DFB's Soapy Notes

[DFB]

WASH AND WAX SERIES - Continued.............................

Ethos Ceramic Shampoo – While specifically designed to work with ceramic coatings, this soap will also play with waxes and sealants. With Si02 in the formula, Ceramic Shampoo will enhance and prolong the underlying ceramic coating, while also providing sufficient cleaning ability and foam. Unlike other products here, Ethos Ceramic Shampoo has a less obvious look and feel after use, Ethos suggesting the “hydrophobic effects increase with every wash, water beading effect does not appear instantaneously upon first use.” To me, this means it contains less Si02, so don’t expect this to transform bare paint.

Of the soaps tested, this is the one I liked the most, and by a clear margin too. The fact it actually foams is a big part of that! The pleasant “cucumber-melon" scent of Ceramic Shampoo is quite subdued compared to other Ethos products. Slickness was decent too. Probably the only one of these I would buy again.

Lubrication – 8/10
Cleaning Ability – 8/10
Scent – 8/10
PH Level – 7.5 (claimed)
Consistency – Medium thickness
Overall Rating – 8/10





Koch Chemie Nano Magic – Described as a high-gloss soap with long-term sealing properties, it won’t strip previously applied waxes and sealants. Don’t go into this product expecting GSF levels of 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 and pleasant KCx aroma. Interestingly, the pH level is acidic leaning. Nano Magic is best used as a light maintenance rather than a heavy-duty cleaning soap, just don't expect it to transform flat, un-protected paint. I've also found it to induce sheeting rather than ultra strong beading like Hydr02 Foam does.

Lubrication – 8/10
Cleaning Ability 7/10
Scent – Hard to describe
PH Level – 5.5
Consistency – Thin
Overall Rating – 7/10





Conclusions -

I've come to the realization that these soaps are not for me. While they certainly add some protection and slickness to the equation, they lack the foaming ability that I prefer and have a strange feeling underneath the wash media.

Of the soaps used for this comparison, the clear winner for me was Ethos Ceramic Shampoo, primarily because it foamed properly and felt the nicest to work with. Carpro Hydr02 Foam seemed to have the most protection potency, but was a letdown in every other way. Inspiration Radiance produced the most visible gloss and slickness improvement. Of the products that produced watery foam, Nano Magic seemed to have the most holding power.

While I can see these soaps have a purpose, they are targeted at a very specific user who just wants some beading and gloss without having to apply a ceramic coating, wax or sealant. For me, what they bring to the table does not out way their lack of foaming ability, lower cleaning potential, so-so slickness or weird scents.

 

[DFB]

Three additional soaps to add to the shoot-out -

Armour Detail Supply Shampoo+ - Having just gone on sale in Australia, Armour Detail Supply has hit the ground running with a range of products that have garnered plenty of praise. With that in mind, I was keen to try Shampoo+. The focus here was for a pure, pH neutral maintenance wash that can be used in both a foam cannon or bucket. While expensive, its relatively concentrated, with does rates for a foam cannon in the 30 – 90ml range depending on foam preferences.

The first thing you notice with this soap is how easily it pours, similar to NV Snow or Carpro Reset. The scent, like the rest of the ADS lineup, is extremely pleasant and is refreshingly different to the usual berry/bubble gum/cherry scents that are common to wash soaps. Foam quality will range from thin and watery, right out to shaving cream foam. Slickness and cleaning ability and great. In many ways, Shampoo+ is on par with Reset in being a top level soap. But for whatever reason, I still prefer Reset.

Lubrication – 9/10
Cleaning Ability – 9/10
Scent – Subtle, pleasant
PH Level – 7.5 (claimed)
Consistency – Runny
Overall Rating – 9/10





3D Ultimate Wash – This is another relatively new soap on the market that sits above the regular 3D line as a premium offering. Ultimate Wash is pH neutral and produces much thicker foam compared to the thin/watery foam of 3D Pink. Strangely, the 473ml bottles are both priced the same at $29.99 (AUD), however no gallon size is offered. They do offer a 1.9-litre size sitting at $49.99 (AUD), which compares to the $45.99 (AUD) asking price for a gallon of 3D Pink.

The first thing you notice with Ultimate Wash is the thicker consistency combined with the stupid pop-top cap that makes it hard to dose out. Foaming ability is excellent, producing a thick blanket over the vehicle. Slickness is ok, the mandarin-orange scent ok. Apart from the foamability, the best aspect of this soap is the easy rinse off. Other than being hard to pour, Ultimate Wash doesn’t do anything wrong but doesn’t excel at anything either. Overall, a workhorse soap at a premium price point.

Lubrication – 7/10
Cleaning Ability – 8/10
Scent – Orange-mandarin scent, faint
PH Level – 7.5 (claimed)
Consistency – Thick
Overall Rating – 6/10





Armour Detail Supply Decon Soap – As the name suggests, this is soap designed for decontamination purposes. With a pH of 12.0, this alkaline soap can be used to strip older waxes and sealants prior to a new application. It can also help revive an existing ceramic coating or be used as a heavier duty maintenance soap to assist in the removal of bugs and baked on grime. ADS also make mention of the surfactants being safe for semi-regular use on all surfaces, including paint, plastic, and metal.

Producing ultra thick foam, Decon Soap has a high cling rate that allows for an extended dwell period. It’s very easy to pour, just like their Shampoo+, and does well as a bucket soap. The scent is a faint hint of citrus, but is mostly like the other high-alkaline soaps on the market.

Lubrication – 8/10
Cleaning Ability – 9/10
Scent – Slight citrus aroma
PH Level – 12.0 (claimed)
Consistency – Runny
Overall Rating – 8/10



Next? Well, I'm not sure really. I have a handful of soaps that have been in the cabinet for a while now that I haven't even touched. Both Bilt Hamber Auto-Foam and Auto-Wash were sent to me to sample, but without a scent or colour, they just don't have a wow factor. I also have a bottle of Bathe+ that was supposed to go in the wash-n-wax series, but its convoluted application process seems more of an inconvenience than the suggested time saving concept.

At some point, I would love to compare a range of soaps sold through the big-box chain stores. The goal would be to find the best freely available soap on the market, but I suspect I already know the result of that before I've even begun. I'm also still waiting for Koch Chemie to release Reactivation Shampoo and S0.03 Hydro Foam, and the smaller 1-liter size of Active Foam, but it seems KCx Australia are lost at sea.

So, if you have a soap you want me to compare, shout out.

 

[chilly]

Three additional soaps to add to the shoot-out -

Armour Detail Supply Shampoo+ - Having just gone on sale in Australia, Armour Detail Supply has hit the ground running with a range of products that have garnered plenty of praise. With that in mind, I was keen to try Shampoo+. The focus here was for a pure, pH neutral maintenance wash that can be used in both a foam cannon or bucket. While expensive, its relatively concentrated, with does rates for a foam cannon in the 30 – 90ml range depending on foam preferences.

The first thing you notice with this soap is how easily it pours, similar to NV Snow or Carpro Reset. The scent, like the rest of the ADS lineup, is extremely pleasant and is refreshingly different to the usual berry/bubble gum/cherry scents that are common to wash soaps. Foam quality will range from thin and watery, right out to shaving cream foam. Slickness and cleaning ability and great. In many ways, Shampoo+ is on par with Reset in being a top level soap. But for whatever reason, I still prefer Reset.

Lubrication – 9/10
Cleaning Ability – 9/10
Scent – Subtle, pleasant
PH Level – 7.5 (claimed)
Consistency – Runny
Overall Rating – 9/10





3D Ultimate Wash – This is another relatively new soap on the market that sits above the regular 3D line as a premium offering. Ultimate Wash is pH neutral and produces much thicker foam compared to the thin/watery foam of 3D Pink. Strangely, the 473ml bottles are both priced the same at $29.99 (AUD), however no gallon size is offered. They do offer a 1.9-litre size sitting at $49.99 (AUD), which compares to the $45.99 (AUD) asking price for a gallon of 3D Pink.

The first thing you notice with Ultimate Wash is the thicker consistency combined with the stupid pop-top cap that makes it hard to dose out. Foaming ability is excellent, producing a thick blanket over the vehicle. Slickness is ok, the mandarin-orange scent ok. Apart from the foamability, the best aspect of this soap is the easy rinse off. Other than being hard to pour, Ultimate Wash doesn’t do anything wrong but doesn’t excel at anything either. Overall, a workhorse soap at a premium price point.

Lubrication – 7/10
Cleaning Ability – 8/10
Scent – Orange-mandarin scent, faint
PH Level – 7.5 (claimed)
Consistency – Thick
Overall Rating – 6/10





Armour Detail Supply Decon Soap – As the name suggests, this is soap designed for decontamination purposes. With a pH of 12.0, this alkaline soap can be used to strip older waxes and sealants prior to a new application. It can also help revive an existing ceramic coating or be used as a heavier duty maintenance soap to assist in the removal of bugs and baked on grime. ADS also make mention of the surfactants being safe for semi-regular use on all surfaces, including paint, plastic, and metal.

Producing ultra thick foam, Decon Soap has a high cling rate that allows for an extended dwell period. It’s very easy to pour, just like their Shampoo+, and does well as a bucket soap. The scent is a faint hint of citrus, but is mostly like the other high-alkaline soaps on the market.

Lubrication – 8/10
Cleaning Ability – 9/10
Scent – Slight citrus aroma
PH Level – 12.0 (claimed)
Consistency – Runny
Overall Rating – 8/10



Next? Well, I'm not sure really. I have a handful of soaps that have been in the cabinet for a while now that I haven't even touched. Both Bilt Hamber Auto-Foam and Auto-Wash were sent to me to sample, but without a scent or colour, they just don't have a wow factor. I also have a bottle of Bathe+ that was supposed to go in the wash-n-wax series, but its convoluted application process seems more of an inconvenience than the suggested time saving concept.

At some point, I would love to compare a range of soaps sold through the big-box chain stores. The goal would be to find the best freely available soap on the market, but I suspect I already know the result of that before I've even begun. I'm also still waiting for Koch Chemie to release Reactivation Shampoo and S0.03 Hydro Foam, and the smaller 1-liter size of Active Foam, but it seems KCx Australia are lost at sea.

So, if you have a soap you want me to compare, shout out.

I for one would REALLY appreciate a "Big Box Store" shampoo shootout

I am getting really burnt out on 16oz/500ml "boutique" soaps that I have to order online

 

[DFB]

Went shopping this afternoon...........................



While I have two more on the way, the above are all soaps that can be bought at a local automotive store. Some of those I have already rated and reviewed, some will be reacquaintances, some will be new to me. Discounting the soaps I have already reviewed, I drew up a list of 20+ candidates to try or re-try. I've whittled the list down to the ones I think will be strong contenders, with a couple included to provide an insight into where I have come from and where I am at now. As in, is a 1000ml bottle of Carpro Reset worth five times the price of a same size bottle or ArmorAll Car Wash?

Speaking of ArmorAll, this blue soap was my introduction to specific car washing chemicals, I was using dish soap before that. At age 15, I didn't know any better. And you know what, after removing the cap and taking a sniff, it took me right back to my early teens washing the old mans EB II Falcon and Subaru Forrester. A lot has changed since then, but this stuff still comes in the same bottle with the same scent as it did 22 years ago! Fairly sure it was the same price too.

 

[Big DaveBig Dave is verified member.]

Saw the picture and thought something has broken in the matrix, then I realised, and remembered, that you said you were going to test these auto store car washes. Of those I've used, and still have on the shelf, Gold Class and Bathe+. I've wanted to retry Bathe+ for a while, but the conditions are never right here, the FJs basically in the sun all day, and I definitely don't want it to dry on the paint. Good luck, looking forward to your reviews.

 

[DFB]

Saw the picture and thought something has broken in the matrix, then I realised, and remembered, that you said you were going to test these auto store car washes. Of those I've used, and still have on the shelf, Gold Class and Bathe+. I've wanted to retry Bathe+ for a while, but the conditions are never right here, the FJs basically in the sun all day, and I definitely don't want it to dry on the paint. Good luck, looking forward to your reviews.

Ha ha! When I was put through the register, just as my payment was going through, I told the attendant that I would be able to say which one would be the best afterwards. He looked over my selection and started reeling off what he thought, then went on the say he wouldn't buy the ArmorAll. Probably not a good retail skill to dismiss one of your products.

 

[chilly]

Went shopping this afternoon...........................



While I have two more on the way, the above are all soaps that can be bought at a local automotive store. Some of those I have already rated and reviewed, some will be reacquaintances, some will be new to me. Discounting the soaps I have already reviewed, I drew up a list of 20+ candidates to try or re-try. I've whittled the list down to the ones I think will be strong contenders, with a couple included to provide an insight into where I have come from and where I am at now. As in, is a 1000ml bottle of Carpro Reset worth five times the price of a same size bottle or ArmorAll Car Wash?

Speaking of ArmorAll, this blue soap was my introduction to specific car washing chemicals, I was using dish soap before that. At age 15, I didn't know any better. And you know what, after removing the cap and taking a sniff, it took me right back to my early teens washing the old mans EB II Falcon and Subaru Forrester. A lot has changed since then, but this stuff still comes in the same bottle with the same scent as it did 22 years ago! Fairly sure it was the same price too.

I will go on record as saying it is totally unfair that you can walk into a store and buy ANY Gyeon product

Never tried that blue Armorall but one of my go to products for washing our first RV 20+ years afo was Blue Coral, and to this day I can remember the smell

I tried this once in desperation after seeing someone say it cut road film like magic



You wouldn't even have cleaned out a rubbish bin with it

 

[Setec Astronomy]

You wouldn't even have cleaned out a rubbish bin with it

OPC for cleaning out rubbish bins, especially ones with synthetic motor oil spilled in them (don't ask me how I know).

 

[DFB]

I will go on record as saying it is totally unfair that you can walk into a store and buy ANY Gyeon product

Never tried that blue Armorall but one of my go to products for washing our first RV 20+ years afo was Blue Coral, and to this day I can remember the smell

I tried this once in desperation after seeing someone say it cut road film like magic

View attachment 136942

You wouldn't even have cleaned out a rubbish bin with it

I actually wanted to try that, but the only size offered is that huge bottle, I guess you need a lot of it to actually clean anything.

 

[chilly]

I actually wanted to try that, but the only size offered is that huge bottle, I guess you need a lot of it to actually clean anything.

Straight up in the cannon undiluted it’s watery useless foam

It’s got this very citrusy acidic bite to it when you smell it and you think it’s going to make road film just slide off the car

Not so much

And in a bucket it’s not lubricated and I just kept adding more and more and got nowhere

I think I used the entire jug trying two washes and had to fall back on something else

Obviously my water quality comes into play but most quality soaps work just fine in cannon and bucket with my tap water

It’s dirt cheap here and it would have been awesome to see it actually work but that wasn’t the case

YMMV


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[DFB]

I will go on record as saying it is totally unfair that you can walk into a store and buy ANY Gyeon product

In Australia, the Gyeon brand surfaced like any premium car care brand would, as in, imported and sold through a specialty detailing supplier. That importer then started distributing the brand to other retailers around the country. Most who took on the Gyeon brand were doing so to replace the Carpro brand in their stores (nothing official here, but I suspect there was some politics going on with the local Carpro importer/distributor).

About two years ago, the Gyeon brand appeared in one of our national automotive chain stores, Repco. At the time, I was a little shocked at this move. Those specialty retailers who took on Gyeon as a premium brand would have done so for a variety of reasons, having a recognizable high-end brand in their store being one of them. For the local distributor to then offer up the brand to Repco, who is often heavily discounting the products, well that would be a slap in the face to those retailers. How do they compete with Repco who has extremely high buying power and can afford to discount the product so often. The only one's benefiting from this move are the consumer and the official importer of the Gyeon brand, the retailers who put money into stocking and supporting the Gyeon brand have been left standing with one hand tied behind their back.

Same concept applies to my own industry. When Bunning's (our version of Home Depot) opened a store in my town in the year 2000, there was 28 independent plant retailers in and around the area. With one closing last week, that number is now down to 3, one of which I have worked with since 2003. Bunning's started off innocent enough, they were just another competitor. But over time, and as their volume increased, they started to have an influence over the growers who were supplying the store. Without getting too technical, they basically cornered growers into a "do what we say and supply us or get lost and well find someone else to bully" type of situation.

It's to the point where Bunning's don't actually make money selling plants, that they are a loss leader for them. How does an independent retailer compete against that? To make our business worthwhile, we have to set a certain level of markup, which is noticeably higher than what the big box retailer would sell the same item for. We HAVE to make money on each product we sell or there is no business. Bunning's on the hand uses our specialty as a loss leader. Most customers don't understand this.

So, on a surface level, having Gyeon so freely available is seemingly a good thing. But it's also a poisoned chalice.

 

[Big DaveBig Dave is verified member.]

Deyon, do you know if the full Gyeon range is available at Repco, I went looking to see if they have Eco-wash, but there was only about 3 or 4 products on the shelf. I wasn't going to buy it yet, but I wanted to see what they charge. Maybe they've only released a limited range to get some brand awareness out there.

 

[DFB]

Deyon, do you know if the full Gyeon range is available at Repco, I went looking to see if they have Eco-wash, but there was only about 3 or 4 products on the shelf. I wasn't going to buy it yet, but I wanted to see what they charge. Maybe they've only released a limited range to get some brand awareness out there.

No, only a selection of the Gyeon range is offered by Repco. I suspect they went with the products that would most resonate with their target customer, so basically the maintenance style products and the wax. Other than CanCoat EVO, the coatings are not offered. And even then, I think they are playing with fire offering that in such a readily available way, I can just see someone spraying it directly onto the paint and making a giant mess.

As for Eco-Wash, I highly doubt Repco will offer it. As I have said in the past, the average Australian doesn't know what rinse-less washing is, and if they have heard of it, they don't fully understand the concept. Bowden's Dry Spell is the only rinse-less sold in an auto store, and I get the feeling its been a failure because Supercheap (who originally had exclusivity on it) have put it on clearance. Which is a bloody shame because these products do far more than just rinse-less washing, but again, most Aussies have no idea or give the subject a second thought.

 

[DFB]

Straight up in the cannon undiluted it’s watery useless foam

It’s got this very citrusy acidic bite to it when you smell it and you think it’s going to make road film just slide off the car

Not so much

And in a bucket it’s not lubricated and I just kept adding more and more and got nowhere

I think I used the entire jug trying two washes and had to fall back on something else

Obviously my water quality comes into play but most quality soaps work just fine in cannon and bucket with my tap water

It’s dirt cheap here and it would have been awesome to see it actually work but that wasn’t the case

YMMV


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's not dirt cheap if you use an entire bottle to wash only two vehicles. But then, that concept is not confined to Turtle Wax, most of those brands do something similar, as in a lack of concentration causing the user to consume the product quicker, and then buy more sooner. Chemical Guys are probably the most obvious in doing this.

 

[chilly]

It's not dirt cheap if you use an entire bottle to wash only two vehicles. But then, that concept is not confined to Turtle Wax, most of those brands do something similar, as in a lack of concentration causing the user to consume the product quicker, and then buy more sooner. Chemical Guys are probably the most obvious in doing this.

It doesn't get much cheaper than this, and that is the Alaska price, of course if it is essentially worthless then it has zero value and is outrageously expensive since you basically threw $8 in the fire

If it cost $4, at least to me, it would still be a poor value

I get where you are coming from though

 

[chilly]

No, only a selection of the Gyeon range is offered by Repco. I suspect they went with the products that would most resonate with their target customer, so basically the maintenance style products and the wax. Other than CanCoat EVO, the coatings are not offered. And even then, I think they are playing with fire offering that in such a readily available way, I can just see someone spraying it directly onto the paint and making a giant mess.

As for Eco-Wash, I highly doubt Repco will offer it. As I have said in the past, the average Australian doesn't know what rinse-less washing is, and if they have heard of it, they don't fully understand the concept. Bowden's Dry Spell is the only rinse-less sold in an auto store, and I get the feeling its been a failure because Supercheap (who originally had exclusivity on it) have put it on clearance. Which is a bloody shame because these products do far more than just rinse-less washing, but again, most Aussies have no idea or give the subject a second thought.

The selection of Griots products available locally is very similar, just the stuff that a weekend warrior might grab off the shelf because it is pretty

They don't sell the BOSS polish lineup for instance, just the dumbed down yellow bottle line

 

[DFB]

The selection of Griots products available locally is very similar, just the stuff that a weekend warrior might grab off the shelf because it is pretty

They don't sell the BOSS polish lineup for instance, just the dumbed down yellow bottle line

I can't believe Griots has been ignored in Australia, surely one of the usual suspects could take it on and be successful with it. We have access to a wide variety of US brands including the smaller outfits like Ethos and Shine Supply. Maybe Griots themselves have no interest in exporting?

 

[DFB]

Auto-Store Soaps

In the past, the availability of car washing soaps was somewhat limited. You would either go your local automotive store, grab something from the supermarket, or raided the kitchen for some dish-washing liquid. Believe it or not, I have done all three in the past.



These days, we are spoilt for choice. Not only in the actual product itself, but also on where to buy from, be that a traditional bricks and mortar retailer, or via specialty online stores. For someone like me, I’m more than happy to make my detailing purchases online, but I also understand that not everybody wants or feels comfortable shopping that way.



The following is a combination of soaps freely available in automotive bricks and mortar stores. Some of them I have previously reviewed but have added them here to fit the theme. Some are soaps I have used a very long time ago, testing them again to discover how they stack against high-end products. And some are new-to-me products.

ArmorAll Car Wash – Probably one of the cheapest car wash soaps on the market, this is the very first car wash soap I ever used back in the early 2000’s washing my Mum and Dad’s car. A lot has changed since then, but remarkably, this soap is exactly the same. The question is, does this soap offer something for the detailing obsessed, and how does it compare to modern soaps sold at considerably higher prices?

Using this soap for the first time in 20 years, it takes me way back to my teens washing cars on summer weekend evenings. The scent is the same, the colour is the same, the bottle is the same, the label is the same. Back then, foam cannons were not a thing, so I was surprised to see it foam so well. Now, they could have added foaming agents since then, but I do remember it being nice and sudsy. However, the suggested dose rates are extremely rich, ArmorAll recommending 200ml into 800ml of water for a foam cannon. Carpro Reset only requires 80ml, NV Snow 100ml. And while the cleaning power is very good, there is virtually no lubrication to be had, it has that “squeaky clean” feel under the wash pad.

Overall, an enthusiast detailer is not going to enjoy this soap. It does what is says on the bottle, but nothing more. As such, I’m not going to tear it to shreds because at the price point and the target customer, this stuff is more than up to the task. If only it had a more lubricated feel, it would be a surprise wildcard.

Lubrication – 2/10
Cleaning Ability – 8/10
Scent – Subdued, very old fashioned
PH Level – 7.5 (claimed)
Consistency – Thick
Overall Rating – 5/10





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
Overall Rating – 1/10



Autoglym Foaming Car Wash – After the past experience with the above soap, I was somewhat hesitant to try this stuff. However, being considerably newer on the market, surely they would have created a soap that lives up to modern day cleaning techniques. Going off the name and promise of “rich foam”, you would naturally expect this stuff to foam.

After a quick sniff of this soap, I was reminded of the cherry scented Gtechniq G-Wash. However, where G-Wash is a thoroughly competent soap, this stuff is so thoroughly disappointing! I'm sorry, but if you are going to label a product as a "foaming car wash", it bloody well better do just that! I was as generous with my dose rate as I normally am, as in more is better, I even added more after using it to clean the wheels to no improvement. I think its obvious in below the images that is soapy water and not "foam". Sure, its decently slick but I just can't get past it not foaming despite the claim on the bottle.

This soap joins a line of thoroughly average to downright horrible Autoglym products that I have used. Autoglym would be best off starting from scratch and putting their resources into making two great soaps rather than five thoroughly average ones. I scored this soap lower than the above because of the false claims of it foaming.

Lubrication – 7/10
Cleaning Ability – 5/10
Scent – Cherry
PH Level – 7.5 (claimed)
Consistency – Runny
Overall Rating – 0/10





Bowden’s Own Snow Job – 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”
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency – Runny
Overall Rating – 6/10





Bowdens Nanolicious – Bowden’s now offer a range of soaps, Nanolicious has been part of their lineup from very early on is aimed at bucket washing. Being pH neutral, this soap also contains UV inhibitors and adds “polymer based protection”. Bowden’s also make mention of “hydrophilic ingredients” which helps with water sheeting for faster rinsing and no streaky residues common similar soaps. In the past, I had dismissed this soap because of those conditioning polymers, however Bowdens insist that Nanolicious is safe for ceramic coatings, so I was keen to see how that would pan out.

Due to its bucket wash intentions, I was expecting Nanolicious to be a low foaming product. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how well it did in producing decently thick foam. Under the wash pad, Nanolicious is acceptably slick, cleans well and rinses freely. I actually noticed the promised sheeting effect during the rinse off. The scent? It's pleasant but forgettable. I was using this soap after the transcendent Carpro Reset, and overall, Nanolicious didn't disappoint, but didn't impress either.

Lubrication – 7/10
Cleaning Ability – 8/10
Scent – Subdued
PH Level – 7.5 (claimed)
Consistency – Thick
Overall Rating – 7/10





To be continued...........

 

[DFB]

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 middle of the road soap. At the asking price in Australia, it competes with some much nicer products, 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
Overall Rating – 5/10



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
Overall Rating – 8/10



Gyeon Bathe – Gyeon offer a number of soaps, I think this is the one to go for. This is a slightly acidic maintenance soap that is highly concentrated, Gyeon suggesting Bathe will wash at least 35 cars from a single 400ml bottle. Hmmmm, not around here it won't!

Offers a runny consistency for easy pouring, Bathe produces ultra thick foam that clings to the paint very well. The scent is pleasant, but not to Reset levels. Something to note, the blue colouring presented in the product description seems to settle to the bottom of the bottle and doesn't re-mix, even with vigorous agitation. So, if Bathe you are looking at is clear, that is normal.

A very, very good soap, probably the best soap you can buy at a regular automotive store (Repco). However, for some reason, it has never spoken to me.

Lubrication – 9/10
Cleaning Ability 8/10
Scent – “Pleasant”
PH Level – 6.0
Consistency - Thin
Overall Rating – 8/10





Meguiars Soft Wash Gel – This is Meguiar's entry level soap in Australia and is often found on sale. Soft Wash Gel is pH neutral and contains "conditioners with optical brighteners to enhance the brilliance and gloss of your paint finish." This is a soap that pre-dates the foam cannon era, so how does it stack up in the modern age?

The first thing you notice is the strong cherry scent and the ultra-thick gel-like consistency. That thick consistency is common to every Meguiar's soap I have ever used, but then, their soaps have been left unchanged for decades. The gloopy consistency makes it harder to mix in the foam cannon cannister, but then it's not alone in that regard. Foam quality is not it’s strong suit, it produces quite runny and thin foam. However, Soft Wash Gel is an excellent bucket soap, it produces plenty of suds that hold on throughout the wash. Under the wash mitt, its nowhere near as slick as my current benchmark, Carpro Reset. Cleaning ability is fair and the rinse off easy enough.

For me, the biggest problem with Soft Wash Gel is that a 500ml bottle of Carpro Reset is only $5.00 more expensive when comparing RRP's. Reset is easier to pour, is considerably slicker, produces lovely thick foam, and is more concentrated so the extra $5.00 cancels itself out. Soft Wash Gel serves a purpose but is not for the detailing enthusiast.

Lubrication – 4/10
Cleaning Ability – 7/10
Scent – Heavy cherry scent
PH Level – 7.5 (claimed)
Consistency – Ultra thick, gel like
Overall Rating – 5/10





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. Smelt lovely though.

Lubrication – 7/10
Cleaning Ability 5/10
Scent – Bubble gum
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency - Thick
Overall Rating – 4/10



Meguiars Gold Class - This is basically Meguiar's flagship consumer soap that is pH neutral and has been on sale for decades. Rather than design a new label, Meguiar's in recent years has been putting a "Great For Foam Cannons" stickers on the bottle. For a brand as big and powerful as Meguiar's, you would think a fresh label would be an easy task, Gyeon have no trouble doing fresh labels every few years. Lazy is the word that comes to mind.

I used Gold Class for quite a while. At the time, I wasn't always foaming, but when I did, measuring out the gloopy Gold Class was difficult. That thick consistency remains, but now that we have wide-mouth foam cannon bottles, that really isn't the problem it once was.

Foam quality from Gold Class is medium to thick and with good holding power. The best thing about Gold Class is how sudsy it is, and those suds hang around right up until you start rinsing. I really like how it stays active and doesn't run off the panel after cleaning a section, in turn helping prevent it drying too quickly as you work around the vehicle. The flipside to that is it requires longer to rinse clear, a contrast to NXT which is extremely free rinsing. The scent is quite dated but takes me back to my younger days. Lubrication was ok but not a standout, I feel NXT is better in that regard too.

One other point on Gold Class, many have noted it can leave a residue behind and cause a streaky/hazy appearance. From what I can tell, this is from the conditioning agents and gloss enhancers not playing well with certain ceramic coatings. Personally, I have never witnessed this.

Lubrication – 7/10
Cleaning Ability – 8/10
Scent – Mild, dated
PH Level – 7.5 (Claimed)
Consistency – Ultra thick
Overall Rating – 7/10





To be continued.....................

 

[DFB]

Meguiars NXT - I remember when the NXT line of products were the latest and greatest from Meguiar's. The NXT soap was designed to work with the new NXT liquid and paste sealants, said to offer superior lubrication and an "extreme sudsing formula". A pH neutral maintenance soap, I used this stuff extensively for many years, mainly on my FG XR6. Thinking back, I remember NXT being a champion of suds, so I wondered how it would foam.

First of all, the grape scent of NXT took me back to my early 20's, much the same as the ArmorAll and Gold Class did. Mixed into the foam cannon, NXT produces medium to thick foam and felt very nice under the wash pad. At this point I was impressed, but it wasn't until I started to rinse the soap off the car did it finally click, this is Meguiar's BEST SOAP! Up until the rinse, I was thinking NXT was very similar to Hyper Wash, if not quite as foamy. But the way it instantly rinsed from the vehicle set it apart, Hyper Wash in comparison requires significantly more effort to fully rinse off the car.

The only drawback to NXT is the ultra-thick consistency, the key reason I chose to move away from it. However, like Gold Class, now that we have wide-mouth foam cannons, this aspect is less relevant as you don't have to dribble a thick soap into a narrow foam cannon bottle. But still, I think this is a killer soap!

Lubrication – 8/10
Cleaning Ability – 8/10
Scent – 8/10
PH Level – 7.5 (Claimed)
Consistency – Ultra Thick
Overall Rating – 9/10





Meguiar's Hyper Wash D110 – A highly concentrated soap with a 400:1 dilution ratio that is aimed at professional or bulk usage. In the US market, Hyper Wash is exceptionally affordable, priced below something like Adam's Car Shampoo or Mega Foam. In Australia, the $95 RRP puts it above the excellent 4-litre NV Snow or 3.8-litre Optimum Car Wash.

Meguiar's doesn't provide a pH number in their marketing information for Hyper Wash, but according to the SDS, it has pH value of about 9.0 to 9.8. In in theory, this delivers increased cleaning ability and improved wash efficiency. The formula is biodegradable and can be used in a professional metering system.

Meguiar's claim of "rich, stable foam" certainly rings true, Hyper Wash blanketing the car with shaving cream thick foam. The scent is pleasant but somewhat muted, so it won't "out scent" a soap from the likes of KCx, Carpro or Gyeon. While not class leading, slickness is agreeable and cleaning ability impressive. The thicker consistency of the concentrate does require more diligence when mixing up foam cannon and bucket solutions. Due to that thickness, this is a soap I would highly suggest fitting a dispensing spout/tap, especially if you have a narrow foam cannon opening.

Overall, an impressive workhorse soap that I have enjoyed using far more than I expected. If you are looking for something different as bulk soap, Hyper Wash is an attractive proposition. Just wait until it’s on sale though.

Lubrication – 9/10
Cleaning Ability 10/10
Scent – Mild, Pleasant.
PH Level – 9.0 to 9.8 (Note – I recorded 7.89)
Consistency - Thick
Foam Quality - Thick
Overall Rating – 9/10



Final Notes -

From the outset, I went into this experiment with low expectations but came away with some valuable insight. At the bottom end of the market, you kinda get what you pay for, as in a product that does the job but nothing more. To be fair, those products are not really for "us". However, once you breach a certain price point, the difference between the segment leaders and these auto-store products is narrower. The differences are there but are more subtle.

For me, the value proposition is not there when you consider some of these contenders are not much cheaper than the industry leaders. In which case, you are waiting on the inevitable sales, which is what I did for many years buying NXT and Gold Class.

Moving away from price and focusing on the topic of this post, what soap is the go-to when purchasing from a bricks and mortar store? For me, that's easy!

- In smaller pack sizes, Meguiar's NXT is superbly capable, especially that easy rinse off. It smells nice, foams great, washes great. I was surprised at how well this stuff compared to the latest and greatest.

- If you like to buy in bulk, then Meguiar's Hyper Wash is a fantastic choice. It's ultra concentrated, foams brilliantly, and cleaning ability on par or beyond Carpro Reset.

- If you want to try something new and more upmarket, then Gyeon Bathe would be a clear winner. It's easier to pour than the two above, foams like a champ and is nicely slick.

So, I went into this thinking I already knew the answer to each soap. Some impressed, some were about what I expected, some were downright deceptive. Now, I just have to get through all of this extra soap! Some has already been given away, some fill follow in footsteps of Snow Job....................