Washing your own car

[sdc2027]

I have heard using just "any soap" isn't a good idea. What ideas do people have for frugal car cleaning "soap"? I looked at the ingrediates on one of the bottles and I didn't understand it enough to make a replacement

[byusteeler]

Due to drought conditions there was talk of restricting self washing of cars in our area last year. It never came through and we've had a better water year so far this year. So hopefully washing the car ourselves will remain an option. As for the soap I usually just use dish soap. My car is 7 years old and it's finish still looks good.

[PrincessPerky]

My FIL insists that no soap is ok for a car, he uses plain water, I told DH he was welcome to put his own elbow grease into it, butI use the stuff that came with the car.

[BlingBling]

I use the stuff at Walmarts, it rinses easy and does not streak. I figured if I am going to do it I better get it right the first time! I've used washing soap but have been told its hard on the paint and I do notice more streaks.

[acezz4e_tish]

i just use a lil dawn in my sprayer on the hose. it works gr8! saves me lots too since i wash mine alot. i live on a nasty county road, not very well kept. the water from rain will sit for a week at least here. all the pot holes.u have to drive coasting. not using the gas at all, to get out of here, and some days im behind and cant, so i wash it up real quick at the quarter wash. i owuld feel bad if the kids teachers had to get thier hands nasty, just cause the county dont care about our road.

[Irq21]

Dish soap strips off the wax off of your car. So unless you plan to wax everytime you wash, then it is a bad idea to just grab the dish soap.

[Ima saver]

My husband is really into car washing. He washes my car about 4 times a week. When I traded in my last 7 year old car, people thought it was brand new. I will ask him what he uses, but it is not soap. It is something he buys at Wal Mart.

[acezz4e_tish]

i just use a dab of dawn, i do it only to keep the passanger side cleaned off. when my cam comes back from the shop, ill take some pix of my street so you can see why i wash mine daily. i use wax anytime im at the car wash, but i have to jet out to pick up kids, so i sometimes, not all the time, have to go over the sliding door on my van. our county does our road prolly twice a year. they send out a tractor with a snow blade v shaped, and a small load of dirt, he grades and drags that mostly rock dirt he brings and thats it, they dont even use a roller. it usually rains w/in an hour after they do this too. its pretty useless. a week w/o dusting in my house, my ceiling is almost black. i wrote our senator, he has a local house, i told him about our street, and how macomb county michigan does thier streets, and he said it would cost jobs to do it. i think it would add jobs not take from it. i told him, they grate it and have two rollers behind it, and the second roller also has the plastic containter that sprays, i asked last trip up there, and he said it was clorinated water. that makes the road like a paved road.

[Ima saver]

My husband uses something called blue coral from wal Marts. He washes our car at least 3 tims a week. It is so shiny!!

[elcheapo]

I only wash my car with products especially designed for washing my car. My car is my baby
so it is well loved

[Russell]

Only use soap, wax etc designed for automotive use - the other stuff will harm the finish over time.

I can go without washing my car ever 2 months and people still comment on how clean my car is. The secret ? I keep the car in the garage over night and dust it off every morning with the 'California duster'. This saves, time, energy, money and most of all precious water!

[Tightwad Kitty]

Originally Posted by Russell

Only use soap, wax etc designed for automotive use - the other stuff will harm the finish over time.

I can go without washing my car ever 2 months and people still comment on how clean my car is. The secret ? I keep the car in the garage over night and dust it off every morning with the 'California duster'. This saves, time, energy, money and most of all precious water!

Hi Russell
As I live on the other side of the Pacific Ocean, can you tell me what's is 'California Duster' ?

[Russell]

Sure, take a look here http://www.calcarduster.com/ - you can buy them just about anywhere online including amzon.com