DFB
Well-known member
- Aug 12, 2019
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Like most I would assume, I started washing cars in my early teens with a bucket of water, a sponge and some dish washing liquid from the kitchen. Looking back, I can't help but cringe, but we all start somewhere. Once my parents figured out washing cars was something I was into, they let me add a bottle of blue Armor All Streak Free Car Wash into the supermarket cart. Oh how I have progressed.
The following is 23-years' worth of trial and error using car wash soaps. With so many soaps to choose from on the market, it can be hard to sort the pretenders from the genuine gems. Soaps are also very subjective, especially when it comes to scent and foam quality. So what I find transcendent might not measure up for you. At the very least, the below information outlines an overview of key performance factors, in turn helping you to select the product that matches up with your desired preferences. I'll also break this list of 37 different soaps down into separate categories for easy reference.
The Begining's -
These are from my earlier detailing endeavors, before I started venturing beyond the realms of big box automotive stores.
Meguiar’s Gold Class – Available everywhere, this is a decent soap that foams up well and provides plenty of suds. This soap will leave a gloss enhancer behind, best avoided on ceramic coated cars. Being so thick and gloopy, Gold Class is harder to measure out than more runny soaps.
Lubrication – 7/10
Cleaning Ability 7/10
Scent – Musky
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency - Thick
Foam Quality - Not Tested
Overall Rating – 6/10
Meguiar’s NXT – Again, available everywhere with great suds. With “synthetic lubricating oils”, NXT will also leave something behind. It can also soften hard water, meaning its safer to use in the sun. This is also a thicker soap, making it harder to measure.
Lubrication – 7/10
Cleaning Ability 7/10
Scent – Fruity
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency - Thick
Foam Quality - Not Tested
Overall Rating – 6/10
Meguiar’s Ultimate Wash & Wax – Another thick, gloopy soap from Meguiar’s that will also leave behind a small amount of protection. I stopped using this due to poor cleaning ability and the fact it was leaving behind a residue on glass.
Lubrication – 7/10
Cleaning Ability 5/10
Scent – Bubble gum
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency - Thick
Foam Quality - Not Tested
Overall Rating – 4/10
Autoglym Bodywork Shampoo Conditioner – The single worst soap I have ever used, and one of the worst detailing products I have had the displeasure of spending money on. No suds, no lubrication, no cleaning ability. This stuff is utter garbage, run don’t walk from this pathetic product.
Lubrication – 2/10
Cleaning Ability 1/10
Scent – Can’t remember LOL
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency - Thin
Foam Quality - Not Tested
Overall Rating – 1/10
Bowden’s Snow Job – I started using this when foam cannons really took off. Initially, I liked how well it foamed. As time went on, I realised this soap lacks meaningful cleaning ability. It’s thicker consistency also made it harder to pour into the foam cannon. There are far better soaps than this, if you don’t want to purchase from a specialist supplier, then look towards Gold Class or Bathe instead.
Lubrication – 6/10
Cleaning Ability 1/10
Scent – Can’t remember LOL
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency - Thick
Foam Quality - Ultra thick
Overall Rating – 2/10
Maintenance / pH Neutral Soaps -
The first 3 here are what I consider the best maintenance soaps on the market, and the ones that I use and recommend the most. The difference between the three is minor, choosing any of these will be a winner.
Carpro Reset –In my opinion, the best maintenance soap on the market. Exceptional foaming, exceptional slickness, exceptional scent and pH neutral. Reset is expensive, but this is a classic case of you get what you pay for. While the pH value is said to be neutral, Reset does have more cleaning ability than that figure suggest. Apparently, it can degrade traditional waxes and polymer sealants, but I've not had that issue personally. I keep trying different soaps, but nothing really seems to be able to match Reset as a total package.
Lubrication – 10/10
Cleaning Ability 10/10
Scent – Hard to describe, it’s simply brilliant!
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency - Thin
Foam Quality - Medium thickness, slightly runny
Overall Rating – 10/10
Koch Chemie GSF – My current number two, GSF is a pH neutral soap making it ideal for maintenance washing, offering supreme lubricity and brilliant foam quality. It’s the scent that really seals the deal, one of THE BEST smelling products in the detailing world. Again, an expensive soap, but the user experience is bloody brilliant.
Lubrication – 10/10
Cleaning Ability 10/10
Scent – Cherry
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency - Thin
Foam Quality - Thick
Overall Rating – 10/10
NV Snow – Number three on my list, this was the first soap I bought from a specialist supplier, a massive step up from what I had been using up to that point. Snow ticks every box, slickness, cleaning ability, foam quality, easy rinsing and pleasant scent. This soap is a runnier liquid, making it easy to measure and pour. One thing I cant understand is there is such a huge gap between the claimed pH neutral figure compared to my own testing. NV assured me this is more to do with the overall chemistry and that pH values are not all created equal.
Lubrication – 10/10
Cleaning Ability 10/10
Scent – “Pleasant”
PH Level – 7.2 (Note – I have seen numbers as high as 9.9)
Consistency - Thin
Foam Quality - Thick
Overall Rating – 10/10
The following soaps are not in any particular order, but represent what I have tried over the last few years -
Adam’s Car Shampoo – This is a pH neutral soap offering superb foaming ability, decent slickness and a pleasing blueberry scent. This is also a good option for washing in full sun. It’s only
drawback is a too thick consistency that makes pouring more difficult. It also a touch expensive for me in Australia. A decent soap, just not great.
Lubrication – 8/10
Cleaning Ability 7/10
Scent – Blueberry
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency - Thick
Foam Quality - Thick
Overall Rating – 7/10
Adam’s Mega Foam – This is like Adam’s Car Shampoo, just on steroids. It foams better while maintaining a neutral pH, it also remedies the too thick consistency by being thinner and easier to measure out. Nice fruity scent as well. The only drawback is the price, being just too expensive for what it is. I actually like this product, I would certainly order it again………when on sale.
Lubrication – 8/10
Cleaning Ability 7/10
Scent – “Fruity”
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency - Thin
Foam Quality - Ultra Thick
Overall Rating – 7/10
Adam’s Ultra Foam – like the two other Adam’s soaps I have used, this a pH neutral maintenance product. I like how these soaps foam and then rinse away nice and clean, Ultra Foam is no different. The wild berry fragrance is fun too. All three of these Adam’s soaps are really good options.
Lubrication – 7/10
Cleaning Ability 7/10
Scent –Berries
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency - Thick
Foam Quality - Thick, not as thick as Mega Foam though
Overall Rating – 7/10
Gyeon Bathe – Gyeon offer a number of soaps, I think this is the one to go for. This is a maintenance soap that offers a runny consistency for easy pouring, a lovely scent and stunning foam quality. A very, very good soap, probably the best soap you can buy at a regular automotive store (Repco). (For some reason, I have never had Bathe colored as depicted in Gyeon's promotional images, the blue dye always settles to the bottom and doesn't re-mix despite a vigorous shake.)
Lubrication – 9/10
Cleaning Ability 8/10
Scent – “Pleasant”
PH Level – 6.0
Consistency - Thin
Foam Quality - Ultra Thick
Overall Rating – 8/10
Koch Chemie AS – This is an odd product that I don’t really see the point in. It doesn’t foam, it’s lemon scent is weak, and it isn’t all that good at cleaning despite a higher pH of 9.0. While it’s considerably cheaper than GSF, that is not enough incentive to give this a try. Avoid.
Lubrication – 5/10
Cleaning Ability 5/10
Scent – Lemon
PH Level – 9.0
Consistency - Thin
Foam Quality - Poor, ultra thin and watery even with heavy dose rates
Overall Rating – 2/10
Optimum Car Wash Shampoo – If you like a thinner foam consistency, this is a great option. Medium thickness in terms of consistency, it has a pleasant smell and offers decent cleaning ability. Another very good soap.
Lubrication – 8/10
Cleaning Ability 8/10
Scent – Blueberry
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency - Medium
Foam Quality - Thin, but it does cling to the paint well
Overall Rating – 8/10
P&S Pearl – I don’t like this soap. Pearl is said to foam very well, but I just couldn’t get the thick foam quality I normally prefer. The lemon scent is faint, the cleaning ability average and it’s priced fairly. I have seen some suggestion that Pearl foams better when mixed with de-ionized water, but that is unrealistic for most. I used up the remainder to clean my trash bins with and never re-ordered.
Lubrication – 7/10
Cleaning Ability 7/10
Scent –Lemon
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency - Thin
Foam Quality - Thin and watery no matter the dose rate
Overall Rating – 2/10
Stjarnagloss Sno – This is one of a couple soaps offered by this brand. Sno was designed as a pre-wash soak, in which case it foams like a champion. As a bucket soap, it lacks lubrication and feels quite odd under a wash mitt. It also stained my foam cannon pickup tube blue. Not a soap I will be re-ordering.
Lubrication – 3/10
Cleaning Ability 7/10
Scent – Coconut
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency - Thin
Foam Quality - Ultra Thick
Overall Rating – 4/10
Gtechniq G-Wash – Like Gyeon and Carpro, Gtechniq make a number soaps, G-Wash being their pH neutral maintenance soap. I have only used this soap a couple of times, that is the telling factor here. In no way is this a bad soap, it’s just not a great soap. The foaming is ok, the lubrication is ok, the cleaning is ok. The scent is not unlike GSF, however is just doesn’t reach the heights of what it should for a quality brand like Gtechniq.
Lubrication – 5/10
Cleaning Ability 5/10
Scent – Cherry
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency – Thin-medium
Foam Quality - Medium thickness
Overall Rating – 5/10
Shine Supply Shift – I bought this soap as an afterthought and ended up being pleasantly surprised. I shouldn’t like this soap, it has slightly thicker consistency and a thinner foam quality than I like. But………I really enjoy using this product. The foam, despite being thinner, clings to the paint for a long working time and the coconut lime scent is delightful. It’s wont clean as well as Reset or NV Snow, nor is it as slick as GSF, but as a workhorse soap, it’s a pleasure to use. I like it so much I have gone and bought a gallon of the stuff.
Lubrication – 8/10
Cleaning Ability 7/10
Scent – Coconut-Lime
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency – Slightly thick
Foam Quality - Medium thickness, great cling
Overall Rating – 8.5/10
Mirch Blue Candy - this is a pH neutral maintenance soap that is extremely well priced in Australia. Blue Candy is at home in a bucket or foam cannon, delivering thick shaving cream foam. Slickness and cleaning ability is on par, the rinse off easy without excessive reactivation. The scent is a strong bubblegum aroma, one that I didn't really care for, more like an industrial toilet cleaner. Blue Candy was not a winner in my book, that scent made it smelt like a men's room. It too ended up demoted to bin cleaner.
Lubrication – 7/10
Cleaning Ability 7/10
Scent – Sweet Bubblegum
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency – Moderately thick
Foam Quality - Thick
Overall Rating – 7/10
DIY Detail Incredible Suds - a pH "balanced" soap that can be dialed up or down depending on your cleaning needs. While it can be used in a bucket, its main claim to fame is the ultra-thick foaming ability. So thick that DIY had to put out an updated dilution ratio to dial it back some. The blueberry-like fragrance is enjoyable, as is the slickness and excellent cleaning ability. But what makes it a winner in my opinion is the exceptionally easy rinse off, I have never used a soap that rises so freely. I could see this aspect being very attractive to pro-detailers looking for time efficiency. A strong favorite of mine.
Lubrication – 8/10
Cleaning Ability 9/10
Scent – Candy
PH Level – Balanced but variable
Consistency – Moderately thick
Foam Quality - Ultra Thick
Overall Rating – 9/10
3D Pink Car Soap - this is a soap from a brand aimed at professional users, where ultimate showmanship is not top of mind. Its pH neutral, and excellent value in gallon format. Despite the ultra-thick consistency of the concentrate, the foam quality is thin and watery. Having said that, the soap has a long dwell period and great slickness. The cherry scent is nice and rinse off is super easy. Not a WOW soap, but a workhorse for professionals who don't need to impress the neighbors with a heavy snow job.
Lubrication – 7/10
Cleaning Ability 7/10
Scent – Sweet Cherry
PH Level – 7.8 (Tested)
Consistency – Thick
Foam Quality - Thin
Overall Rating – 6/10
Koch Chemie Nano Magic - think of this as a fancy wash-n-wax, with Si02 instead of wax. It won't touch GSF for foam quality, but it does blanket the vehicle in a thin layer of soap that holds on quite nicely. Using the wash mitt and then rinsing activates that Si02 element. In use, the soap is decently slick, but again, not to GSF levels. The scent is that very distinctive, a pleasant KCx aroma. Interestingly, the pH level is on the acidic side. Nano Magic is best used as a light maintenance rather than a heavy-duty cleaning soap, and don't expect it to transform flat, un-protected paint. Personally, I don't really have a use for these sorts of soap, but I do see their appeal.
Lubrication – 8/10
Cleaning Ability 7/10
Scent – Hard to describe
PH Level – 5.5
Consistency – Thin
Foam Quality - Thin
Overall Rating – 7/10
Auto Finesse Lather – I’m not going to mince words here, I hate this soap!
Some of this dislike will come down to my usage patterns though. During my maintenance wash process, I rinse the car, foam it down and then do the contact wash with the foam still on the paint. I also have the same soap in my wash bucket too.
Auto Finesse offer two maintenance soaps, Avalanche and the pH neutral Lather. Avalanche is geared towards pre-wash foaming and Lather is designed for bucket washing. In my opinion, I see no reason for using two different soaps during a regular maintenance wash. Lather is said to be “super foamy”, which led me to giving it a try. Except, I does not foam, at least not in a effective manner. The consistency is super runny and unlike other soaps that offer a thinner film, Shine Supply Shift for example, it doesn’t cling to the paint. The Scent had a hint of citrus, the cleaning ability ok and lubrication is fair. Overall, not a soap I will be re-ordering.
Lubrication – 6/10
Cleaning Ability 7/10
Scent – Tangerine / Citrus
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency – Runny
Foam Quality - Non-existent
Overall Rating – 1/10
Angelwax Fast Foam – A pH neutral maintenance soap designed primarily as a pre-soak. This is another soap I took a punt on, and I’m glad I did. The foam quality is exceptional, dwell time is fantastic with Angelwax saying the longer it stays on the paint, the more it will break down contaminants. It may not be Reset or GSF slick, but it’s not far behind. The only thing I would change about this soap would be to add a scent, Fast Foam is essentially fragrance free. A brilliant soap and certainly gets a pass from me!
Lubrication – 8.5/10
Cleaning Ability 10/10
Scent – None
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency – Runny
Foam Quality - Thick
Overall Rating – 8.5/10
Bowden’s Own Snow Job v2 – This is an Australian brand, one that I don’t believe is available outside of Australia and New Zealand. The original formulation of Snow Job was junk! Sure, it foamed well but it offered little to no cleaning ability. The new version is said to be a all-new formulation, addressing a few key problems with the original, including cleaning ability and the consistency of the liquid. Snow Job v2 is much runnier, making it easier to measure out. Like the original, Snow Job foams like a champ, producing thick and clingy foam. It also cleans better than the original, although still not to the level of the leaders. I also don’t really like the scent, almost like a commercial men’s room cleaner. Overall, an improvement on the original but not a leading contender.
Lubrication – 6/10
Cleaning Ability 6/10
Scent – Said to be “refreshing”...................nope!
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency – Runny
Foam Quality - Ultra thick
Overall Rating – 6/10
Wowo’s Detailer’s Shampoo – I ordered this soap without any expectations and ended up pleasantly surprised. The big selling point of this product is the versatile formulation. Use less (1:500), and you have a gentle maintenance wash. Use more (1:100) and you have a soap which can deal with heavier soiling. It’s also a pure soap, with no gloss enhancers or added sealants. In use, Detailer Shampoo produces thick, shaving cream type foam, allowing to have an extended dwell period. Slickness is great, as is cleaning ability. The scent is rather strange, but apart from that, I found this soap to be a bit of a sleeper.
Lubrication – 8/10
Cleaning Ability 10/10
Scent – Violet, An acquired taste
PH Level – Variable, but 7.5 when diluted to 1:500
Consistency – Medium Runny
Foam Quality - Thick
Overall Rating – 9/10
Ethos Foam Party – A pH neutral soap that is geared towards foaming and pre-wash soaking. As such, the ultra-thick foam is up there with the best and the dwell period excellent. But it also performs well as a bucket wash, offering great slickness and cleaning ability. The pineapple scent is described as a “tropical getaway”. For the bottle size, it’s a touch expensive and the yellow colouring is not unlike diluted Betadine antiseptic, not a particularly pleasant visual in my opinion. But apart from that, I really like this soap.
(I'm fairly sure Foam Party is a repackaged/colored Adam's Mega Foam.)
Lubrication – 8/10
Cleaning Ability 9/10
Scent – Pineapple
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency – Runny
Foam Quality - Ultra Thick
Overall Rating – 9/10
P&S Inspiration Radiance – this is an update to an older P&S formula, the original being a wash-n-wax type of soap. Because waxes and conditioning agents don’t always play well with ceramic coatings, P&S reformulated Radiance with Si02, in the process making it suitable for vehicles with an existing ceramic coating. That doesn’t mean that it must be used on ceramic coatings though, its use will add some short-term protection and gloss enhancement to any LSP.
I’ll be honest in saying that I have never been a fan of this style of soap, but Radiance was a pleasant surprise. Foaming ability, this is a very running product, so don’t expect shaving cream foam. The scent is also very dated in having an old-school car wash aroma. And the lubrication is only fair. But once the car has been rinsed and dried, the boost in gloss and slickness is very hard to ignore. So while some of the below scores are middle of the road, the final score reflects the visual and tactile qualities it brings to the table.
Lubrication – 6/10
Cleaning Ability - 7/10
Scent – Berry, quite muted
PH Level – 7.0 (as tested)
Consistency – Runny
Foam Qaulity - Runny, good cling though
Overall Rating – 8/10
Opti-Coat M-Wash – This soap was designed to maintain the range of Opt-Coat ceramic coatings. If price was the only measure of value, then this soap would be scored very low. But………………..I really love this soap. The frosted bottle with a chrome lid and the swish label design capture your attention right away. Then the beautiful berry scent hooks you in, the thick foam it generates gets you smiling. The acidic leaning formula means it cleans well. M-Wash offers great lubrication too.
Opti-Coat also make mention of the fluoropolymers within M-Wash helping to repel contamination between washes. But the icing on the cake is how easily it rinses from the car with no reactivation, meaning it improves efficiency.
This is not soap you would be using in a professional environment, its just too expensive. But as a hobbyist, this is one of the best soaps money can buy, the user experience is right up there with Reset and GSF. The most telling factor for me is that I have reordered this soap a few times now, and that means it sits at the top of my list!
Lubrication – 9/10
Cleaning Ability - 9/10
Scent – Sweet berries
PH Level – 5.5 (as tested)
Consistency – Runny
Foam Quality - Medium
Overall Rating – 10/10
Gtechniq W4 Citrus Foam – This soap could probably go in the next category, but it's a pH balanced formula lands it here instead. As a foaming pre-wash, its designed as a first step in removing heavier contamination and road grime before the contact wash. Its citrus formulation provides added cleaning ability, while the balanced pH helps protect waxes and sealants. The mild citrus aroma is nice, and it foams thickly.
During the dwell period, W4 Citrus Foam breaks down and begins to run down the panel, taking dirt with it. I like to use W4 Citrus to loosen up accumulated road grime and bugs, in turn making the contact wash safer. I will note that this product is not as aggressive as something like Carpro Lift or Bilt Hamber Touchless, but sometimes that level of grunt is not needed. W4 Citrus Foam is the happy medium.
Lubrication – not rated
Cleaning Ability - 8/10
Scent – Citrus, quite muted
PH Level – 6.4 (as tested)
Consistency – Runny
Foam Quality - Thick, then runny
Overall Rating – 7/10
Koch Chemie GFX – Now, this is probably a pointless addition here considering it was never offered in Australia, and the fact it was a limited edition, but I have used it and so it deserves a ranking. In theory, GFX is apparently the same as the brilliant GSF, save for the cinnamon and pine Christmas themed scent. However, there is a pH difference between the two, with GSF rated at 7.5 and GFX sitting at 8.0. I have since found out that the difference in pH was to allow the scent to hold true.
In any case, GFX performs the same as the regular version, delivers top tier lubrication and foaming ability. And yes, the scent is delightful and one that lingers long after the buckets have been emptied. GFX is about as festive as I get these days. Considering how lovely the scent is, I can see this reappearing at some point in the future.
Lubrication – 10/10
Cleaning Ability - 7/10
Scent – Cinnamon and Pine
PH Level – 8.0
Consistency – Runny
Foam Quality - Thick
Overall Rating – 10/10
Chemical Guys Honeydew Snow Foam – One of the brands best products, this is a pH neutral soap that boasts impressive foamability and suitability for use on waxes and sealants. I note that it has gloss enhancers, which could work against you on a ceramic coating.
In use, Honeydew is easy to dispense due to its runny consistency. The foaming ability is exceptional, the slickness middle of the road. The scent is pleasantly fresh, although not a standout like GSF or Reset. The soap also rinses freely. I used this soap on vehicles with Gyeon Pure EVO ceramic coating and didn’t seem to have compatibility issues from the glossing agents.
This is a very competent soap. However, in Australia Honeydew is priced against some heavy hitting options, making it a hard sell for me. The overall score reflects this.
Lubrication – 7/10
Cleaning Ability – 7/10
Scent – Subdued honeydew aroma
PH Level – 7.5 (claimed)
Consistency – Runny
Foam Quality - Thick
Overall Rating – 5/10 (At US prices, I would put this at 7/10).
Acidic & Alkaline Decontamination Soaps -
These soaps are not products I personally use every day, so their use is very targeted. In basic terms, alkalinity is used to break down dirt and oily contamination, while acidity helps dissolve and remove surface mineral deposits. Both ends of the pH scale can and will strip or diminish weaker waxes and sealants, but are generally within a ceramic coatings pH tolerance range and can be used periodically to cleanse and "unclog" a coating.
The first two products are my go-to's in this space, one acidic and one alkaline. I use these in tandem when performing a thorough pre-polishing decontamination.
Carpro Lift – This is a high pH soap designed for decontamination. Brilliant foam quality and strong cleaning power. It does lack some of Reset’s slickness and trades a sweet scent for a stronger “chemical” smell. Use this only occasionally to deep clean a ceramic coating, when preparing for a paint correction or when prior to applying a new wax/sealant. I've found this to be the most effective of this style of soap, this side of the Bilt Hamber twins.
Lubrication – 8/10
Cleaning Ability 10/10
Scent – Unscented
PH Level – 12+
Consistency - Thin
Foam Quality - Thick
Overall Rating – 10/10
Carpro Descale – This soap swings the other way compared to Lift, being an acidic product for decontamination washes. The acidic nature can help remove hard water spots. Descale is another product that can be used to revive an older ceramic coating. Again, a product for occasional use, a product I use as a contact wash after an alkaline per-wash and iron removal, the idea to tackle contamination from several angles. Sour cherry scented and offering similar lubricity to Lift.
Lubrication – 8/10
Cleaning Ability 10/10
Scent – Cherry
PH Level – Not Specified, my testing showed about 3.7
Consistency - Thin
Foam Quality - Thick
Overall Rating – 10/10
The following are the various other similar products I have sampled -
Bilt Hamber Touchless – I’ll be honest up front in saying this soap is not designed for me, I simply don’t need its extreme cleaning power. Uniquely, this is a sugar-based soap that contains corrosion inhibitors, and with a pH of 12.0, this is one of the most alkaline soaps you can use on your car.
Touchless was designed to do what the name suggests, removing accumulated road grime, bugs and dirt without touching the vehicle. The tricky part with this soap is what Bit Hamber like to term “panel impact ratio”, which translates to the ratio achieved once the soap hits the paint after being diluted by your foam cannon. Bilt Hamber present a rather complicated process to calculate this ratio, something that will vary depending on your foam cannon and pressure washer output. Some suppliers of Touchless provide a value to start with, but frankly, you really need to calculate this for your specific application. For me, this is needlessly complicated.
In use, it’s important to note that this is not a soap you would use for a contact wash, rather it’s a pre-wash foam to make the contact wash safer. Touchless is also a runnier foam than most, blanketing the vehicle in a thin layer of soap that breaks down contamination and allows it to be drawn from the vehicle as it drips onto the ground. After rinsing, you will be surprised at how effective this product is at removing dirt without laying a hand on the car. All I can say is, be careful with it.
Lubrication – N/A
Cleaning Ability - 15/10
Scent – Unscented, slight sugar cane type aroma
PH Level – 12.0
Consistency – Runny
Foam Quality - Runny
Overall Rating – 8/10
Gyeon Q2M Foam - Gyeon seem to be a bit cagey with this product by not quoting a pH level. As a pre-wash soap designed to soften and lift dirt prior to the contact wash, I suspected a higher pH is what delivers that. Tested with my pH meter, that theory played out with a reading of about 12.0. As such, I would only be using this as an occasional wash on dirtier vehicles or as a restorative decon for ceramic coatings. There is a hint of a lemon fragrance and the foam quality is extremely thick. Think of Q2M Foam as Gyeon's version of Carpro Lift.
Lubrication – 8/10
Cleaning Ability 10/10
Scent – Mild Lemon
PH Level – 11.95
Consistency – Thin
Foam Quality - Thick
Overall Rating – 8/10
Obsessed Garage Decontamination Soap – This is an interesting soap that was once sold as Chemical Guys Citrus Red. It's since been private labeled by OG, the colour changed to purple in the process. It’s a higher pH alkaline soap that offers high lubrication, brilliant foaming and strong cleaning ability. It has a solvent base for that added ability, so avoid working in the sunlight.
Lubrication – 10/10
Cleaning Ability 10/10
Scent – Mild Citrus
PH Level – 10.0
Consistency - Medium
Foam Quality - Thick
Overall Rating – 8/10
NV Snow Plus – This is a higher pH / alkaline soap designed for more cleaning ability. It lacks the pleasant scent of regular snow and is a clear liquid rather than colored blue. You would use this soap on dirtier vehicles or when doing a decontamination/strip wash, Snow Plus having the ability to remove or seriously degrade a wax/sealant. A brilliant choice and a staple of my cabinet for a number of years now.
(Like Snow, this soap also tests considerably aboe the quoted pH value of 8.1. In this case, I'm not sure it matters considering its intended use.)
Lubrication – 8/10
Cleaning Ability 9/10
Scent – Un-scented
PH Level – 8.1 (Note – I have seen numbers as high as 12.1)
Consistency - Thin
Foam Quality - Thick
Overall Rating – 9/10
Conclusions -
For now, that where I'm at with soap testing.
The biggest compliment I can make to a soap is if I re-order it, that generally means I love using it. For those that I don't love, or downright hate, they end up on bin cleaning duty and never re-ordered.
The following is 23-years' worth of trial and error using car wash soaps. With so many soaps to choose from on the market, it can be hard to sort the pretenders from the genuine gems. Soaps are also very subjective, especially when it comes to scent and foam quality. So what I find transcendent might not measure up for you. At the very least, the below information outlines an overview of key performance factors, in turn helping you to select the product that matches up with your desired preferences. I'll also break this list of 37 different soaps down into separate categories for easy reference.
The Begining's -
These are from my earlier detailing endeavors, before I started venturing beyond the realms of big box automotive stores.
Meguiar’s Gold Class – Available everywhere, this is a decent soap that foams up well and provides plenty of suds. This soap will leave a gloss enhancer behind, best avoided on ceramic coated cars. Being so thick and gloopy, Gold Class is harder to measure out than more runny soaps.
Lubrication – 7/10
Cleaning Ability 7/10
Scent – Musky
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency - Thick
Foam Quality - Not Tested
Overall Rating – 6/10
Meguiar’s NXT – Again, available everywhere with great suds. With “synthetic lubricating oils”, NXT will also leave something behind. It can also soften hard water, meaning its safer to use in the sun. This is also a thicker soap, making it harder to measure.
Lubrication – 7/10
Cleaning Ability 7/10
Scent – Fruity
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency - Thick
Foam Quality - Not Tested
Overall Rating – 6/10
Meguiar’s Ultimate Wash & Wax – Another thick, gloopy soap from Meguiar’s that will also leave behind a small amount of protection. I stopped using this due to poor cleaning ability and the fact it was leaving behind a residue on glass.
Lubrication – 7/10
Cleaning Ability 5/10
Scent – Bubble gum
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency - Thick
Foam Quality - Not Tested
Overall Rating – 4/10
Autoglym Bodywork Shampoo Conditioner – The single worst soap I have ever used, and one of the worst detailing products I have had the displeasure of spending money on. No suds, no lubrication, no cleaning ability. This stuff is utter garbage, run don’t walk from this pathetic product.
Lubrication – 2/10
Cleaning Ability 1/10
Scent – Can’t remember LOL
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency - Thin
Foam Quality - Not Tested
Overall Rating – 1/10
Bowden’s Snow Job – I started using this when foam cannons really took off. Initially, I liked how well it foamed. As time went on, I realised this soap lacks meaningful cleaning ability. It’s thicker consistency also made it harder to pour into the foam cannon. There are far better soaps than this, if you don’t want to purchase from a specialist supplier, then look towards Gold Class or Bathe instead.
Lubrication – 6/10
Cleaning Ability 1/10
Scent – Can’t remember LOL
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency - Thick
Foam Quality - Ultra thick
Overall Rating – 2/10
Maintenance / pH Neutral Soaps -
The first 3 here are what I consider the best maintenance soaps on the market, and the ones that I use and recommend the most. The difference between the three is minor, choosing any of these will be a winner.
Carpro Reset –In my opinion, the best maintenance soap on the market. Exceptional foaming, exceptional slickness, exceptional scent and pH neutral. Reset is expensive, but this is a classic case of you get what you pay for. While the pH value is said to be neutral, Reset does have more cleaning ability than that figure suggest. Apparently, it can degrade traditional waxes and polymer sealants, but I've not had that issue personally. I keep trying different soaps, but nothing really seems to be able to match Reset as a total package.
Lubrication – 10/10
Cleaning Ability 10/10
Scent – Hard to describe, it’s simply brilliant!
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency - Thin
Foam Quality - Medium thickness, slightly runny
Overall Rating – 10/10
Koch Chemie GSF – My current number two, GSF is a pH neutral soap making it ideal for maintenance washing, offering supreme lubricity and brilliant foam quality. It’s the scent that really seals the deal, one of THE BEST smelling products in the detailing world. Again, an expensive soap, but the user experience is bloody brilliant.
Lubrication – 10/10
Cleaning Ability 10/10
Scent – Cherry
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency - Thin
Foam Quality - Thick
Overall Rating – 10/10
NV Snow – Number three on my list, this was the first soap I bought from a specialist supplier, a massive step up from what I had been using up to that point. Snow ticks every box, slickness, cleaning ability, foam quality, easy rinsing and pleasant scent. This soap is a runnier liquid, making it easy to measure and pour. One thing I cant understand is there is such a huge gap between the claimed pH neutral figure compared to my own testing. NV assured me this is more to do with the overall chemistry and that pH values are not all created equal.
Lubrication – 10/10
Cleaning Ability 10/10
Scent – “Pleasant”
PH Level – 7.2 (Note – I have seen numbers as high as 9.9)
Consistency - Thin
Foam Quality - Thick
Overall Rating – 10/10
The following soaps are not in any particular order, but represent what I have tried over the last few years -
Adam’s Car Shampoo – This is a pH neutral soap offering superb foaming ability, decent slickness and a pleasing blueberry scent. This is also a good option for washing in full sun. It’s only
drawback is a too thick consistency that makes pouring more difficult. It also a touch expensive for me in Australia. A decent soap, just not great.
Lubrication – 8/10
Cleaning Ability 7/10
Scent – Blueberry
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency - Thick
Foam Quality - Thick
Overall Rating – 7/10
Adam’s Mega Foam – This is like Adam’s Car Shampoo, just on steroids. It foams better while maintaining a neutral pH, it also remedies the too thick consistency by being thinner and easier to measure out. Nice fruity scent as well. The only drawback is the price, being just too expensive for what it is. I actually like this product, I would certainly order it again………when on sale.
Lubrication – 8/10
Cleaning Ability 7/10
Scent – “Fruity”
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency - Thin
Foam Quality - Ultra Thick
Overall Rating – 7/10
Adam’s Ultra Foam – like the two other Adam’s soaps I have used, this a pH neutral maintenance product. I like how these soaps foam and then rinse away nice and clean, Ultra Foam is no different. The wild berry fragrance is fun too. All three of these Adam’s soaps are really good options.
Lubrication – 7/10
Cleaning Ability 7/10
Scent –Berries
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency - Thick
Foam Quality - Thick, not as thick as Mega Foam though
Overall Rating – 7/10
Gyeon Bathe – Gyeon offer a number of soaps, I think this is the one to go for. This is a maintenance soap that offers a runny consistency for easy pouring, a lovely scent and stunning foam quality. A very, very good soap, probably the best soap you can buy at a regular automotive store (Repco). (For some reason, I have never had Bathe colored as depicted in Gyeon's promotional images, the blue dye always settles to the bottom and doesn't re-mix despite a vigorous shake.)
Lubrication – 9/10
Cleaning Ability 8/10
Scent – “Pleasant”
PH Level – 6.0
Consistency - Thin
Foam Quality - Ultra Thick
Overall Rating – 8/10
Koch Chemie AS – This is an odd product that I don’t really see the point in. It doesn’t foam, it’s lemon scent is weak, and it isn’t all that good at cleaning despite a higher pH of 9.0. While it’s considerably cheaper than GSF, that is not enough incentive to give this a try. Avoid.
Lubrication – 5/10
Cleaning Ability 5/10
Scent – Lemon
PH Level – 9.0
Consistency - Thin
Foam Quality - Poor, ultra thin and watery even with heavy dose rates
Overall Rating – 2/10
Optimum Car Wash Shampoo – If you like a thinner foam consistency, this is a great option. Medium thickness in terms of consistency, it has a pleasant smell and offers decent cleaning ability. Another very good soap.
Lubrication – 8/10
Cleaning Ability 8/10
Scent – Blueberry
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency - Medium
Foam Quality - Thin, but it does cling to the paint well
Overall Rating – 8/10
P&S Pearl – I don’t like this soap. Pearl is said to foam very well, but I just couldn’t get the thick foam quality I normally prefer. The lemon scent is faint, the cleaning ability average and it’s priced fairly. I have seen some suggestion that Pearl foams better when mixed with de-ionized water, but that is unrealistic for most. I used up the remainder to clean my trash bins with and never re-ordered.
Lubrication – 7/10
Cleaning Ability 7/10
Scent –Lemon
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency - Thin
Foam Quality - Thin and watery no matter the dose rate
Overall Rating – 2/10
Stjarnagloss Sno – This is one of a couple soaps offered by this brand. Sno was designed as a pre-wash soak, in which case it foams like a champion. As a bucket soap, it lacks lubrication and feels quite odd under a wash mitt. It also stained my foam cannon pickup tube blue. Not a soap I will be re-ordering.
Lubrication – 3/10
Cleaning Ability 7/10
Scent – Coconut
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency - Thin
Foam Quality - Ultra Thick
Overall Rating – 4/10
Gtechniq G-Wash – Like Gyeon and Carpro, Gtechniq make a number soaps, G-Wash being their pH neutral maintenance soap. I have only used this soap a couple of times, that is the telling factor here. In no way is this a bad soap, it’s just not a great soap. The foaming is ok, the lubrication is ok, the cleaning is ok. The scent is not unlike GSF, however is just doesn’t reach the heights of what it should for a quality brand like Gtechniq.
Lubrication – 5/10
Cleaning Ability 5/10
Scent – Cherry
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency – Thin-medium
Foam Quality - Medium thickness
Overall Rating – 5/10
Shine Supply Shift – I bought this soap as an afterthought and ended up being pleasantly surprised. I shouldn’t like this soap, it has slightly thicker consistency and a thinner foam quality than I like. But………I really enjoy using this product. The foam, despite being thinner, clings to the paint for a long working time and the coconut lime scent is delightful. It’s wont clean as well as Reset or NV Snow, nor is it as slick as GSF, but as a workhorse soap, it’s a pleasure to use. I like it so much I have gone and bought a gallon of the stuff.
Lubrication – 8/10
Cleaning Ability 7/10
Scent – Coconut-Lime
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency – Slightly thick
Foam Quality - Medium thickness, great cling
Overall Rating – 8.5/10
Mirch Blue Candy - this is a pH neutral maintenance soap that is extremely well priced in Australia. Blue Candy is at home in a bucket or foam cannon, delivering thick shaving cream foam. Slickness and cleaning ability is on par, the rinse off easy without excessive reactivation. The scent is a strong bubblegum aroma, one that I didn't really care for, more like an industrial toilet cleaner. Blue Candy was not a winner in my book, that scent made it smelt like a men's room. It too ended up demoted to bin cleaner.
Lubrication – 7/10
Cleaning Ability 7/10
Scent – Sweet Bubblegum
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency – Moderately thick
Foam Quality - Thick
Overall Rating – 7/10
DIY Detail Incredible Suds - a pH "balanced" soap that can be dialed up or down depending on your cleaning needs. While it can be used in a bucket, its main claim to fame is the ultra-thick foaming ability. So thick that DIY had to put out an updated dilution ratio to dial it back some. The blueberry-like fragrance is enjoyable, as is the slickness and excellent cleaning ability. But what makes it a winner in my opinion is the exceptionally easy rinse off, I have never used a soap that rises so freely. I could see this aspect being very attractive to pro-detailers looking for time efficiency. A strong favorite of mine.
Lubrication – 8/10
Cleaning Ability 9/10
Scent – Candy
PH Level – Balanced but variable
Consistency – Moderately thick
Foam Quality - Ultra Thick
Overall Rating – 9/10
3D Pink Car Soap - this is a soap from a brand aimed at professional users, where ultimate showmanship is not top of mind. Its pH neutral, and excellent value in gallon format. Despite the ultra-thick consistency of the concentrate, the foam quality is thin and watery. Having said that, the soap has a long dwell period and great slickness. The cherry scent is nice and rinse off is super easy. Not a WOW soap, but a workhorse for professionals who don't need to impress the neighbors with a heavy snow job.
Lubrication – 7/10
Cleaning Ability 7/10
Scent – Sweet Cherry
PH Level – 7.8 (Tested)
Consistency – Thick
Foam Quality - Thin
Overall Rating – 6/10
Koch Chemie Nano Magic - think of this as a fancy wash-n-wax, with Si02 instead of wax. It won't touch GSF for foam quality, but it does blanket the vehicle in a thin layer of soap that holds on quite nicely. Using the wash mitt and then rinsing activates that Si02 element. In use, the soap is decently slick, but again, not to GSF levels. The scent is that very distinctive, a pleasant KCx aroma. Interestingly, the pH level is on the acidic side. Nano Magic is best used as a light maintenance rather than a heavy-duty cleaning soap, and don't expect it to transform flat, un-protected paint. Personally, I don't really have a use for these sorts of soap, but I do see their appeal.
Lubrication – 8/10
Cleaning Ability 7/10
Scent – Hard to describe
PH Level – 5.5
Consistency – Thin
Foam Quality - Thin
Overall Rating – 7/10
Auto Finesse Lather – I’m not going to mince words here, I hate this soap!
Some of this dislike will come down to my usage patterns though. During my maintenance wash process, I rinse the car, foam it down and then do the contact wash with the foam still on the paint. I also have the same soap in my wash bucket too.
Auto Finesse offer two maintenance soaps, Avalanche and the pH neutral Lather. Avalanche is geared towards pre-wash foaming and Lather is designed for bucket washing. In my opinion, I see no reason for using two different soaps during a regular maintenance wash. Lather is said to be “super foamy”, which led me to giving it a try. Except, I does not foam, at least not in a effective manner. The consistency is super runny and unlike other soaps that offer a thinner film, Shine Supply Shift for example, it doesn’t cling to the paint. The Scent had a hint of citrus, the cleaning ability ok and lubrication is fair. Overall, not a soap I will be re-ordering.
Lubrication – 6/10
Cleaning Ability 7/10
Scent – Tangerine / Citrus
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency – Runny
Foam Quality - Non-existent
Overall Rating – 1/10
Angelwax Fast Foam – A pH neutral maintenance soap designed primarily as a pre-soak. This is another soap I took a punt on, and I’m glad I did. The foam quality is exceptional, dwell time is fantastic with Angelwax saying the longer it stays on the paint, the more it will break down contaminants. It may not be Reset or GSF slick, but it’s not far behind. The only thing I would change about this soap would be to add a scent, Fast Foam is essentially fragrance free. A brilliant soap and certainly gets a pass from me!
Lubrication – 8.5/10
Cleaning Ability 10/10
Scent – None
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency – Runny
Foam Quality - Thick
Overall Rating – 8.5/10
Bowden’s Own Snow Job v2 – This is an Australian brand, one that I don’t believe is available outside of Australia and New Zealand. The original formulation of Snow Job was junk! Sure, it foamed well but it offered little to no cleaning ability. The new version is said to be a all-new formulation, addressing a few key problems with the original, including cleaning ability and the consistency of the liquid. Snow Job v2 is much runnier, making it easier to measure out. Like the original, Snow Job foams like a champ, producing thick and clingy foam. It also cleans better than the original, although still not to the level of the leaders. I also don’t really like the scent, almost like a commercial men’s room cleaner. Overall, an improvement on the original but not a leading contender.
Lubrication – 6/10
Cleaning Ability 6/10
Scent – Said to be “refreshing”...................nope!
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency – Runny
Foam Quality - Ultra thick
Overall Rating – 6/10
Wowo’s Detailer’s Shampoo – I ordered this soap without any expectations and ended up pleasantly surprised. The big selling point of this product is the versatile formulation. Use less (1:500), and you have a gentle maintenance wash. Use more (1:100) and you have a soap which can deal with heavier soiling. It’s also a pure soap, with no gloss enhancers or added sealants. In use, Detailer Shampoo produces thick, shaving cream type foam, allowing to have an extended dwell period. Slickness is great, as is cleaning ability. The scent is rather strange, but apart from that, I found this soap to be a bit of a sleeper.
Lubrication – 8/10
Cleaning Ability 10/10
Scent – Violet, An acquired taste
PH Level – Variable, but 7.5 when diluted to 1:500
Consistency – Medium Runny
Foam Quality - Thick
Overall Rating – 9/10
Ethos Foam Party – A pH neutral soap that is geared towards foaming and pre-wash soaking. As such, the ultra-thick foam is up there with the best and the dwell period excellent. But it also performs well as a bucket wash, offering great slickness and cleaning ability. The pineapple scent is described as a “tropical getaway”. For the bottle size, it’s a touch expensive and the yellow colouring is not unlike diluted Betadine antiseptic, not a particularly pleasant visual in my opinion. But apart from that, I really like this soap.
(I'm fairly sure Foam Party is a repackaged/colored Adam's Mega Foam.)
Lubrication – 8/10
Cleaning Ability 9/10
Scent – Pineapple
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency – Runny
Foam Quality - Ultra Thick
Overall Rating – 9/10
P&S Inspiration Radiance – this is an update to an older P&S formula, the original being a wash-n-wax type of soap. Because waxes and conditioning agents don’t always play well with ceramic coatings, P&S reformulated Radiance with Si02, in the process making it suitable for vehicles with an existing ceramic coating. That doesn’t mean that it must be used on ceramic coatings though, its use will add some short-term protection and gloss enhancement to any LSP.
I’ll be honest in saying that I have never been a fan of this style of soap, but Radiance was a pleasant surprise. Foaming ability, this is a very running product, so don’t expect shaving cream foam. The scent is also very dated in having an old-school car wash aroma. And the lubrication is only fair. But once the car has been rinsed and dried, the boost in gloss and slickness is very hard to ignore. So while some of the below scores are middle of the road, the final score reflects the visual and tactile qualities it brings to the table.
Lubrication – 6/10
Cleaning Ability - 7/10
Scent – Berry, quite muted
PH Level – 7.0 (as tested)
Consistency – Runny
Foam Qaulity - Runny, good cling though
Overall Rating – 8/10
Opti-Coat M-Wash – This soap was designed to maintain the range of Opt-Coat ceramic coatings. If price was the only measure of value, then this soap would be scored very low. But………………..I really love this soap. The frosted bottle with a chrome lid and the swish label design capture your attention right away. Then the beautiful berry scent hooks you in, the thick foam it generates gets you smiling. The acidic leaning formula means it cleans well. M-Wash offers great lubrication too.
Opti-Coat also make mention of the fluoropolymers within M-Wash helping to repel contamination between washes. But the icing on the cake is how easily it rinses from the car with no reactivation, meaning it improves efficiency.
This is not soap you would be using in a professional environment, its just too expensive. But as a hobbyist, this is one of the best soaps money can buy, the user experience is right up there with Reset and GSF. The most telling factor for me is that I have reordered this soap a few times now, and that means it sits at the top of my list!
Lubrication – 9/10
Cleaning Ability - 9/10
Scent – Sweet berries
PH Level – 5.5 (as tested)
Consistency – Runny
Foam Quality - Medium
Overall Rating – 10/10
Gtechniq W4 Citrus Foam – This soap could probably go in the next category, but it's a pH balanced formula lands it here instead. As a foaming pre-wash, its designed as a first step in removing heavier contamination and road grime before the contact wash. Its citrus formulation provides added cleaning ability, while the balanced pH helps protect waxes and sealants. The mild citrus aroma is nice, and it foams thickly.
During the dwell period, W4 Citrus Foam breaks down and begins to run down the panel, taking dirt with it. I like to use W4 Citrus to loosen up accumulated road grime and bugs, in turn making the contact wash safer. I will note that this product is not as aggressive as something like Carpro Lift or Bilt Hamber Touchless, but sometimes that level of grunt is not needed. W4 Citrus Foam is the happy medium.
Lubrication – not rated
Cleaning Ability - 8/10
Scent – Citrus, quite muted
PH Level – 6.4 (as tested)
Consistency – Runny
Foam Quality - Thick, then runny
Overall Rating – 7/10
Koch Chemie GFX – Now, this is probably a pointless addition here considering it was never offered in Australia, and the fact it was a limited edition, but I have used it and so it deserves a ranking. In theory, GFX is apparently the same as the brilliant GSF, save for the cinnamon and pine Christmas themed scent. However, there is a pH difference between the two, with GSF rated at 7.5 and GFX sitting at 8.0. I have since found out that the difference in pH was to allow the scent to hold true.
In any case, GFX performs the same as the regular version, delivers top tier lubrication and foaming ability. And yes, the scent is delightful and one that lingers long after the buckets have been emptied. GFX is about as festive as I get these days. Considering how lovely the scent is, I can see this reappearing at some point in the future.
Lubrication – 10/10
Cleaning Ability - 7/10
Scent – Cinnamon and Pine
PH Level – 8.0
Consistency – Runny
Foam Quality - Thick
Overall Rating – 10/10
Chemical Guys Honeydew Snow Foam – One of the brands best products, this is a pH neutral soap that boasts impressive foamability and suitability for use on waxes and sealants. I note that it has gloss enhancers, which could work against you on a ceramic coating.
In use, Honeydew is easy to dispense due to its runny consistency. The foaming ability is exceptional, the slickness middle of the road. The scent is pleasantly fresh, although not a standout like GSF or Reset. The soap also rinses freely. I used this soap on vehicles with Gyeon Pure EVO ceramic coating and didn’t seem to have compatibility issues from the glossing agents.
This is a very competent soap. However, in Australia Honeydew is priced against some heavy hitting options, making it a hard sell for me. The overall score reflects this.
Lubrication – 7/10
Cleaning Ability – 7/10
Scent – Subdued honeydew aroma
PH Level – 7.5 (claimed)
Consistency – Runny
Foam Quality - Thick
Overall Rating – 5/10 (At US prices, I would put this at 7/10).
Acidic & Alkaline Decontamination Soaps -
These soaps are not products I personally use every day, so their use is very targeted. In basic terms, alkalinity is used to break down dirt and oily contamination, while acidity helps dissolve and remove surface mineral deposits. Both ends of the pH scale can and will strip or diminish weaker waxes and sealants, but are generally within a ceramic coatings pH tolerance range and can be used periodically to cleanse and "unclog" a coating.
The first two products are my go-to's in this space, one acidic and one alkaline. I use these in tandem when performing a thorough pre-polishing decontamination.
Carpro Lift – This is a high pH soap designed for decontamination. Brilliant foam quality and strong cleaning power. It does lack some of Reset’s slickness and trades a sweet scent for a stronger “chemical” smell. Use this only occasionally to deep clean a ceramic coating, when preparing for a paint correction or when prior to applying a new wax/sealant. I've found this to be the most effective of this style of soap, this side of the Bilt Hamber twins.
Lubrication – 8/10
Cleaning Ability 10/10
Scent – Unscented
PH Level – 12+
Consistency - Thin
Foam Quality - Thick
Overall Rating – 10/10
Carpro Descale – This soap swings the other way compared to Lift, being an acidic product for decontamination washes. The acidic nature can help remove hard water spots. Descale is another product that can be used to revive an older ceramic coating. Again, a product for occasional use, a product I use as a contact wash after an alkaline per-wash and iron removal, the idea to tackle contamination from several angles. Sour cherry scented and offering similar lubricity to Lift.
Lubrication – 8/10
Cleaning Ability 10/10
Scent – Cherry
PH Level – Not Specified, my testing showed about 3.7
Consistency - Thin
Foam Quality - Thick
Overall Rating – 10/10
The following are the various other similar products I have sampled -
Bilt Hamber Touchless – I’ll be honest up front in saying this soap is not designed for me, I simply don’t need its extreme cleaning power. Uniquely, this is a sugar-based soap that contains corrosion inhibitors, and with a pH of 12.0, this is one of the most alkaline soaps you can use on your car.
Touchless was designed to do what the name suggests, removing accumulated road grime, bugs and dirt without touching the vehicle. The tricky part with this soap is what Bit Hamber like to term “panel impact ratio”, which translates to the ratio achieved once the soap hits the paint after being diluted by your foam cannon. Bilt Hamber present a rather complicated process to calculate this ratio, something that will vary depending on your foam cannon and pressure washer output. Some suppliers of Touchless provide a value to start with, but frankly, you really need to calculate this for your specific application. For me, this is needlessly complicated.
In use, it’s important to note that this is not a soap you would use for a contact wash, rather it’s a pre-wash foam to make the contact wash safer. Touchless is also a runnier foam than most, blanketing the vehicle in a thin layer of soap that breaks down contamination and allows it to be drawn from the vehicle as it drips onto the ground. After rinsing, you will be surprised at how effective this product is at removing dirt without laying a hand on the car. All I can say is, be careful with it.
Lubrication – N/A
Cleaning Ability - 15/10
Scent – Unscented, slight sugar cane type aroma
PH Level – 12.0
Consistency – Runny
Foam Quality - Runny
Overall Rating – 8/10
Gyeon Q2M Foam - Gyeon seem to be a bit cagey with this product by not quoting a pH level. As a pre-wash soap designed to soften and lift dirt prior to the contact wash, I suspected a higher pH is what delivers that. Tested with my pH meter, that theory played out with a reading of about 12.0. As such, I would only be using this as an occasional wash on dirtier vehicles or as a restorative decon for ceramic coatings. There is a hint of a lemon fragrance and the foam quality is extremely thick. Think of Q2M Foam as Gyeon's version of Carpro Lift.
Lubrication – 8/10
Cleaning Ability 10/10
Scent – Mild Lemon
PH Level – 11.95
Consistency – Thin
Foam Quality - Thick
Overall Rating – 8/10
Obsessed Garage Decontamination Soap – This is an interesting soap that was once sold as Chemical Guys Citrus Red. It's since been private labeled by OG, the colour changed to purple in the process. It’s a higher pH alkaline soap that offers high lubrication, brilliant foaming and strong cleaning ability. It has a solvent base for that added ability, so avoid working in the sunlight.
Lubrication – 10/10
Cleaning Ability 10/10
Scent – Mild Citrus
PH Level – 10.0
Consistency - Medium
Foam Quality - Thick
Overall Rating – 8/10
NV Snow Plus – This is a higher pH / alkaline soap designed for more cleaning ability. It lacks the pleasant scent of regular snow and is a clear liquid rather than colored blue. You would use this soap on dirtier vehicles or when doing a decontamination/strip wash, Snow Plus having the ability to remove or seriously degrade a wax/sealant. A brilliant choice and a staple of my cabinet for a number of years now.
(Like Snow, this soap also tests considerably aboe the quoted pH value of 8.1. In this case, I'm not sure it matters considering its intended use.)
Lubrication – 8/10
Cleaning Ability 9/10
Scent – Un-scented
PH Level – 8.1 (Note – I have seen numbers as high as 12.1)
Consistency - Thin
Foam Quality - Thick
Overall Rating – 9/10
Conclusions -
For now, that where I'm at with soap testing.
The biggest compliment I can make to a soap is if I re-order it, that generally means I love using it. For those that I don't love, or downright hate, they end up on bin cleaning duty and never re-ordered.
