Still confused about LSP stripping...

Dawn will remove most carnauba waxes and hybrids IME. Polymer sealants are not so easily removed.

A chemical polish/paint cleaner should do a thorough job if you don't want to polish.

I use paint cleaners to strip sealants. Strong soaps for wax often help for nubas

why do you want to strip?
and don't use dawn it will screw up your trim and your car.
I never understand why people do this. no reason what so ever.

I did a test and used dawn on my car with two layers of Klasse SG and OCW car held up pretty good still with beading

+ 1 ^

Stripping of everything, especially with Dawn soap seems way to aggressive. Maybe for a coating but besides that like I said, it seems really aggressive.

Idk :dunno: I am probably wrong

in 15 years I've never had a problem with dawn on any surface/part of the car when I'm stripping......I always polish anyway so it's something I don't care to get OCD about...

You should never use straight down thats for sure but if you mix it its fine doesn't hurt anything.

I am probably responsible for much of the questioning of supposed stripping techniques.

If you are talking about the had washing up liquid Dawn (viscous surfactanty liquid), then I strongly question anyone saying that it strips LSP. My basis? Because I have not found a single washing up liquid (Fairy is our 'standard' in the UK, we don't have Dawn) which actually strips anything. This covers everything from spray wax through to polymer sealants. What I have found repeatedly is that these product leave surfactant films which hide the beading/sheeting of many LSPs. This is worst with waxes which I believe is the reason people think that waxes are so prone. Keep in mind that this very character is just what Dawn is designed to do - it leaves films which ensure that water does not spot and leave marks.

IPA is also not a solution to most LSPs. If you look at the recent thread on 'super polishes' you will see that there are experienced detailers concurring. IPA will often fail to remove some of the fillers in the polishes, it seems a bit of a stretch to think it will reliably remove LSPs which are designed to be durable.

Briefly, my experience is built around testing of products we formulate. As such, I repeatedly apply and strip LSPs. Surfactant washing (like Dawn), alkaline washing (like APCs) and IPA washing are routinely ineffective against any half decent LSP (beyond potentially hiding them under a surfactant film) - we do not even bother with these as they are just a waste of time. Non-polar solvent products (like mineral spirits, but typically requiring something more potent) are definitely more effective - I will often use something along these lines as a start point. If the LSP is fresh, a single hit will often fail but it is worth a go. For me, the only guaranteed way of getting a good LSP off is with an abrasive of some kind.

YMMV and obviously I am talking about different LSPs than most are actually using but, as I have stated before, if your LSP really is as fragile as some people imply with their stripping methods, maybe it is time to look to a better LSP.

This stuff is easy to use and works great. I'm not a fan of using Dawn to remove old wax, it's too harsh
Griot's Garage Paint Prep, Griots Paint Cleaner, Prewax cleaner

jpegs13 said:

This stuff is easy to use and works great. I'm not a fan of using Dawn to remove old wax, it's too harsh
Griot's Garage Paint Prep, Griots Paint Cleaner, Prewax cleaner

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Dawn, the hand dish wash liquid? As a generic question as many of you guys are saying it... what is so harsh about Dawn?

PiPUK said:

Dawn, the hand dish wash liquid? As a generic question as many of you guys are saying it... what is so harsh about Dawn?

Click to expand...

I've never done a Dawn wash, only because well, I wouldnt use CG Citrus Wash and Gloss or Mr Pink on my dishes, so why use dish soap on my car! :xyxthumbs:

Detailing by M said:

why do you want to strip?
and don't use dawn it will screw up your trim and your car.
I never understand why people do this. no reason what so ever.

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Well... if one wants to apply a different wax than the one already on the paint, and the new wax calls for a clean finish for proper bonding, one would want to strip.

This is why I still have unopened samples of wax. Too lazy to strip the paint.

I think paint cleaners, paint inspections and so on are too expensive imo. I have done so many cars it would cost way to much money to keep buying "brand name" strippers, paint inspection cleaners, etc. I'll stick to dawn and IPA

c8n said:

Well... if one wants to apply a different wax than the one already on the paint, and the new wax calls for a clean finish for proper bonding, one would want to strip.

This is why I still have unopened samples of wax. Too lazy to strip the paint.

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Absolutely no reason to strip.
Proper bonding?
You think one wax wont work on a wax that's been on your paint for a few months?
No evidence to this fact at all.
You can wax with whatever you want.
I've never stripped and never will.
When you polish you strip. I polish paint then wax it.
And if I was going to use a "different" wax I'd wash, wax and be done with it. End of story, you guys just love to add steps and complicate a very easy job. KISS, KISS, KISS.

Dawn? Sal told me...




Bob

Polish and Gtechniq panel wipe.

I am confused on why people think Dawn damages anything (maybe over a long long time, but....)

I don't use Dawn to wash any cars or to "strip waxes", but I have seen people's cars that only use dawn to wash their cars and they look fine enough for a non detailer. What I mean is that the plastic looks fine, the clear looks fine, etc...nothing is damaged. (Of course swirled up, but that's not the point or from dawn)

Now people always think that Dawn will damage something on their car and maybe some of the seals do dry out faster over time, but let's not worry about dawn "damaging" anything.

I did do a test to see if it stripped 4 month old layered Adam's Buttery Wax (not a strong wax) off my buddy's car and I didn't notice that the beading, sheeting or slickness was any different after using the dawn. However, I did notice a difference after using an APC. (Even after another day and a wash)

I do believe in working forward to do whatever you can to help break down wax along the way as you're getting ready to polish the car. I do believe a finishing polish or paint cleaner is the best way and a good final touch at getting old wax/sealant off.

My two cents.

Edit: I do agree with 'detailing by M'...waxes can always be layered and have never seen an issue; remember they 'lay' on top. Sealants or coatings are a different story.

IMO LSP stripping is easily done by a dedicated pad and a cheap polish (no reason to use an expensive one)

I often laugh when people say dawn will damage plastic trim.
My brother has an 08' F-250 and all he ever used was Dawn, I did tell him though he never had a coat of wax last longer than a wash he does.
The trim looks fine on his truck.

I dont see a problem at all using Dawn a few times in the cars life.

For me I polish to remove last step.

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