Reviewed: Chemical Guys Citrus Wash & Gloss

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Nick McKees37

McKee's 37 Product Support
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One of the most talked about topics on the forum is how to safely strip your LSP (last step product). Some like to use household detergents while others like to add an ounce or two of their favorite APC to their regular wash solution. While both methods work (the latter is especially popular), some of us are a little uneasy about mixing chemicals or using household detergents on our vehicle’s delicate finish. I’m a big fan of using each product, household or car care related, solely for its intended purpose. I would never use Pinnacle Bodywork Shampoo to wash my dishes, just as I would never use Dawn to wash my car.

Chemical Guys, one of the most recent additions to the ever-growing line of car care products at Autogeek, manufactures a shampoo designed to safely cleanse paint of previously applied waxes and sealants. The product I’m referring to is called Citrus Wash & Gloss, and it’s probably the most talked about product manufactured by Chemical Guys, and for good reason. Citrus Wash & Gloss contains an advanced blend of naturally derived citrus cleaning agents that are designed to break down grease and road grime while rinsing freely. Citrus Wash & Gloss Can be diluted to preserve your existing LSP, or to completely strip it.

If your vehicle has gone an extended period of time without being washed, Citrus Wash & Gloss makes removing weeks of built-up dirt and road grime effortless.




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If your goal is to preserve your existing LSP but give the vehicle a thorough cleaning, dilute Citrus Wash & Gloss 1 oz. per 3-4 gallons of water. If you want to strip your LSP, dilute Citrus Wash & Gloss 1 oz. per gallon of water (ie: 3 oz. for 3 gallons of water).




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My wash mitt of choice was the Sheepskin Wash Mitt. This mitt pampers your vehicle's delicate finish while holding a ton of soap solution.




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The first thing you notice about Citrus Wash & Gloss is how slick it is. This allows your mitt to glide across the surface effortlessly. One thing you should look for in a shampoo is how much lubricity it provides. The slicker it is, the less likely you are to scratch or mar the finish.




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Citrus Wash & Gloss provided excellent lubricity, but would it pass the rinse test?




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It sure did! Citrus Wash & Gloss rinsed freely, leaving no residue behind. Now the only thing left was to dry the car using a Cobra Guzzler Waffle Weave Drying Towel. What Citrus Wash & Gloss does to dirt and road grime, this towel does to water - makes it go away!




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Just like the name implies, Citrus Wash & Gloss definitely leaves some gloss behind.




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Whether you need to strip your LSP or just give your vehicle a good bath, Citrus Wash & Gloss enables you to do the right way.

Chemical Guys Citrus Wash & Gloss
 
I wonder if anyone has tried this stuff in a foam-canon or foam-gun? Either way, this will be the next wash I get.

Thanks for the quick promo Nick!:xyxthumbs:
 
I've used it in a foam cannon since 2009,lol. I use 2 oz in a 32oz size foam gun, with my gun set on notch 5, and of course the 1 capful for the bucket with a grit guard in it. Try it, it's my favorite LSP stripping wash.
 
Streetlife said:
I've used it in a foam cannon since 2009,lol. I use 2 oz in a 32oz size foam gun, with my gun set on notch 5, and of course the 1 capful for the bucket with a grit guard in it. Try it, it's my favorite LSP stripping wash.
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I want to buy it exclusively for the purpose of stripping LSPs as well as the cleanig power. I want to get away from using dawn for washes.:props:
 
Thanks for the review. I just used some today. I hadn't had the chance to wash my Dodge Ram in about 3 weeks. CWG cut through the grime and left a great shine.
 
bmwgeek said:
Wow that's alot of suds with just 1 ounce!
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It suds more then any shampoo I have ever used but need to rinse well during wash as use higher dilutions. Its certainly a great shampoo

What's really confusing is the conflicting information of what ratio to use. The conflicting information comes from there very own websites

To Wash:

CG USA - 1 cap (5mls) full with 3-5 gallons of water for a superior wash
That's 2270-3785:1

CG Australia - 1/2 oz (15mls) mixes with 1-2 gallons of water for a superior wash
That's 252-504:1

To Strip:
CG USA - 1oz with 1 gallon water
That's 126:1

CG Australia - 2oz with 1 gallon water
Thats 63:1

And I have even seen people on the forms suggest:
CGWG Strip 128:1
CGWG Dirty 256:1
CGWG Regular 512:1

128:1 - sounds right to strip wax. I can only suggest that sounds right as not used it to strip LSP yet.

512:1 - I have used at this amount. Its way too much for a regular wash. Crazy amount of suds and would be concerned it may do some damage to my LSP. It will also spot unless you rinse between panels

512-4000:1 - I'm tempted to use it between the 2000-3000 mark. What do you guys and girls use for a regular wash?
 
Citrus Wash & Gloss is a great wash for maintenance or stripping previous sealants or waxes! I love it.
 
Now that you carry CG products can we have Corey's review of this product back?
 
I just tested it at 15ml (1/2oz) in 15L (4 gallons). Still worked extremely well. Find if used 1oz I got way too many suds. While it was great slickness on the paint, it was difficult to rinse before getting more soap. My rinse bucket quickly came inundated with suds which I personally don't like.
 
I only strip twice a year - I'll stick with Dawn - never a problem in 15 years....I do like the CG glossworkz stuff
 
Ted S. said:
I wonder if anyone has tried this stuff in a foam-canon or foam-gun? Either way, this will be the next wash I get.

Thanks for the quick promo Nick!:xyxthumbs:
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How you been Ted?

Ted S. said:
I want to buy it exclusively for the purpose of stripping LSPs as well as the cleanig power. I want to get away from using dawn for washes.:props:
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I totally agree, I've needed something to strip LSP's for a while but the only comparable product is Miligore's Citro Shampoo and I didn't feel like shelling out $27.99 for it!
 
shoeless89 said:
I've needed something to strip LSP's for a while but the only comparable product is Miligore's Citro Shampoo and I didn't feel like shelling out $27.99 for it!
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Citrus Wash & Clear is also an excellent stripper (brass pole not included) :D

I tend to alternate between CW&C and CW&G. Gloss feels a bit more lubrous and leaves a bit more shine, Clear just seems to leave a cleaner feel when drying. Both are excellent soaps and cost effective, especially when bought in gallons. Somebody on one Forum or another put together a cost-comparison chart of a ton of shampoos... CW&G was by far the cheapest per wash.

TL
 
shoeless89 said:
How you been Ted?


I totally agree, I've needed something to strip LSP's for a while but the only comparable product is Miligore's Citro Shampoo and I didn't feel like shelling out $27.99 for it!
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Been ok, Shawn. I wouldn't spend $28 on a stripping car wash unless I had a ton of cash to just piss away....or if I owned a nice enough vehicle or worked on nice enough vehicles to justify the price.

This stuff seems promising for sure.:cheers:
 
This product is significantly better at rinsing freely than both citrus washglos and citrus washclear.

I know nick said this product rinse's easily, but once you try this citrus wash, you will for sure see what rinsing freely with no slime is.

Chemical Guys Citrus Wash Red

the problem with the other 2 shampoo's (washngloss, washnclear) is that when used at high dilutions, they are slimy and its tough to rinse them. especially when outside temps are cooler than say 70 degrees).

citrus wash is amazing and I always have a gallon, very happy to see autogeek get the correct shampoo. I really think autogeek should test all 3 shampoo's back to back and just pick 1. they all do the same thing.

- add some gloss
- maintain or strip
- high dilution (citrus wash has the best dilution)

but the real thing is rinsing freely, which citrus wash does WAY better than the other 2.

btw, since citrus wash is so pure and rinses so easily it can also be used to clean wash mitts and pads. For cleaning wool wash mitts I have never used a better product. just add 1 ounce to 5 gallons of water and let sit for 24 hours and stir the water every few hours.
 
I prefer to polish off pre-existing LSPs. Having said that CG makes some great car shampoos that are also incredibly cost effective. A gallon of their citrus wash and clear daily used as a maintenance wash comes out to 17 cents per wash.

Been using CG products over the years and the biggest issue with them is honing in what a lot of their products actually do (ex: Blacklight) and how to apply them. They seem to live in a world of mystique and mystery and their web site is next to useless.

But wow, once you see the potential their products deliver its quite amazing. You have to be patient and experiment a lot.
 
I'm a bit disappointed that autogeek.net doesn't sell this on a Gallon size. I had to buy 2 x 16 oz for the price of the gallon on the Chemical Guys website. I found out after the fact...

:mad:

p@
 
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