Washing with Dawn

runrun411

runrun411

New member
Joined
Oct 9, 2012
Messages
1,789
Reaction score
0
I've been reading that Dawn dishwashing liquid will remove previously applied waxes but will it also remove old sealant as well?

Feed back please
 
Dawn darn near takes everything off. It works because dish washing cleaners are extremely good at breaking down oils quickly, they`ll get your paint squeaky clean. Jim
 
It will take everything off. Despite what most people will say I always wash my after winter detail jobs with a light mixture of dawn. It really helps getting the NE road salt and other winter junk off your car. That is usually when your car is at it's worst up here. I have also mixed it with distilled water and used it as a pre soak rinsed it off and washed with normal car shampoo. Once a year is not going to kill your paint.
 
Chemical formulator and manufacturer here. I've attempted to tell people the truth of the matter but it seems not to be getting through. So here's a different approach - if you actually get your LSP off this easily, it is not very good. Of the half dozen different sealants we manufacture, none will be stripped by hand washing up liquid. In fact, even the QD sprays will not strip that easily. So ask yourself, am I right and washing up liquids leave residues which modify the surface behaviour or are the products we made simply that much better than everything else? I'd like to say the latter but...

For additional note, check the specs of washing up liquids and compare to car shampoos - if you think Dawn is a guaranteed strip, you may be just a bit confused.
 
Hi runrun...

Disclaimer: I really can't read your mind...But:

I believe you're asking if, by using a specific cleaner/detergent (Dawn), will it remove "old (aged)"-sealants?
That is: Sealants nearing the end of their expected life-cycle?

Is that because:
1.) You are using Dawn as a maintenance-wash detergent; and, you are concerned that by using it you
may not be able to preserve any remaining remnants of an "aged-sealant"?

2.) You are wanting to strip any remaining presence of a particular "aged-sealant" from a vehicle...
to start anew with a bare-paint scenario, so to speak?


As to 1.):
I personally will not advise using Dawn for maintenance washes.

As to 2.):
In order to alleviate any speculation on my part; and if you have the time...
Go to one of your local reputable body shops and ask them what "special cleaners" they use on cars
before painting them to insure that they have removed all the chemicals/components/ingredients
that are in the majority of wax/sealant formulations.

If none of the above examples are pertinent:
I'll suggest to:
-Wash your vehicle with a car-specific washing detergent.
-Follow this up with a claying-session (if needed).
-Then even a 'mild-polishing-session' should eliminate the remainder of an old-sealant.

Proceed from there with your plans to eventually re-LSP.


:)

Bob
 
Here is what I do and it works just fine:
Wash the car with CG's Citrus Clear Shampoo at the "stripping" ratio (2 ounces per gallon of water). Clay and wash again. Polish with P21s Paintwork Cleanser (Griot's 6" polisher with any quality polishing pad without a lot of cut). Apply LSP with finishing pad. This routine is simple, straight forward and does a good job for me. I must say that I use Dawn too and like it a lot - for my dishes.
 
Mr Megane said:
Chemical formulator and manufacturer here. I've attempted to tell people the truth of the matter but it seems not to be getting through. So here's a different approach - if you actually get your LSP off this easily, it is not very good. Of the half dozen different sealants we manufacture, none will be stripped by hand washing up liquid. In fact, even the QD sprays will not strip that easily. So ask yourself, am I right and washing up liquids leave residues which modify the surface behaviour or are the products we made simply that much better than everything else? I'd like to say the latter but...

For additional note, check the specs of washing up liquids and compare to car shampoos - if you think Dawn is a guaranteed strip, you may be just a bit confused.
Click to expand...

It got through here and thanks a lot. What do you recommend to strip off everything?
 
Dawn will take off most sealants but will not take off sealants like opti-coat and Sonax they are more of a permanent coating. It will strip wax and sealants like power lock.
 
Last weekend I began the spring detail of my daily driver by washing with Dawn then "claying" with an AutoScrub fine mitt. Despite the forecast it started raining. I then became very puzzled as I watched all the tiny beads developing on my car. What's up with that?
 
Dogfather said:
Last weekend I began the spring detail of my daily driver by washing with Dawn then "claying" with an AutoScrub fine mitt. Despite the forecast it started raining. I then became very puzzled as I watched all the tiny beads developing on my car. What's up with that?
Click to expand...

Did you have a sealant on your car?
 
Dogfather said:
Last weekend I began the spring detail of my daily driver by washing with Dawn then "claying" with an AutoScrub fine mitt. Despite the forecast it started raining. I then became very puzzled as I watched all the tiny beads developing on my car. What's up with that?
Click to expand...

As it was described before, a clean car (unprotected) can and will sometime bead. The claying process should have removed all protection. Now, was it your first time using the mitt? If so maybe it had some "oils" from the manufacturing process left on the mitt? Did you "break it in"??:dunno:
 
Dr_Pain said:
As it was described before, a clean car (unprotected) can and will sometime bead. The claying process should have removed all protection. Now, was it your first time using the mitt? If so maybe it had some "oils" from the manufacturing process left on the mitt? Did you "break it in"??:dunno:
Click to expand...

I broke it in as per instructions. I used UWW+ as a lube and also dunked it into a bucket ONR solution before each section. When. I finished I wiped whole car down with UWW+. Then it started raining. It rained for another day or so and it was still beading. I suppose now those products provided a little protection.
 
Mr Megane said:
Chemical formulator and manufacturer here. I've attempted to tell people the truth of the matter but it seems not to be getting through. So here's a different approach - if you actually get your LSP off this easily, it is not very good. Of the half dozen different sealants we manufacture, none will be stripped by hand washing up liquid. In fact, even the QD sprays will not strip that easily. So ask yourself, am I right and washing up liquids leave residues which modify the surface behaviour or are the products we made simply that much better than everything else? I'd like to say the latter but...

For additional note, check the specs of washing up liquids and compare to car shampoos - if you think Dawn is a guaranteed strip, you may be just a bit confused.
Click to expand...

Mr Megane,

When you say "hand washing up liquids", it sounds like you're talking about hand soaps. I'm not sure these are the same formulation as Dawn dish washing liquid as they are probably formulated to remove dirt without stripping the oils and drying out your hands. The dish detergent liquids are designed to remove oils specifically and will dry out your hands.

Here are MSDS and ingredient lists:
http://www.pg.com/productsafety/msd..._Ultra_Heavy_Duty_Degreaser_-_Concentrate.pdf

http://www.pg.com/productsafety/ing...l_Lemon_Dishwashing_Ingredient_Disclosure.pdf

I see ethyl alcohol in there at least--and if an IPA wipedown removes wax residue... I assume a vodka wipedown will to some degree also.

I'm curious what a more in-depth analysis of the ingredients yields.

Matt
 
y8s said:
Mr Megane,

When you say "hand washing up liquids", it sounds like you're talking about hand soaps. I'm not sure these are the same formulation as Dawn dish washing liquid as they are probably formulated to remove dirt without stripping the oils and drying out your hands. The dish detergent liquids are designed to remove oils specifically and will dry out your hands.
Click to expand...
Not trying to speak for Mr. Megane...But:

I've noticed over the years that: "Across the pond folks" have a different meaning for Washing-up-liquids (WUL's).

Over there, one of the better known dishwashing-detergents/WUL's is Fairy Washing Up Liquid...

washing-up-liquids-293343.jpg


{Whereas, in the USA...Dawn is one of the more recognizable dishwashing-detergents/WUL's.}


There are many, many, many more dishwashing-cleaning-products
available around the World labeled as: Washing Up Liquids.

:)

Bob
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top