I never understood this. It is the mildest detergent available, yet everyone says not to use it to wash your car. I have been doing it for years. I always rinse my car down really well, then use liberal amounts of dishsoap and water with a sponge, then rinse thoroughly and then use a clean cotton towell to dry. Opinions? Is there something better? Incidentally, I also give it a good paste-waxing every five or six months. :help

Ugh... do a search. Dishsoap is great for what it's made for... but do you cook and eat off your car? Do you get oil, cheese, or the like on your car? Dishsoap is made for dissolving oil. The problem is that it will also dry out your paint by pulling out the oils in it.

Also, I find your comment about dishsoap being the mildest detergent available to be incredibly short-sighted. Would you wash your hair in it?

Car wash is milder than dishsoap. It is made to take off bugs, tar, etc. but not the oils in the paint.

I'm sure I was a little back and forth in this post, but given the topic, I don't see how I can't be. This topic has been beaten to death.

ive found it strips most of the wax/protectant from your car.. I have always been told to wash your car with dishsoap prior to waxing.. this prepares it to be waxed.. I would never suggest regular cleanings with dishsoap.. why would you?? car soap is soo cheap and it lasts a long time.. you can feel the texture difference between the two immediatly.. instead of pulling the sponge across the car it glides smoothly... Goodluck.. I would get wax on your car NOW... :-)

I don't know if diswashing liquid removes oils fromm the paint. I don't even know if it will strip the wax. But Meguiars Gold Class or NXT is about the same price as Dawn dish washing liquid, so I use the product that's intended for car washing.

AFAIK, wax's only last about 6 weeks instead of 6 months. IMHO, I'd probably wax more often if I were you. You might want to try the Klasse AIO and SG sometime. Nice acrylic sealant that rally shines and protects for up to six months. You can always top that with a good pure carnuba if you want.

ive found it strips most of the wax/protectant from your car.. I have always been told to wash your car with dishsoap prior to waxing.. this prepares it to be waxed.. I would never suggest regular cleanings with dishsoap.. why would you?? car soap is soo cheap and it lasts a long time.. you can feel the texture difference between the two immediatly.. instead of pulling the sponge across the car it glides smoothly... Goodluck.. I would get wax on your car NOW... :-)
do NOT use dishsoap in an effort to remove wax, or in general. The surfectants and detergents in dishsoap are verry aggresive and will take off portions of your wax, but not all of it. A claybar is the only thing to remove all wax. Follow up with a wax after claying.

do NOT use dishsoap in an effort to remove wax, or in general. The surfectants and detergents in dishsoap are verry aggresive and will take off portions of your wax, but not all of it. A claybar is the only thing to remove all wax. Follow up with a wax after claying.

Actually, any good polish will remove wax as well.

Actually, any good polish will remove wax as well.
that is also true. :) I normally do not apply polish to my car, so I just clay instead, and I am guaranteed to remove all wax and surface contaminants.