JPs GT Car Wash Soap

Welcome to JPs General Tech on Car Wash Soap!

Refer to my Detailing 101 thread for more information on basic detailing tools and items.

Soap...Mix it with water, make suds, remove dirt...Seems pretty basic. However a proper Car Wash Soap is very important to keeping your paint looking good. Also equally important are all the other items on your car that need a proper soap such as plastics, lights, rubber, chrome etc. Choosing the proper cleaning agent for your regular washes will help to keep your car clean. Choosing the proper cleaning agent when you have a quality wax or sealer is exponentially important. You can easily undo protection by using the wrong cleaner.

First, What is the purpose of using a soap in car washing? The ideal soap when washing your car will lubricate the surface of your paint. This is arguably the most important role when washing your car. You can wash your car with almost any product, but none of those products would be up to the task. Your cleaning agent must be able to lubricate the surface reducing damage to your paint. This is why many proper automotive washes feel slippery and are loaded with foaming agents giving copious suds. The slickness of the soap and the foam will work together to "float" away dirt as it slides down the car. Also not to be reduced, the soap must be able to break the surface friction where the dirt is attached to the surface. This will reduce scrubbing, which would lead to more scratches. This will be accomplished by a host of chemicals and oils designed to break down dirt, clean the surface and encapsulate any abrasives. Finally, the soap needs to wash away clean without leaving a residue. This would not only immediately affect the shine, but as the sun bakes away at the residue it would do all kinds of nasty to your paint. Cleaners specific to washing automobiles will be properly pH balanced as acidic and base solution will have adverse effects on the surface of the paint.

One common product people will use is a Dish Liquid to wash their car. It may be cheap, hell it may be handy, but it should never be used as a part of your regular wash regiment. Dish detergents contain stabilizing and thickening agents, surfactants, salts, fragrances, dyes, and preservatives. The combination of these ingredients creates a higher pH level – usually in the 8.5 to 9.5 range. This is what helps to remove grease and food that is caked onto plates and dishes. In the kitchen sink, you don't need to be worried about soap degrading the surface of your stainless pots, or stoneware dishes.
***If you are planning on stripping old coatings a Dish Detergent can be used, however there are properly formulated stripper solutions also available.***

I would advise to look for a product that does not include a wax. Duo wash products apply the wax to the complete vehicle. Your wax should be applied to the painted surfaces where it is needed. The wax over time can build up on plastics adding to the problem where trim oxidizes and begins to appear chalky.

I have been using Meguires Gold Class for a long time now and have never had an issue with the product. pH neutral, safe on waxes and sealants. It foams well, my wash mitt glides easily even over heavy build up such as behind wheel openings and it rinses away spotless. Gold Class has very good market coverage and is easy to find and is relatively inexpensive.


Chemical Guys MrPink has been well reviewed by many. It is a high foam action cleaner, pH neutral and formulated for weekly use. Safe on waxes & sealants, and can be used in a bucket wash ("2 Bucket" ) or with a foam cannon. This stuff is great, and in a foam cannon is actually a lot of fun.


I used Zymol AutoWash long before I fell down the detailing rabbit hole. Suggested by a friend while he washed his YZF one day. This stuff foams good and the foam hangs around a long time. I switched to Zymol from wash and wax I was using as a top up to my low rent wax...how times have changed.


I have had good results with many of their products and the next time I put an order in I will grab a bottle of Poorboy's Super Slick & Suds to test out.


Waterless Wash - I still like my old school bath time procedures when washing a car. The "waterless wash" is an alternative to digging out all the kit. With so designated products and a microfiber towel, you can clean light dust and dirt from your car. I would consider using this in emergencies such as large bug impacts or bird droppings if they were recent. Not only does it clean, but many of the products will protect the area by applying a wax or sealer coating at the same time.


The floor is open to discussion...

Thank you,
JP
edited for updates

 

+1 for chemical guys Mr Pink works wonders in the bucket or foam gun

 

TL;DR - I would use either product again, delivered equal results overall, both are quality and give top tier results.

This summer I decided to do a little head to head with my usual go to Meguire's Gold Class and Chemical Guys Mr.Pink. Why? Just to see if there is any difference side by side. My reason for choosing Mr.Pink was largely due to the ease of quality results and market availability, as its easy to find.
Chemical Guys is a regular go to when I get asked what to use in various situations, especially to those who are not detailing savvy. I can suggest a product that is easy to use and gives good results.

Meguire's Gold Class sells for about $16-20 for a 64oz/1.89L jug at a local big box.
Directions: use 1oz per gal.
Net 2-bucket washes: 8 (2 buckets with ~4gal water plus suds)
About $2.5 per wash.

Chemical Guys Mr.Pink sells for about $7-10 for a 16oz/473mL bottle at a local big box.
Directions: use 1-3oz/5 gal pail
Net 2-bucket washes: 2-8 (2 buckets with ~4gal water plus suds)
note: for this I used 3oz.
About $5 per wash.

To start, we have my 06 WWP MS6 with a week of highway commuting, about 5 hours driving total.
I do live in the country and the insects are at large. This particular week there was no rain, but the mornings were cool and there was dew in the am. The car was generally clean looking, most people wouldn't wash their white car at this point...but I digress.


Setting up, I did not do a 2 bucket method, but instead I put them in the same wash procedure with a single bucket each. The drivers side was washed with the Mr.Pink and Meguire's on the passenger side. 2 buckets, 2 wash mitts and rinsing from the center out. I measured both bucket as per instructions and both products built good foam.

Although the two products produced an equal amount of suds in the buckets, Meguire's seemed slightly easier to collect up in the wash mitt and transfer to the wash surface. There was a bit more tension to the foam leaving a bit more on the surfaces.

As I continued to wash the car, the amount of foam in the Meguire's bucket remained fuller. The Mr.Pink foam seemed to dissipate slightly faster. At this point I had washed the greenhouse, hood and front.

As I continued to work down the sides of the car, both products cleaned equally well. Both provided equal lubricity and lifting ability. By this time I began to see the Meguire's foam hang in a little stronger.

After washing the car, I was left with a good amount from both products and was not left stranded without enough wash solution to complete the car. I did have more foam left over with the Meguire's, which at the end of the day is valuable to help suspend and float off dirt and debris. Considering Mr.Pink still had foam to use, I wouldn't say it didn't complete its job either.

Finally, once the car has been completely rinsed and the work is completed I noticed the way the water remained on the surface of the car. Mr.Pink might be easier to dry post wash as the water seemed to naturally bead off. The Meguire's beaded well providing many smaller beads.

Conclusion would be that both products provided an excellent clean hitting all the marks. I never doubted there would be a cut and dry winner as both products are top shelf. The Meguire's will be a bit more cost effective based on regular pricing. The high point for the Mr.Pink would be the bead action after washing reducing the work of drying the car.

I continued to purchase the Meguire's as I an get a month out of the 64oz bottle. Both products are available in small, jug size and large containers about 1 gal. with these 2 being the most commonly seen for each respective product. Choose your team player, both will not disappoint!