DFB's Soapy Notes

[Bunky]

The only soap that I thought was hard to rinse was Optimum Car Wash especially getting trapped under trim but sure liked the scent. Hyperwash still works.

 

[Big DaveBig Dave is verified member.]

I am curious to see how they all go, but mainly HydrO2, as I seem to be turning into a bit of a Carpro fanboy. I have used Bathe+, but it was a long time ago, like more than 10 years, so they may have updated it. I still have more than half a bottle, but the conditions never seem right to use it. Maybe I should test it on my bins, see if it still leaves any protection behind.

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[Desertnate]

The only soap that I thought was hard to rinse was Optimum Car Wash especially getting trapped under trim but sure liked the scent. Hyperwash still works.

I didn't find Optimum Car Wash or Hyperwash hard to rinse off. Of all the soaps I've tried, Hyperwash is probably the easiest, but Optimum wasn't too bad. Some of the thicker ones like Gold Class or PoorBoys Super Slick with Suds were hardest by far. I really liked the Poorboys soap, but it was so thick it was hard to mix in the water and not the easiest to rinse off. I'll occasionally try other soaps (I'm using 3D Pink now) but always go back to Hyperwash.

 

[chilly]

I didn't find Optimum Car Wash or Hyperwash hard to rinse off. Of all the soaps I've tried, Hyperwash is probably the easiest, but Optimum wasn't too bad. Some of the thicker ones like Gold Class or PoorBoys Super Slick with Suds were hardest by far. I really liked the Poorboys soap, but it was so thick it was hard to mix in the water and not the easiest to rinse off. I'll occasionally try other soaps (I'm using 3D Pink now) but always go back to Hyperwash.

You have to wonder if we are looking at another example of how radically different our results can be based solely on local water chemistry

 

[Karl_in_Chicago]

You have to wonder if we are looking at another example of how radically different our results can be based solely on local water chemistry

There's a whole cult of NYC pizza fanatics that would swear with their last dying breath that it's the NYC water that is an essential differentiator in their pizza so why not car wash solutions, too?

 

[DFB]

You have to wonder if we are looking at another example of how radically different our results can be based solely on local water chemistry

One example of that being P&S Pearl.

I could not get it to foam at all, just thin watery soap. And yet, I've seen it produce much thicker foam on a couple of videos. My town water is at around 90 TDS, so not brutal. I did have ideas of trying it with demineralized water, but why should I when plenty of other soaps foam like a champion without the need for special water.

 

[Bunky]

You have to wonder if we are looking at another example of how radically different our results can be based solely on local water chemistry

I believe that is one variable along with dilution and condition of paint surface, I have no issues with PB SSS. As I said my Optimum experience was with soap trapped under trim. U still like it. I like trying soaps and cannot say I really disliked very many. I do like suds so these have been my preferred.

 

[SNP209]

You have to wonder if we are looking at another example of how radically different our results can be based solely on local water chemistry

Have you tried using hyper wash with warm water?

 

[Bill D]

I can tell you that when it comes to laundry water quality is essential. Me trying to restore whites with mine is terrible even with plenty of Oxiclean

 

[chilly]

Have you tried using hyper wash with warm water?

I use warm water in my wash bucket but rinse with outdoor tap water and up here that is COLD, regardless of chemistry

I should run a hose from the wash sink and try warm water, but I’ll have to rig some support for the hose because the faucet they installed doesn’t lend itself to working with a hose


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[Desertnate]

One example of that being P&S Pearl.

I could not get it to foam at all, just thin watery soap. And yet, I've seen it produce much thicker foam on a couple of videos.

Funny you mention sudsing in your example. Eldo2K and I have discussed that here before. He could never get any suds out of Optimum Car Wash, while I had suds for days...or at least hours. So much in fact I'd have suds still laying on the driveway after I was done washing and put all my equipment away, while he couldn't even get it to suds very well in the bucket.

 

[Eldorado2k]

Have you tried using hyper wash with warm water?

I think my mind is playing tricks on me lately… Because during this 1st pre mixed gallon of Hyper Wash @ roughly 12oz. into a gallon for ready mixed foam cannon refill I’m wondering if the suds I spray from the foam cannon dissipate much quicker than before… I find myself jumping into the bucket wash immediately after foaming the vehicle and even with not wasting any time it seems like the foam is not clinging the way I initially remember.

I pour an entire 12oz. into the gallon so it can’t be a weak dilution. Only thing I can think of is maybe due to having left the gallon mix outside several times in the direct sun but would that really affect it? I’ve left my gallon of Full strength Hyper Wash outside in the sun for days at a time and never noticed any adverse effects.

I just ran out of my 1st pre mixed gallon. Maybe I’ll test a fresh foam cannon on my next wash and see if there’s any difference.

 

[SNP209]

I think my mind is playing tricks on me lately… Because during this 1st pre mixed gallon of Hyper Wash @ roughly 12oz. into a gallon for ready mixed foam cannon refill I’m wondering if the suds I spray from the foam cannon dissipate much quicker than before… I find myself jumping into the bucket wash immediately after foaming the vehicle and even with not wasting any time it seems like the foam is not clinging the way I initially remember.

I pour an entire 12oz. into the gallon so it can’t be a weak dilution. Only thing I can think of is maybe due to having left the gallon mix outside several times in the direct sun but would that really affect it? I’ve left my gallon of Full strength Hyper Wash outside in the sun for days at a time and never noticed any adverse effects.

I just ran out of my 1st pre mixed gallon. Maybe I’ll test a fresh foam cannon on my next wash and see if there’s any difference.

From my experience hyper wash goes on thick then thins out as it dwells and begins to run off the car

Goes on like this:

Hyper wash foam - YouTube

And after some dwell time it becomes runnier and looks like this:

Hyper wash foam 2 - YouTube


I always mix it up fresh though, so can't really speak on the performance of a pre mixed batch.

 

[chilly]

I think my mind is playing tricks on me lately… Because during this 1st pre mixed gallon of Hyper Wash @ roughly 12oz. into a gallon for ready mixed foam cannon refill I’m wondering if the suds I spray from the foam cannon dissipate much quicker than before… I find myself jumping into the bucket wash immediately after foaming the vehicle and even with not wasting any time it seems like the foam is not clinging the way I initially remember.

I pour an entire 12oz. into the gallon so it can’t be a weak dilution. Only thing I can think of is maybe due to having left the gallon mix outside several times in the direct sun but would that really affect it? I’ve left my gallon of Full strength Hyper Wash outside in the sun for days at a time and never noticed any adverse effects.

I just ran out of my 1st pre mixed gallon. Maybe I’ll test a fresh foam cannon on my next wash and see if there’s any difference.

I think I mentioned a couple months ago that my latest gallon of Hyper Wash didn't seem up to snuff. I had to add way more, a little at a time, into my gallons of premix to get the same foam I was getting before, and it needed just about double the amount to achieve the same results

I was actually thinking of contacting the water people that maintain the well for our development and ask them if anything had changed but then I thought I was just being paranoid

I keep 2 gallons of premix so sometimes the newest mix can sit for quite a while until it gets used but that was never a problem before

I have been doing that for quite a few years so it's not a new process to me

Possibly a bad batch?

I haven't bought another new gallon to try, thinking I would give the stock at O'Reilly's some time to rotate, but as I mentioned before, they don't even display it, they keep it in the back, so it is possible that the gallon was quite old

I should buy a small bottle of Gold Class and see if my ratio for that will still foam like it always has

 

[DFB]

I think my mind is playing tricks on me lately… Because during this 1st pre mixed gallon of Hyper Wash @ roughly 12oz. into a gallon for ready mixed foam cannon refill I’m wondering if the suds I spray from the foam cannon dissipate much quicker than before… I find myself jumping into the bucket wash immediately after foaming the vehicle and even with not wasting any time it seems like the foam is not clinging the way I initially remember.

I pour an entire 12oz. into the gallon so it can’t be a weak dilution. Only thing I can think of is maybe due to having left the gallon mix outside several times in the direct sun but would that really affect it? I’ve left my gallon of Full strength Hyper Wash outside in the sun for days at a time and never noticed any adverse effects.

I just ran out of my 1st pre mixed gallon. Maybe I’ll test a fresh foam cannon on my next wash and see if there’s any difference.

Are you mixing this with tap water or demineralized water?

 

[Eldorado2k]

Are you mixing this with tap water or demineralized water?

Tap water.
I tried a Fresh mix into my foam cannon and wow world of difference.

Shaving cream foam that lasts much longer.

Suds were still strong in the gutter an hour later.

I’m going back to mixing fresh.

 

[DFB]

Tap water.
I tried a Fresh mix into my foam cannon and wow world of difference.

Shaving cream foam that lasts much longer.

Suds were still strong in the gutter an hour later.

I’m going back to mixing fresh.

Ok then, I think we've found your problem.

If you don't have a household water filtration system or a specific deionizer treatment, the minerals suspended in the tap water will over time "attack" the chemical make-up of the soap. This is most often displayed by a reduced level of foaming performance, something that is exaggerated the longer it is stored. This played out for you today, the freshly mixed soap solution foaming properly and holding its form.

So, for any chemical you are diluting that will sit for extended periods, as in beyond a day or two, it's best to use demineralized water.

I actually like your idea of having pre-diluted soap ready to go.

 

[chilly]

Ok then, I think we've found your problem.

If you don't have a household water filtration system or a specific deionizer treatment, the minerals suspended in the tap water will over time "attack" the chemical make-up of the soap. This is most often displayed by a reduced level of foaming performance, something that is exaggerated the longer it is stored. This played out for you today, the freshly mixed soap solution foaming properly and holding its form.

So, for any chemical you are diluting that will sit for extended periods, as in beyond a day or two, it's best to use demineralized water.

I actually like your idea of having pre-diluted soap ready to go.

I’m thinking I need to go this route as well and use distilled water for my pre-mix

And even then maybe just mix a gallon at a time instead of having 2 gallons on hand

It’s not like I’m doing production work anyway


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[chilly]

I’m thinking I need to go this route as well and use distilled water for my pre-mix

And even then maybe just mix a gallon at a time instead of having 2 gallons on hand

It’s not like I’m doing production work anyway


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I posted some soap related results from today in another thread

I tried making up a single jug of cannon premix using HW and distilled water just a few days ago to eliminate the variable of both time and mineralized water

It didn’t seem to improve the results with this current gallon of HW; using the same ratios as the last gallon I got the same mediocre foaming results

I got frustrated and was about to dump a couple more oz of HW into the cannon and for whatever reason I thought about adding some NV Snow to the cannon instead

It made a world of difference and I got some really nice thick but still wet foam that had great cling and run down time

It dwelled for a good 5-6 minutes and seemed to be ideal

The contact wash soap I mixed up with the normal ratio of HW was a bit flat as well so I put a capful of NV Snow in that as well and hit it with the pressure washer and it completely changed the bucket of soap to thick suds

The contact wash was amazingly smooth

I’m gonna try just NV Snow in cannon and bucket next wash and see how it works

The bottom line is I don’t think water was the issue, I think it was an issue with the soap

I am not sure I’m willing to spend $40 on another gallon of HW to see if it’s different from the one I got


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[DFB]

WASH AND WAX SERIES

I’ve never really been a fan of these soap. In my earlier years, a product like this would have been quite useful in topping up my Mothers California Gold Carnauba Wax I was using at the time. But, in recent times, more durable forms of protection have, in theory, made wash-n-wax soaps redundant. This is especially important on ceramic coatings due to the potential to cause streaking or smeary results. I‘ve also found the use of a spray sealant as drying aid has eliminated the need for adding protection via the wash soap.

But, as coatings have become the norm, the manufacturers have updated the concept of a wash-n-wax by swapping the wax for Si02 ceramic chemistry. However, the concept remains the same, the soap being a convenient way of maintaining your LSP.

So, how do these soaps stack up against regular wash soaps? Are they worth the bother these days? Can they transform unprotected paint? Let’s find out………………………………

(Note – I have resubmitted Inspiration Radiance and KCx Nano Magic to fit in with this collection of soaps)

P&S Radiance Wash & Wax – This is NOT a modern product and has actually been discontinued. I was actually sent a bottle of this in error instead of the newer Inspiration Radiance. I subsequently threw it into the back of the cabinet and forgot about it. In the end, I grabbed it and took it to work to clean the company delivery vans with. I was pleasantly surprised……………………..

The moment you open the bottle, you can tell this is an old-school car wash soap, the dated fragrance is straight out of the 90’s. I used this soap on completely bare, unprotected paint and came away impressed. Firstly, it cleaned quite well, felt nicely slick. The finished result actually added some decent water sheeting to the paint and glass, not to mention a boost in gloss and slickness. Overall, I enjoyed using this soap. But it also left me with a theory…………………..

As mentioned, Radiance Wash & Wax was recently replaced by Inspiration Radiance Coating Maintenance Wash. In theory, the new product was reformulated for modern paint coatings in mind. But…………………..having used both, well they feel, smell and work exactly the same. So, did they just change the name and put it into a new bottle. Or have they in fact reformulated it. In any case, both are nice to use, both increasing gloss and slickness, they both require generous dose rates.

Lubrication – 9/10
Cleaning Ability – 8/10
Scent – 1/10
PH Level – 7.5
Consistency – Medium thickness
Overall Rating – 7/10



P&S Inspiration Radiance – this is an update to the 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 wise, 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 what it does to 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
Overall Rating – 8/10





Carpro Hydr02 Lite – Carpro were one of the pioneers of spray and rinse type sealants with their Hydr02 line. In addition to Hydr02 (concentrate) and Hydr02 Lite (RTU), Carpro also created Hydr02 Foam. As the name suggests, this takes the water delivered Si02 sealant and pairs it with a pH neutral soap. In addition the “significant UV protection”, Carpro say Hydr02 Foam is resistant to acids, alkaline chemicals and solvents. They also suggest it produces “amazing rich foam”. Um………………..

Like Reset, Hydr02 Foam is a clear, runny liquid that makes it easy to pour. Unlike Reset and despite the name and claims, Hydr02 Foam DOES NOT foam. It’s seems to be even worse than the others, the below shot was taken seconds after application, the foam generated is super thin and simply does not cling to the surface of the vehicle. In its defence, Hydr02 Foam(ish) is said to last up to 3-months and seemed to provide the most obvious before and after by improving gloss, slickness and hydrophobics after use.

Overall, I just couldn't get past the lack of foam on the surfaces I was cleaning. I think I will reserve this soap for neglected customer cars as a final step instead of maintenance washing my own coated vehicles.

Lubrication – 6/10
Cleaning Ability – 6/10
Scent – Not scented, smells the same as other Hydr02 variants
PH Level – 7.5 (claimed)
Consistency – Runny
Overall Rating – 3/10





3D Si02 Ceramic Wash – Recently released, the soap joins a wider range of Si02 slanted products from 3D. Apparently this is a “game-changing ceramic car wash soap” with an “advanced Ph-neutral formula” that will offer deep cleaning ability. Naturally, there are claims of increased gloss and slickness, an “unmatched glow and superior protection”.

The foam is of the runny kind, much like Nano-Magic or Inspiration Radiance and considerably better than the disappointing Carpro Hydr02 Foam. However, it doesn't quite transform the paint like Hydr02 Foam does, at least how I used it without contact on this occasion. I also didn't care for the dated fragrance, so overall not a winner for me.

Lubrication – Not Assessed
Cleaning Ability – Not Assessed
Scent – Like laundry detergent, very dated
PH Level – pH neutral (claimed)
Consistency – Medium
Overall Rating – 5/10



Shine Supply Shine Soap – said to clean and enhance any wax, sealant or ceramic coating, Shine Soap is pH balanced and apparently won’t alter the protection already on the vehicle. Strangely, the product description suggests this is a “low-cleansing soap”, in theory not diminishing waxes and sealants. As such, you would probably need to team this soap with a pre-wash soap if added cleaning power is needed. Shine Soap is said to be a polymer-based product, but I don’t see any mention of their being Si02 within the formula. Able to be used in a bucket or foam cannon, just don’t expect shaving cream foam.

The first thing to note with this soap is the near-identical scent used in Inspiration Radiance. That’s to say a very subtle but dated aroma. Secondly, it does not foam, rather it produces soap water from a foam cannon. That aspect is par for coarse with this segment, so I guess its no better or worse. Slickness I found ho-hum, almost sticky under the wash media. The lack of foam does mean it’s extremely free rinsing. Gloss and slickness afterwards middle of the road, Inspiration Radiance easily eclipses it in that regard.

I also found Shine Soap altered the characteristics of the underlying protection more than the others in this comparison, as in smaller beads and reduced hydrophobics. That may or may not bother you.

Lubrication – 5/10
Cleaning Ability – 5/10
Scent – 1/10
PH Level – Listed as “balanced”, so expect 7.0 to 8.0
Consistency – Runny
Overall Rating – 3/10





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