On the hunt for a new car wash soap.

BryanH said:
What's your experience?
Any recommendations for me?

My most important criteria are:
- Good cleaning power
- High lubricity
- Will not negatively affect LSP longevity
even at higher dilution ratios
- Low cost per wash and
a pleasant scent are big bonuses.
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I recommend: Meguiar's HyperWash
-Very cost effective: One gallon yields
640 gallons of car-wash solution
-No need, ever, for a higher dilution ratio;
400:1 will suffice
-Cleans very well (even "foams", for those
desiring that feature)
-Quite Lubricious (some say: salaciously slick)



Bob
 
I am currently sampling the McKee's Xtreme Foam and have been impressed enough with it to replace both of my regulars...Meg's Hyper and DG 901/902.
 
Thanks everyone for your feedback! It looks like I should try out a select few different products to see what I would like to use long term. Most likely the McKee's 37, Ultima, and Reset. I haven't seen HyperWash in anything smaller than a 1 gallon jug. Not so great for giving it a tryout.

KirkH said:
Are you just washing your own vehicle?

I have a ridiculous number of bottles of car wash shampoo. I count 17 at a quick glance. Sonax Car Wash Shampoo is probably what I'd recommend.

You have tough set of requirements.
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Mainly my own cars, yes. During the warmer months, I may be washing a vehicle as many as 3 times in a week.

What's tough about my requirements? One particular thing or the combo of all of them?

Seventeen bottles of car wash! Wow. We all have it bad but that's amazing. :)

KirkH said:
Chemical Guys Clean Slate really leaves the least behind. Some people say it will strip wax and sealants, but I have seen videos that prove that is not the case.
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I actually just ordered some of that during the Tuesday sale. Specifically to safely strip old wax/sealant. Perhaps I will have to get aggressive with the dilution to accomplish that.

Cruzscarwash said:
If you can't get d114 then get mckees new rinseless that leaves nothing behind. It was very similar to d114 in my testing and it does clean very well
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I've been keeping tabs on this. Not sure why, as I haven't used a rinseless and don't forsee doing it anytime soon. I'm so used to the traditional 2 bucket wash and I enjoy it. I bought a waterless wash not long ago and have been working up the bravery to try that. ;) I can see a use for that - perhaps for a car that has a thin layer of dust on it from sitting n the garage a couple weeks, or just after arriving to a destination where you want the car to look good without access to a hose and bucket.
 
BryanH said:
What's tough about my requirements? One particular thing or the combo of all of them?

Seventeen bottles of car wash! Wow. We all have it bad but that's amazing. :)
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Yeah the combination of all those, especially price.

Don't do waterless, do rinseless. There's a difference. Waterless is just detail spray.

It's a sickness:

31833884014_eecd415b32_c.jpg
 
KirkH said:
Don't do waterless, do rinseless. There's a difference. Waterless is just detail spray.
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With all due respect, if you think those 2 methods are basically the same, then you're doing it wrong. Waterless is way different than a little "detail spritz"

I think people make the mistake of going into waterless washing with the mentality that it's performed just like a quik detail, but that somehow the waterless wash solution itself is far different and superior, so superior that they never really bother to change their technique between quik detailing and waterless washing.

Quik detailing = Garage queen with 2-3 days worth of dust. Couple sprays per panel, wipedown, great results.

Waterless wash = Light dust - Moderately dirty. More than a few sprays per panel, better yet full on saturate every panel you intended to wipedown, then give your dry microfiber a couple of sprays for proper results. Waterless wash solution is not something to be frugal about.

I did a waterless on my Kia Sorento this morning. I was short on time so I skipped the roof, and I still used almost a whole 32oz. of Wolfgang Uber. If you're not using about this much, and complaining about swirls, even with your fancy towels... Then there's only 1 thing to blame, your technique.

14cf35acaa2ef319e4a01a53c64c9a8a.jpg



Sent from my iPhone
 
car wash soaps are like women, no matter how good they are you're going to want to get a new one after a while
 
FUNX650 said:
I recommend: Meguiar's HyperWash
-Very cost effective: One gallon yields
640 gallons of car-wash solution
-No need, ever, for a higher dilution ratio;
400:1 will suffice
-Cleans very well (even "foams", for those
desiring that feature)
-Quite Lubricious (some say: salaciously slick)



Bob
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whats four hundred to one equal out to in a sixteen ounce foam bottle? id have to get the teaspoons out?
 
fightnews said:
whats four hundred to one equal out
to in a sixteen ounce foam bottle?

id have to get the teaspoons out?
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Yeah...about 1/2 tsp/5ml should do it.

I just use this shot glass:

IMG_2208.JPG


:props:

Bob
 
FUNX650 said:
Yeah...about 1/2 tsp/5ml should do it.

I just use this shot glass:

IMG_2208.JPG


:props:

Bob
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wow that's like nothing since i'm currently using 3 or 4 ounces of pinnacle soap per bottle fill. i might have to pick some up. i could use a tablespoon or so and that would be super strong. the gallon jug would last me about twenty years at that rate. i just cant believe that small amount would be enough to get the foam im getting now with the pinnacle stuff. that would be incredible.
 
It has been raining here in CA so much I haven't done much washing recently. The update for now is I've only tried out 2 new car washes, one time each so far.

McKee's seemed pretty good. Maybe roughly equivalent to DG901 in my eyes. McKee's has a pleasant smell but it's very faint - too faint IMHO. Overall a very good soap, though nothing in particular stands out to me yet.

Reset literally wowed me as soon as I did the first swipe on the roof. Rich slippery soap solution lasted forever in the MF chenille wash mitt. Many car washes (I thought all of them, until now...) require frequent trips back to the buckets for rinsing and replenishing. I think the MF soaks up the soap. I haven't had nearly that 'drying out' experience with other types of mitts.

Although the car washed with Reset wasn't filthy, it was certainly dirty enough to be a pretty good test of cleaning power, with week-old bug fragments, bird droppings, and splashed-up road grime behind the wheels. Reset did very well in this department, I thought.

After the car was dried it looked extra good. I wasn't expecting this so I don't think it was a placebo effect. Maybe it was the lighting, as I finished the car while the sun was still out (the car itself was shaded) which doesn't happen very often. But I kept looking back at it.

The one drawback to Reset for me was the lack of any scent. I know judging a product by its smell is silly but a nice-smelling product certainly adds to the enjoyment of its use, to me. D156 and Optimum Car Wash are probably two of the best products in the smell department IMO.


Still to come: Pinnacle Bodywork Shampoo and Ultima Paint Guard. So far Reset is head and shoulders above anything else I've used.
 
fightnews said:
wow that's like nothing since i'm currently using 3 or 4 ounces of pinnacle soap per bottle fill. i might have to pick some up. i could use a tablespoon or so and that would be super strong. the gallon jug would last me about twenty years at that rate. i just cant believe that small amount would be enough to get the foam im getting now with the pinnacle stuff. that would be incredible.
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I use about 1-2 ounces of soap in 32 oz cannon bottle, I am trying to figure in the water added by the power washer during the spraying process. Its no exact science about 2.5 gallons per minute for my power washer and I spray the soap on for about 2 minutes so thats about 5 gallons of water. But it can vary widely by inlet water pressure and how well your cannon bottle works and on and on. I found my balance by using less and less soap in the bottle mixture till I saw a drop in suds production. 1 oz gives me pretty good suds that are workable and easy to rinse 2 oz I get very thick suds (i like when the cars real dirty) but it can be a bit of a pain to rinse clear from body gaps mirrors and moldings. I like the bottle set to highest foam injection setting and using my soap as diluted as possible as I find it draws the soap up better that way, if I try set the bottle at a lower foam rate and use more soap in the bottle the mixture is thicker and harder to draw up the suction line and I get much more varied performance.
 
BryanH said:
Reset literally wowed me as soon as I did the first swipe on the roof. Rich slippery soap solution lasted forever in the MF chenille wash mitt. Many car washes (I thought all of them, until now...) require frequent trips back to the buckets for rinsing and replenishing. I think the MF soaks up the soap. I haven't had nearly that 'drying out' experience with other types of mitts.

Although the car washed with Reset wasn't filthy, it was certainly dirty enough to be a pretty good test of cleaning power, with week-old bug fragments, bird droppings, and splashed-up road grime behind the wheels. Reset did very well in this department, I thought.

After the car was dried it looked extra good. I wasn't expecting this so I don't think it was a placebo effect. Maybe it was the lighting, as I finished the car while the sun was still out (the car itself was shaded) which doesn't happen very often. But I kept looking back at it.
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Dang you just sold me on that stuff... I don't do bucket washes on my vehicles all the time, but I'm getting tired of lackluster soaps that leave much to be desired. That stuff sounds legit.

For the people who use Reset: Is the 500ml... My bad, does the 16oz. bottle of Reset seem too small? From what I've read it seems like most people prefer to use closer to 2oz. per wash instead of the 1oz. that Carpro seems to claim is good enough per bucket. At that rate it will only yield 8 washes per 16oz. bottle. Is the small bottle a waste of time?



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I bought the 500mL bottle of Reset. After 1 wash it doesn't look like I used a lot. I've always eye-balled how much soap goes into the bucket, but now I've 'stolen' an old measuring cup from the kitchen to be more accurate. I'll be on the lookout for a cheap plastic 5oz measuring cup to leave in my car wash bucket for the future.

Be interested to hear your impressions of Reset if you give it a try. :)
 
We have always used Adam's Shampoo and never been disappointed. You do not have to use a lot for each wash either.
 
Reset is the soap for me on Gloss Coat every other wash.
I switch it up with Optimum car wash. Reset falls off the coating the best.

The 16oz bottle of reset lasts awhile considering I have only used it on my car and also do rinseless washes.

Gulps of Meguiars Gold Class work for my wheels.

I use 1.5 ounces for 3.5 gallons and yes E2K get the liter bottle right away
 
BryanH said:
Be interested to hear your impressions of Reset if you give it a try. :)
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spazzz said:
I use 1.5 ounces for 3.5 gallons and yes E2K get the liter bottle right away
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Yup, I ordered a bottle the next day, it should be here friday. I had the 1 liter bottle + a Nanoskin Prep Towel in my cart, but it wouldn't let me use my fav. coupon code so I ended up dumping both items and just settled for the 16oz. bottle @ $15.

I have a couple of 3.5 gallon buckets. Sounds good.



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I use a 5 gallon bucket for my 3.5 gallon guess. If I have to tilt it towards the end, whatever, it's dirt free anyway.

I can't deal with any more than 4 gallons in a fiver, too sloshy.

Drinking coffee from a tapered coffee cup doesn't work either. I need a mug to keep from drooling on myself.
 
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