!
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Justin, I believe you were just informed that there was better. NXT is made for car care isnt it?
 
Sal Zaino used Dawn in creating the Zaino mythology. Who except Zaino advises its use on automobile finishes? Why does anyone need to "de-wax" paint prior to claying, polishing or applying waxes with cleaners? NAME ONE AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURER OR PAINT MANUFACTURER THAT RECOMMENDS DAWN.



The Dawn wash is just one part of a very successful marketing program that involves the consumer in a non conforming special process intended to make products appear more exclusive and desirable. Price imparts a degree of exclusiveness, but it is the consumers investment of time, from Dawn washes to mixing components to applying multiple layers of sealent in a series of invariable steps that creates a loyal following.



Automobile detailing is 99% preperation and skill. The results are highly subjective. I contend that anyone who invests time and money in a particlar system, will see better results in their minds. "Hey, I just spent 10 hours on my paint and I don't want to hear any crap about the other guy's wax being better than the one I used!"



That is exactly why many on this site are defensive about what products they like. That's why Zaino has his followers, Meguiar has his minions (not that Barry would be caught dead being part of a minion - think about it) and other manufacturers have repeat customers



I'm sorry, but I rank Dawn washes with drinking poisoned Kool-Aid in Africa, drinking poisoned Kool-aid in San Diego waiting for the Mother Ship, baracading myself in a farmhouse in Texas, or being on fire for Jesus to keep my job.
 
carpetyd said:
No, you don't see Dawn on any auto detailing shelves, but at the same time you don't see many PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS WINNERS purchasing their products from these shelves.

Wonder why?
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Uh, the vast majority Pebble Beach class winners use Meguiar's products and do not wash with Dawn.
 
STG said:
Uh, the vast majority Pebble Beach class winners use Meguiar's products and do not wash with Dawn.
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I will second that – most of the big street guys and custom car guys us Meguiar's products also. Went to Good Guys, World of Wheels, Lead Sled Convention and numerous other shows and Meguiar’s was probably 90 percent of products in used.
 
Uh, okay so most of the Pebble Beach winners SAY they use Mequiars & most of the big street guys agree. I know some that do not use certain products, but say they do for obvious reasons.



What happened to the other guys that use other products and were winners at Pebble Beach? Nobody is telling you what products to use, so why would anyone, I am sure Barry would not, be critical of other cleaning methods, unless of course you profit from these products. Mequiars has some great products, some I use, but what car or paint manufacturer recommends their car wash?



BTW, you would be suprised that a quite a few entrants at the 2006 Radnor Hunt Concours D'Elegance use dawn.
 
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