Review & How-To: Meguiar`s Car Wash Plus

[Marc08EX]

Review & How-To: Meguiar`s Car Wash Plus
Meguiars Car Wash Plus+

Description: (Taken from Autopia)

Meguiar`s Wash Plus+ is a car wash plus a whole lot more!

Features:
Cleans tough dirt
Removes bugs & tar
Polishes away light scuffs
Saves Time! Apply Directly to Mitt
Clear Coat Safe
Super Concentrated, Does 20+ cars!

Details:
Size: 24oz Concentrate (20+ washes)


Price:

$9.99 for 24oz


Introduction:

For me, this product is one of the most controversial products that has been released recently. The first thing that went in my head was who in their right mind would use this product??? It seems so unsafe and it`s probably guaranteed to scratch your paint LOL! I had my doubts about this product and to be frank, I was ready to bash it because it just seems counter intuitive.

The thoughts I encountered about this product reminded me when rinseless washing first came out. Never thought the product would work, unsafe, would cause scratching, etc.

I guess let`s stop talking and put this product to the test!


Review:

Here`s the description and directions of this product:

The subject vehicle had a good layer of dust. It hasn`t been washed in 2 weeks. There hasn`t been any rain so it`s not overly dirty or muddy. Here are some close up shots showing how dusty the car is:

Here are some shots of bug guts that have been baking on the car:

The product description said that it could remove light scuff marks. So I wanted to put that claim to the test. Here are 2 sections of the vehicle where it has some scuff marks. These scuff marks have been on the vehicle for a while now and normal 2BM washing didn`t even touch them.

(Please see the 2 horizontal lines just above the roof of the car in the reflection)

First step is to rinse the vehicle to remove loose dirt and debris:

Next, drench your wash mitt in water so that it`s wet. Then apply the Meguiars Car Wash Plus+ soap directly on the wash mitt in a snake like pattern as shown:

Start washing a panel like normal:

Soap suds will materialize as you move the wash mitt around. Notice the insane amount of soap suds:

Rinse the panel you`re working on:

Same procedure on a different panel. This time we`re working on the hood. Again, wash the panel like normal after applying the Meguiars Car Wash Plus+ to your wash mitt:

Wash the entire panel and see the soap suds come out:

Rinse the panel you`re working on:

I assume you continue doing this until you`ve washed the entire vehicle. But IMHO, this is what makes this product controversial, unsafe and guaranteed to scratch your paint. You will accumulate all the dirt and debris from previous panels you washed and introduce them to the succeeding panels you`re washing.

But wait a minute!!! Let`s apply some logic and figure out a way to make this wash method safe.

Introducing the Marc08EX tips and tricks to make this product work safely:

What if we introduce a bucket that just has water and a grit guard inside? Just like a rinse bucket in the traditional 2 bucket method! So what you do is in between panels or soap applications to the wash mitt, you just dunk your wash mitt in the rinse bucket like you do in a traditional 2 bucket method to remove the dirt and debris lodged in your wash mitt.

That`s one way... But hey, you might say that the purpose of this product is to not use any buckets. Well, I have another solution for that! If you don`t want to bring out any buckets because it`s extra work and time consuming then what you do is just rinse your wash mitt with a strong stream of water in between panels or soap applications to the wash mitt. This will also help dislodge dirt and debris in your wash mitt from the recent panel you just washed.

Please excuse this picture. I wanted to take a picture of the mitt in my one hand and the hose nozzle on the other hand but I didn`t have the time and patience to setup my stand, the camera timer and get the right shot.

These 2 rinsing methods are what I actually employ when I use my foam gun to wash the car.

Continue washing the vehicle. The entire driver side of the vehicle was washed with only 2 applications of the Meguiars Car Wash Plus+. It`s crazy concentrated and one application in the wash mitt goes a very long way!

Rinse the car often and don`t let the soap dry.

Remember the bug gut that was in the front bumper? Let`s try to tackle that. First, wet the area to soften the bug gut:

Then just start washing the panel where the bug gut is. You may require to agitate this area more than normal to remove the baked on bug gut:

Here are some shots after washing the vehicle. As you can see, clean and shiny!

Bug guts gone!

Remember the 2 areas with scuff marks?? These areas literally required some elbow grease. So what I did was to wash the entire panel where the scuff marks are located then afterwards, I rinsed my wash mitt and re-applied some soap. Then I concentrated on the affected areas and applied some pressure as I was washing it. I actually washed it the same way as you`d polish scuff marks. Here are the results!! I was blown away that these scuff marks were removed. I honestly thought this car wash wouldn`t even touch them. It`s a car wash for crying out loud.

I originally thought that the bottle of Meguiars Car Wash Plus+ would only be able to wash a handful of cars. But boy I was wrong. Check out how much product I used after washing a Honda CR-V. I barely consumed anything! AMAZING!

Thoughts and Observations:

This product is very thick and viscous.

It has a very strong pleasant smell. I`d like to think it smells like an air freshener but I`m not exactly sure of the scent. I liked the scent a lot and it made washing the car a pleasure.

The product is highly concentrated. One application of the soap to the wash mitt can make you go at least 2 panels. I was able to wash 3 panels in one application but I didn`t want to push it beyond that. I didn`t want the dirt and debris to accumulate in my wash mitt.

As a result of the ultra high concentration - a bottle of this soap will be able to wash A LOT of cars.

The wash mitt needs to be drenched for this to work. If you wring out the wash mitt, the soap suds don`t get activated as well as when the wash mitt is drenched.

When extra steps are added to ensure that the wash mitt is clean, then this is definitely a safe method of washing the car IMHO.

I tested it to remove some light scuff marks - VERY IMPRESSED.

It definitely saved me time washing the car compared to using the 2BM.


Conclusion:

I`m sure many of you had doubts about this product as well but as Meguiar`s said - it`s a new revolutionary concept in car washing. I thought I wouldn`t like this product at all but I was pleasantly surprised on how much I liked it. Not only that but it worked effectively as well. It saved me time and removed some light scuff marks too. I highly recommend you give this product a chance and try it out. I hope you`ll be equally impressed with it.

As always, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this review. Comments are appreciated.

 

[Buster906]

This could be the next evolution of car soap. Great review

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[Marc08EX]

This could be the next evolution of car soap. Great review

Thanks a lot Buster906!

 

[WaxAddict]

Awesome photo-review.

this reminds me of how I would "wash+wax" my car before I fell into the rabbit hole. I would apply car wash soap and cherry wax (and later Buttery Wax) directly to the wash mitt. You`d think this method would create a mess but it didn`t, at all. Shine for days. Swirls were a bonus. Not that this Meguiars stuff is remotely the same thing as my pre-autopian method, but the idea of applying thick goo to a mitt scares me due to my past transgressions.

 

[Bill D]

Although there`s no way I would ever use this product, I wonder if washing with multiple mitts would make it safer.

 

[boomdone]

Great review! Interesting product for sure that I probably wouldn`t have given a 2nd thought but for this review. Seems like maybe you wouldn`t want to use for a maintenance wash if it contains mild abrasives (since it polishes out scuff marks) that would likely take off your LSP. Would you agree with that?

 

[nickclark08]

+1 on the LSP degradation question. As always, great review!

Great review! Interesting product for sure that I probably wouldn`t have given a 2nd thought but for this review. Seems like maybe you wouldn`t want to use for a maintenance wash if it contains mild abrasives (since it polishes out scuff marks) that would likely take off your LSP. Would you agree with that?

 

[etnops]

Have a couple of bottles of this stuff. What a strange, interesting, and excellent product.
Obliterates bugs, grime, and otherwise nasty stuff that regular old car soap won`t touch. I`ve had no issue using one mitt, with frequent rinsing.

Where the product shines, is in LSP removal. Going over the panel twice, pretty much strips whatever is on there (wax, sealant). Nice product if you`re getting ready for a polishing, or if you`d like a "naked" panel for a new LSP.
There`s another soap out there, with abrasives in in - made by a Japanese company - that works nearly as well. But given Meguiar`s is a US company, assumed to be made in the US, I`d turn to this product before for foreign alternative (which is also excellent).

 

[Bunky]

Thanks for the review. This is way to revolutionary to the ordinary consumer.

 

[PA DETAILER]

That is a unique car wash product. Almost like a cleaner/polish. That would be my biggest concern of degrading your LSP by using it. But using it to strip/clean the paint before a new LSP is applied, here it could be great?

 

[Marc08EX]

Awesome photo-review.

this reminds me of how I would "wash+wax" my car before I fell into the rabbit hole. I would apply car wash soap and cherry wax (and later Buttery Wax) directly to the wash mitt. You`d think this method would create a mess but it didn`t, at all. Shine for days. Swirls were a bonus. Not that this Meguiars stuff is remotely the same thing as my pre-autopian method, but the idea of applying thick goo to a mitt scares me due to my past transgressions.

Thanks WaxAddict!

Really? That`s very interesting. You were part of the revolutionary idea of Meguiar`s!

Although there`s no way I would ever use this product, I wonder if washing with multiple mitts would make it safer.

That would work - like the GDM for rinseless washing. But I think that rinsing off the wash mitt with a rinse bucket or just by blasting it is adequate.

Great review! Interesting product for sure that I probably wouldn`t have given a 2nd thought but for this review. Seems like maybe you wouldn`t want to use for a maintenance wash if it contains mild abrasives (since it polishes out scuff marks) that would likely take off your LSP. Would you agree with that?

Thank you so much boomDone!

Im really not sure about the LSP removal. It doesn`t say it in the product description. IMHO, I wouldn`t think it would degrade the LSP much if you`re just using it as a normal car wash, meaning by just washing your paint gently. But on the areas where you`re agitating the surface vigorously to remove bugs, tar and scuff marks then I would agree that it might remove LSP. Just use a spray LSP afterwards and call it good.

+1 on the LSP degradation question. As always, great review!

Thank you so much NickClark08! Please see my response above regarding LSP degradation. I will ask this question in MOL for further clarification.

Have a couple of bottles of this stuff. What a strange, interesting, and excellent product.
Obliterates bugs, grime, and otherwise nasty stuff that regular old car soap won`t touch. I`ve had no issue using one mitt, with frequent rinsing.

Where the product shines, is in LSP removal. Going over the panel twice, pretty much strips whatever is on there (wax, sealant). Nice product if you`re getting ready for a polishing, or if you`d like a "naked" panel for a new LSP.
There`s another soap out there, with abrasives in in - made by a Japanese company - that works nearly as well. But given Meguiar`s is a US company, assumed to be made in the US, I`d turn to this product before for foreign alternative (which is also excellent).

From your experience, does it eliminate the LSP completely?

Thanks for the review. This is way to revolutionary to the ordinary consumer.

My pleasure Bunky! Thanks for reading and commenting.

I agree - it might be too revolutionary at this point. But if the consumer thinks it`s easier than bucket washing then I have no doubts that person will pick this product off the shelf.

That is a unique car wash product. Almost like a cleaner/polish. That would be my biggest concern of degrading your LSP by using it. But using it to strip/clean the paint before a new LSP is applied, here it could be great?

Please see my response above to boomdone. I will clarify this over at MOL and report back what they say.

 

[Bill D]

More than one mitt will always be a staple for me. It`s to help cut the risk of marring. This product scares me. I actually had a nightmare about it last night.

 

[Marc08EX]

More than one mitt will always be a staple for me. It`s to help cut the risk of marring. This product scares me. I actually had a nightmare about it last night.

ROFL!!!

Yeah I totally understand. I think it will be a difficult or a long process for people to start accepting this product. But it`s a great product for what it is.

 

[rlmccarty2000]

I`m still not sure what to make of this product. I can`t figure out who they are marketing this to. Pros will probably stay away due to marring concerns (unless they are going to polish after use, it`s not a water saving product, it`s may not appeal to the "Dawn works for me crowd" because they already have Dawn, right? It`s kind of a product looking for a market instead of the other way around. I think Meg`s is moving away from the Autopian crowd by discontinuing products like d114 and 3 inch microfiber pads. I understand we probably make up a less than 1 percent of their business, but we probably have a much greater influence on the market than they realize. I wonder if Meg`s sent out samples to detailers for their opinion prior to the products release? Doubtful.

 

[Bill D]

I wonder what Megs` market research department is like.

 

[etnops]

From your experience, does it eliminate the LSP completely?

Spray waxes and the like are gone after going over the panels once. More substantial waxes and sealants are gone after 2 to 3 applications...when "stripping", I used more of the product, at a higher concentration.
Without a doubt, this product strips LSP`s...quickly.

 

[Accumulator]

I can`t figure out who they are marketing this to.... It`s kind of a product looking for a market...

I figure somebody at Meguiar`s thought there`d be a market for this...enough of a market to justify giving it a try, a market of, uhm...people who aren`t like us at Autopia. Simple as that..not "make for better detailing", not "make the world prettier one car at at time", just "make money off anybody who`ll buy a bottle". Not that I`m flaming them for that. Same as with those Armor All wipes and a whole lotta products..."will somebody buy it?" is all that matters. Downside is that unless enough people buy something, it simply gets discontinued no matter how good it is (3" MF Cutting Disks anyone?).

 

[rlmccarty2000]

I figure somebody at Meguiar`s thought there`d be a market for this...enough of a market to justify giving it a try, a market of, uhm...people who aren`t like us at Autopia. Simple as that..not "make for better detailing", not "make the world prettier one car at at time", just "make money off anybody who`ll buy a bottle". Not that I`m flaming them for that. Same as with those Armor All wipes and a whole lotta products..."will somebody buy it?" is all that matters. Downside is that unless enough people buy something, it simply gets discontinued no matter how good it is (3" MF Cutting Disks anyone?).

I have been thinking about those Armor All wipes (not for me) and if they are used to remove bird poo and not to wash the whole car they might actually be of some use to people who don`t drive around with a bottle of PBs Bird Sh*t remover and a microfiber towel. I`m sure they won`t just be used for that sole purpose though and then the wipes will cause more damage than prevent.

Megs will probably sell a few bottles of their new wash product and then drop it. I just don`t see many people needing this type of product when there are already easier ways to wash a car. I could be wrong though. I never thought people would buy the Polish Angel gold flaked stuff either...

 

[Accumulator]

rlmccarty2000- Yeah...those AA wipes are probably about the same as the SpeedShine ones GG sells (and which I used once upon a time).

Heh heh, I`d expect that PA stuff to stay around..."!oh, gold! So special.." Big market for being special these days But yeah, since Meguiar`s discontinues good products that people were buying I don`t expect this to stick around like M07.

 

[Marc08EX]

I`m still not sure what to make of this product. I can`t figure out who they are marketing this to. Pros will probably stay away due to marring concerns (unless they are going to polish after use, it`s not a water saving product, it`s may not appeal to the "Dawn works for me crowd" because they already have Dawn, right? It`s kind of a product looking for a market instead of the other way around. I think Meg`s is moving away from the Autopian crowd by discontinuing products like d114 and 3 inch microfiber pads. I understand we probably make up a less than 1 percent of their business, but we probably have a much greater influence on the market than they realize. I wonder if Meg`s sent out samples to detailers for their opinion prior to the products release? Doubtful.

Yeah I have no clue who this product will be best suited for. Now that I`m learning how it degrades your existing LSP, then I`m less likely to use this as a maintenance wash.

Spray waxes and the like are gone after going over the panels once. More substantial waxes and sealants are gone after 2 to 3 applications...when "stripping", I used more of the product, at a higher concentration.
Without a doubt, this product strips LSP`s...quickly.

Thanks for your input. You confirmed Meguiar`s response as seen in the response below.