Dishwashing detergent for washing cloths & applicators?

G

Greg2

New member
Is it ok to use dishwashing detergent to wash cleaning cloths and applicator pads etc?

I'm thinking that perhaps it will be stronger than normal clothes washing liquid, and do a better job.



Also, is it safe for the washing machine?



Thanks,

Greg.
 
Greg: Dishwasher detergent has abrasives and chlorine (bleach) in it. I would highly suggest AGAINST using this.





Typically, many members recommend using a standard detergent in "free/clear" version. Only use a small amount of detergent in a hot wash cycle. Put a downy ball full of distilled white vinegar in so that it can rinse through in the final cycle. I usually run the rinse cycle twice. The MFs should smell like nothing when you take them out.



Dry on low heat or no heat.
 
G35stilez said:
Greg: Dishwasher detergent has abrasives and chlorine (bleach) in it. I would highly suggest AGAINST using this.





Typically, many members recommend using a standard detergent in "free/clear" version. Only use a small amount of detergent in a hot wash cycle. Put a downy ball full of distilled white vinegar in so that it can rinse through in the final cycle. I usually run the rinse cycle twice. The MFs should smell like nothing when you take them out.



Dry on low heat or no heat.
Click to expand...



Abrasives? Hmmm. So why is it sometimes recommended for removing wax off the bodywork, or is this actually not a good idea?



Here are the ingredients of my current dishwashing liquid:

- biodegradable cleaning & sudsing agents (anionic & non-anionic surfactants)

- clarifying agent (carbamide)

- dispersing aid (alcohol)

- fragrance

- colour & preservative



Do you think any of these are abrasive?



What the heck is a "downy ball"? :) (I'm in Australia, and have never heard of it)

[EDIT: Ok, googled - all clear now]



Thanks,

Greg.
 
My hesitation with dishwashing detergent is that it never seems to rinse completely clean from fabrics. I will use a touch of Ivory to spot treat a stain but I will rinse extremely well before putting it in the washing machine.

I use a free and clear version of liquid laundry soap for my MF's, rinse twice, the second time with a cup of distilled white vinegar and they come out clean, fluffy and residue free.

Check out the specific microfiber cleaners, I understand that they work extremely well. (See a current thread by Danase, one of the forum sponsers.) Also, "Charlie's Soap" seems highly recommended for MF's, pads, applicators, etc. and of course laundry. This is readily available on the web.
 
I have a bottle of Dawn original dishwashing liquid (not for a dishwasher) that I use sometimes to do an initial cleaning of my PC pads by hand in a bucket. I've never used it in a washing machine, but I have put some APC in there when I occasionally wash PC pads in the clothes washer.



For MF's I always wash separately, use a detergent made for MF's, and run at least two rinse cycles.
 
Greg2 said:
Abrasives? Hmmm. So why is it sometimes recommended for removing wax off the bodywork, or is this actually not a good idea?



What the heck is a "downy ball"? :) (I'm in Australia, and have never heard of it)

[EDIT: Ok, googled - all clear now]



Thanks,

Greg.
Click to expand...

Actually, if you check the websites of many dishwashing soap manufacturers you'll find they advise you not to use their products to wash your car. These soaps are very strong and can dry out the plastic/rubber/vinyl on the exterior of your car over time. The only manufacturer I know of that actually advocates the use of dishwashing soap is Sal Zaino. Before the Zaino line became popular most detailing enthusiasts that I knew of universally agreed that dishwashing soap was a no-no.



This is the Downy Ball. It's basically a way to deliver fabric softener during the rinse cycle without actually having to stand at the machine waiting.
 
Greg: I'm sorry, I meant the dishwasher liquid (like Sunlight). Dawn (dish detergent) is much safer, but I wouldn't use it on my towels.





Mike: Zaino only recommends using Dawn before a full detail. If you detail your car 4 times per year, you will not have any ill effects from using Dawn. However, I agree with you in that washing weekly will dry out your rubber/plastic over time.
 
G35stilez said:
Mike: Zaino only recommends using Dawn before a full detail. If you detail your car 4 times per year, you will not have any ill effects from using Dawn. However, I agree with you in that washing weekly will dry out your rubber/plastic over time.
Click to expand...

Sean: Thanks. I knew that Sal recommends only occasional use of Dawn. I still don't understand his recommendation as when you're doing a full detail you'll likely also be using clay or polish which has the same effect on old LSPs. IMO it's not worth the possibility that it may cause any damage at all.



Anyway, back on point, I would be concerned about excessive foaming when using dishwashing liquid in a washing machine. When I was little I accidentally put some in the dishwashing machine and foam started leaking out the side. Given the amount of water used in a washing machine in order to be effective you'd need to use an amount of dishwashing liquid which would generate massive amounts of foam.
 
Dawn is not functionally abrasive, nor are countless other liquid dishwashing detergents. I've used them to clean countless *very* soft plastic lenses over the years and they never marred them (or anything else I cleaned with the stuff). The powder stuff that G35stilez mentioned can be quite different.



The ingredients in these detergents are so similar to those in carwash shampoo that if you didn't know which was which you'd probably need a lab to tell 'em apart ;)



But as to the actual topic of the OP- these detergents work well for me in this capacity, but others have reported that they compromised the adhesive that secures the velcro backing to their pads.



I've put Dawn in the washing machine many times, but you don't want to overdo it lest you get the foam eruption that Mikeyc mentioned. I get around it by using a sensible dose of Dawn and setting the water level pretty low. FWIW I've done this with Simple Green and other such products, no problems. Just rinse rinse rinse...and then rinse some more.



There are probably better products you can use for this, but one of the great benefits to dishwashing detergents *is* that everybody already has them on hand.
 
Actually, Zaino does not recommend Dawn before each complete detail. Its a one time use before you start using Zaino. This is because it is supposed to remove previous waxes,e tc that would interfere with Zaino bonding with your paint surface. If you wash once with Dawn and keep using Zaino, there is no need to wash with Dawn again.
 
dpritchett said:
Actually, Zaino does not recommend Dawn before each complete detail. Its a one time use before you start using Zaino. This is because it is supposed to remove previous waxes,e tc that would interfere with Zaino bonding with your paint surface. If you wash once with Dawn and keep using Zaino, there is no need to wash with Dawn again.
Click to expand...





Right.





I just use it before every customer detail as I don't know what has touched their car prior to. Furthermore, I find the extra cleaning ability helps with loosening up bonded contaminants prior to and while claying.
 
I would think if you washed with dawn, some of it may remain on the cloth and when used it would have the same effect on the wax\sealant\polish\etc. as washing with dawn to a degree anyways.. I mean, I'm pretty sure they tell you not to use bleach for the same reason.
 
Classic motoring says that dishwashing soap will attack the glue holding the foam pad to the backing.
 
I'll put it as simply as possible... NO don't use dish soap (hand or machine type) in a clothes washer.



Main reason is it makes too much suds which makes it harder to rinse out of the fabric. It can also do damage to the clotheswasher because it never fully rinses out.



It is not "stronger" than clothes detergent, it is different. just wash your fabrics with liquid detergent and hot water and forget about anything else. Also, solvents and degreasers are not good for clothes washers so degreaser "specialty" type detergents are not a good idea either.
 
Thanks everyone. I think I'll just stick to standard clothes washing liquid for now, but may try the purpose designed mf towel detergent at some stage though.



I wanted something stronger mainly to help rid my cloths of the incredible amount of BMW brake dust - I'm currently driving a 7-series as a limousine and I sometimes need to clean the wheels with a cloth without the benefit of a pre-hosing. The amount of brake dust these cars shed is just amazing.



Greg.
 
I use woolite to wash my MF's, but only as my last stage on some of the MF's because woolite does not completely clean my dirtiest of MF's. I pre-treat the black spots on my dirty MF's with blue dawn liquid dish soap. If there are black spots on my MF's, then I pour blue dawn liquid dish soap on them and rub the stains out right then and there. After I thoroughly rinse them (which takes a lot of rinsing), I put them in the washer with the bulk of my other MF's that don't need pre-treating and I use woolite with 2 rinse cycles. If you can get away with just using woolite, then that's probably the best solution because its gentle.
 
I take all my towels to a laundromat, where I use a mix of liquid laundry soap with a touch of Dawn dish soap and loads of vinegar. If that machine is half as clean as my towels when they're done, I shoudl charge the laundromat for cleaning their machine :think2
 
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