Todays dumb question..

N

Nebraska99

New member
When you guys say "dawn wash" you really mean any cheap brand harsh type dish soap , right?



Not specifically that brand?



Told you it was a dumb question.
 
No, actually, they usually mean specifically Dawn, and specifically the blue, non-ultra/concentrated/moisturizing/whatever formula. Just the plain old original blue Dawn. :)
 
That's just personally preference on this board. Any dish soap with good cleaning power and no additives like moisturers and such will do the job. Dawn was originally recommended by Sal Zaino as a good one because you can get the one with no additives.



After all, all you are using the dishsoap for is as a detergent and degreaser.



Edit: I just noticed that Aurora40 is using APC+ instead of Dawn to strip his wax in preparation for Z. So he answered this question in regards to what's so special about Dawn! :P
 
2wheelsx2 said:
Edit: I just noticed that Aurora40 is using APC+ instead of Dawn to strip his wax in preparation for Z. Just he answered this question in regards to what's so special about Dawn! :P
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Ha ha, yeah, but I was just answering the question as to what most people do a "dawn wash" with. I didn't say I use it. I'm not real comfortable wiping around the Dawn on my paint since it's really not a paint product. My concern is whether it has enough lubrication, plus it is pretty alkaline. I don't wipe APC+, and I can be a little more careful to keep it away from plastics and rubber. :P ;)
 
That's my point. Dawn really has no magical properties other than that it is a degreaser and detergent. I guess Tide would be able to do the same. :D
 
Besides Dawn having very good oil/grease removing abilities, it is also more alkaline than some other dish soaps. This is why you never want to keep using Dawn or other dish soap, the alkalinity will strip wax and leave a film at times. This is wht I wash after Dawn with a good car wash to make sure all film is gone.



Regards,

Deanski
 
I use the antibacterial Dawn so I have a sterile surface to begin working with :) Actually, I'm with most of the others that it doesn't matter too much what kind, as long as it is a good degreaser. And like Deanski said, I always wash with a good car wash to remove any film (even though a polish would probably remove it, too. Better safe than sorry!).



Dave
 
I still have no idea why some detailers believe that Dawn is a MUST step if they wanyt their finish to come out right:confused:



If I need to strip off some prior wax/sealant application I will wash with regular car soap and mix in some liquid tar/wax remover.



OR I'll just clay the finish and give it a alcohol/water wipe down afterwards and then begin my cleaning/polishing process.



Some folks are just making too much work for themselves by:



Washing with dawn

Dry car

Clay car

Wash again with Dawn



Instead you can: Wash the car with regular soap, clay the car while the car is still wet, wetting the car as needed. Dry the car and begin polishing.



Dawn is for dishes, leave it in the kitchen:up



Anthony
 
Anthony Orosco said:
I still have no idea why some detailers believe that Dawn is a MUST step if they wanyt their finish to come out right:confused:



If I need to strip off some prior wax/sealant application I will wash with regular car soap and mix in some liquid tar/wax remover.



OR I'll just clay the finish and give it a alcohol/water wipe down afterwards and then begin my cleaning/polishing process.



Some folks are just making too much work for themselves by:



Washing with dawn

Dry car

Clay car

Wash again with Dawn



Instead you can: Wash the car with regular soap, clay the car while the car is still wet, wetting the car as needed. Dry the car and begin polishing.



Dawn is for dishes, leave it in the kitchen:up



Anthony
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Can I get an AMEN??? :wavey Claying while washing with a high lubricity wash will get rid of that wax buildup, and take care of three steps at once. Soap, clay, rinse, soap, rinse, and you have a wax-free car...:xyxthumbs
 
Anthony Orosco said:
Instead you can: Wash the car with regular soap, clay the car while the car is still wet, wetting the car as needed. Dry the car and begin polishing.
Click to expand...



I agree with you completely, Dawn is not necessary. But using it when I can saves me 1oz of car wash soap :D

So by using it when I have it lying around the house I'm actually not misinformed, I'm just really cheap.:)



No actually I use what ever is easiest for me to grab when I do a full detail.
 
Milani, Patrick and Gary...



Thanks for the AMENs and hey, I am quoted now in someones sig.....awesome!!



Iconoclast,



If you really want to save money and be cheap try this next time you wash your car. Add some cooking oil (coconut oil is good), about a tablespoon or more to several gallons of water, add a pinch of car soap if you like and then wash your car as normal.



This method works well BUT you must overcome the mental mindset that SUDS are needed because the fact is it is not the suds that clean your car but rather the surface-active chemicals in the soap (I am told the suds are a by-product of these chemicals in some cases but not all). I tested out a car soap for Irene at Top of the Line once and I called her and said "This stuff sucks!! There are no suds, where are the suds??"



Well she went on to explain how the chemist said that the suds don't clean the car, yadda, yadda, yadda, but that main importance is the lubrication of the soap and it is the oils that fulfill this job. She tried selling the soap, which worked great by the way, even without the suds, but the general public didn't buy it because they wanted to see suds and plenty of them so they added more suds and guess what? It sold better...go figure.



Well I have gone on long enough, later.



Anthony
 
Anthony Orosco said:
you must overcome the mental mindset that SUDS are needed because the fact is it is not the suds that clean your car but rather the surface-active chemicals in the soap .............. main importance is the lubrication of the soap and it is the oils that fulfill this job.
Click to expand...



And another AMEN yet again! lol
 
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