Is concentrating shampoo harmful?

[madman]

I have a stupid question that nags me.



Okay, so we more or less use branded car shampoos for our beloved vehicles because these are not supposed to strip off the wax that we have so painstakingly put on. They're supposed to just wash off the dirt.



But I get this great temptation to add just a wee bit more of the shampoo to my bucket of water than what is instructed on the shampoo bottle label. The soapier result of a more concentrated solution gives me the feeling that it will clean the car a lot better.



Will doing so be bad to my wax? Would the more-than-usual concentration strip off my wax?

 

[togwt]

Itâ€â„¢s been my experience with carwash concentrates (and any soap/detergent for that matter) to use half the amount they suggest and it will clean just as well (they have a built-in safety factor, and its in there interests for you to use/buy as much of their product as they can â€Ëœsellâ€â„¢ you)



The usual dilution is l oz per two gallons water (using a lesser dilution will leave a film on the paint surface) Avoid products that contain harsh detergents as they will emulsify and leach out any oils or waxes that provide protection and/or flexibility.



Using more concentrate than is recommended will probably only strip away some of the protection, but it wonâ€â„¢t harm the surface. It will cause you to buy more carwash and wax/sealant and use them more often, if it makes you happy, it will make the manufacturer happy-so itâ€â„¢s a Win/Win situation

JonM

 

[tom p.]

yeah, I would agree with that advice. I am very conservative with the amount of shampoo added. I usually reduce the recommended amount by 50 - 66 % and still have mucho foam. A few of the products I use at 100% of recommended strength.



More soap doesn not necessarily equate to "more clean".

 

[Lowejackson]

Agreed, more soap or detergent does not mean cleaner. It probably does mean more water during the rinse cycle to avoid steaks or other residue.



Maybe for wheel cleaning

 

[Big Leegr]

I think it depends on what your definition of "wee bit" is, as well as how accurate you are in measuring. 1/8 oz. extra in "about the recommended amount of water" isn't likely to cause catastophic issues. Using less/more may affect the pH balance somewhat. Using "way" too much shampoo *may* strip the wax, depending on factors such as the wax, shampoo, how 'enthusiastically' you wash the car, etc.

Just fyi, I've used car shampoo straight to clean engines, so it can remove grease/wax. Again, this was undilluted.

 

[benpocock]

I never measure out how much shampoo I use, I just up-end the bottle and give it a good squeeze! I always go on the theory that more soap=more lubrication for the crap to float away on.



Ben

 

[Accumulator]

Some shampoos seem to strip LSPs quite readily (Pinnacle Bodywork Shampoo) while others don't (Griot's Car Wash). I'd try different combos of shampoo/LSP and find stuff that works well together.



Funny about the Griot's, they say how you can "use it undilted to remove tar" but still, it doesn't seem to strip my KSG *at all*. Even after a year or more my KSG is fine, despite frequent washes with the Griot's. That's one combo that *works*. The Griot's is a bit harder on my UPP but it doesn't seem to strip my #16 or 476S.



I use the same spray bottle mix of Griot's for my wheels and for some of my spot-claying. It's a pretty strong mix but it doesn't cause any problems. I had basically the same experience with Meg's #62 also.

 

[Bill D]

How would you rate #62 to Griot's ? The #62 can be a local buy at a good paint supply shop.

 

[Accumulator]

Bill D.-Once I switched to Griot's I never went back to #62. Still have a half-gallon or two around here somewhere. It's not bad, though. Decent lubricity, no real issues with it. Funny, but I don't remember much about it despite having used it for years You might give it a try and see how it compares with your Duragloss.

 

[TDMAN]

You guys actually measure your soap? I usually just eye how much they say to use. I do agree that you can use too much soap, and have issues when rinsing the product off.