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Can You Use Shampoo To Wash Your Car?

As a car enthusiast, you’ll surely agree with me that there are several benefits attached to cleaning dirt and debris around your vehicle. First,  regular washing of your car helps to keep the vehicle looking new. Apart from that, it also helps to prevent the protective coat of the car from wearing away.

When it comes to washing your vehicle, you can either choose to use a hand wash technique or an automatic car wash. Although many people will opt for the latter, the fact remains that nothing beats taking out time to wash your car.

That said, one of the essential things that you need to wash your car by hand is “car wash shampoo or soap”. But here’s a burning question, what happens when you’ve run out of the product and are stuck at home with no option of getting it – can you opt for the “hair shampoo”, to get the job done?

You can utilize hair shampoo to wash your car. However, ensure you make use of the right product for your vehicle. Besides that, also ensure that the product doesn’t stay too long on the car paint, as it may cause it to wear away. That said, ensure you rinse the car thoroughly and as quickly as possible.

Can You Use Shampoo To Wash Your Car
Can You Use Shampoo To Wash Your Car

As earlier mentioned, car wash shampoos or soaps are the best when it comes to washing your car by hand. They are specially designed to help eliminate dirt and debris from your vehicle. However, If you’re in an emergency and don’t have real car wash shampoo or soap, then hair shampoo is a great alternative. In the rest of this article, we’ll be further exploring everything that you need to know about using hair shampoos to wash your car.

Is It Safe To Use Shampoo To Wash Your Car?

In case you’re finding it pretty hard to get the right car wash shampoo or soap, you can always make use of hair shampoo to wash the vehicle. And yes, it’s very safe to use the hair care product. 

However, ensure that you’re using the right type of shampoo and make sure you don’t settle down for it, forever. Apart from that, during washing, ensure that the shampoo doesn’t stay too long on the car body. This is to prevent the exterior coating of the vehicle from wearing away or fading off.

For instance, diluted baby shampoo is effective to help you clean your car – especially if birds defecate on it. However, it might become dangerous to the paint of the car if the product stays on the surface for a long time. That said, ensure you rinse the product immediately with clean water after removing the dirt and debris off the vehicle.

Furthermore, if you’ll be making use of hair shampoo, ensure you’re only using it temporarily. Speaking of them, they are made to leave certain chemicals behind in the hair. Although these substances help to keep the hair healthy and active, they are certainly not good for the car.

That said, there are lots of car wash shampoo products out there that you can always opt for to clean your vehicle. They are effective and produced from certain chemicals that won’t harm your vehicle’s paintings. You can use your hair shampoo pending the time you’ll be chanced to get the suitable car wash shampoos.

How To Wash Your Car Using Shampoo?

Are you wondering how to make use of shampoo to clean your car? If yes, it’s worth knowing that the steps aren’t different from when you make use of the regular car washing soaps. That said, here are the materials that you need to get the job done.

  • Car wash shampoo
  • Two sponge – one for the tires and the other one for the body of the car
  • Toothbrush (old)
  • Soft, dry towel
  • Hose, connected to a running tap
  • Empty bucket of water

Step #1: Prepare the car/hair shampoo solution

The very first thing that you need to do is to prepare the shampoo. In case you don’t know, irrespective of the shampoo you’re using for the car wash, it’s worth noting that they all form lather easily with water to remove dirt. As such, you need not use too much of the product.

Speaking of quantity, 2 tablespoons of your hair or car shampoo is enough to lather well in 1 gallon of clean water. However, to be on the safer side, check the indication on the bottle of the product. After that, pour the exact quantity in the empty bucket and add water using the hose of water.

Also, ensure that you check the shampoo product to see if it needs diluting. That’s because there are a few of them out there that only require adding the shampoo directly to the wet washing brush.

Step #2: Start washing from the tires

After preparing the shampoo solution, what’s next is to start washing. Although you can start washing the car from any part, it’s best to start from the tires – that’s because it’s the dirtiest part of the whole car.

That said, you need to start washing by first using water to rinse any dirt or mud on the tires. After that, proceed by pouring the shampoo solution on it and using the sponge to finish the job. Lastly, thoroughly rinse the tires by applying adequate water through the hose.

Step #3: Proceed to wash the body of the car

After washing all the tires, what’s next is to move to the body parts. However, ensure you’re using a separate sponge and not the one used for the tires. As earlier mentioned, the tires are the dirtiest part of a car, and they are likely to have mud and black dust. Since that’s the case, there’ll likely be particles of sand on the sponge, which could scratch the body of your vehicle.

That said, begin washing the body of the car by first rinsing off dirt and dust from the roof, then down to the bumper. However, while doing that, you’ll likely encounter sticky dirt. In this case, ensure that you avoid scraping it off the body of the car to prevent scratches.

Next, deep the sponge inside the shampoo solution and start washing gently. Only scrub the body of the car if there’s a stubborn stain on it, but avoid doing it aggressively to avoid scratches. Do not forget that you’re starting the washing from the roof, down to the bumper area.

Wash thoroughly and if there’s an area that the sponge couldn’t wash, try using an old brush with a soft mouth. This is to avoid scratching the body of the car. After doing all of that, rinse thoroughly and that’s all.

Step #4: Dry the body with a towel or any microfiber cloth

The last step involves drying the body of the car with a clean and dry towel or microfiber cloth. Speaking of the towel, ensure it is a high absorption towel – meaning it should be capable of absorbing all the water from the body of the car.

That said, start drying the car by spreading the towel wide on the areas that need drying. Furthermore, ensure you thoroughly dry the vehicle, without leaving any water behind.

Which Hair Shampoo Is Best For Car Wash?

When it comes to washing your cars by hand, the best type of product to use is car wash shampoo or soap. However, the fact remains that there are lots of shampoo products in the market. So, how do you decide which is the best for your car?

Well, the best shampoos to wash your car are the ones produced to be used on any surface, especially paint and clear coating types. However, you need not worry about making research for the best product, as I’ve done that for you. That said, you can check below for the list of the best shampoo products on Amazon to wash your car.

1- Chemical Guys CWS_402 Mr. Pink Super Suds Car Wash Soap and Shampoo

Occupying the first spot on my list of the best shampoo products is “Mr. Pink Super Suds Car Wash Soap and Shampoo”. Produced by Chemical Guys, the car wash shampoo is made with a host of amazing substances, which are safe on sealant and wax coatings. Furthermore, the car wash shampoo product also packs tons of great features. Here are a few of them below:

  • It has a balanced pH, making it 100% safe when used on wax and sealant coats.
  • Unlike other products, Mr. Pink Super Suds doesn’t produce residues and water spots. So, you can rest assured that it’ll rinse clean.
  • It’s a great product if you’re looking to wash your car regularly (weekly).
  • All thanks to its advanced foaming technology, only a small quantity is enough for your vehicle.
  • It doesn’t stain in sunlight and helps to effectively eliminate stains, dirt, grime, and debris.

For more information regarding the price of Mr. Pink Super Suds Car Wash Soap and Shampoo and how you can order it, you can check here.

2- Adam’s Car Shampoo Gallon

Sitting on the second spot on the list of the best shampoo products is Adam’s Car Shampoo Gallon. I’m recommending this product because it’s made with non-toxic ingredients and amazing features, including a stainless steel handle and a high-density, polyethylene plastic structure.

Other great features of Adam’s Car Shampoo Gallon include the following:

  • Designed with advanced foaming technology. So, you only need to add a little amount of Car Shampoo to your bucket of water.
  • The product packs a very slick formula, which helps to reduce any chances of Swirls.
  • Offers a great Wildberry scent
  • Adam’s Car Shampoo Gallon is designed with a pH-neutral formula. As such, you can utilize the product on any surfaces, without having to worry about wax stripping or your trim drying out.

You can check here for more information regarding the price of Adam’s Car Shampoo Gallon and how you can order it on Amazon.

3- Meguiar’s G7164 Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo

Next, on the list of the best shampoo products for washing your car is Meguiar’s G7164 Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo. Speaking of the car washing shampoo product, it’s produced with the help of non-toxic substances and it packs a host of amazing features – the more reason why I’m recommending it.

Some of the unique features of Meguiar’s G7164 Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo include:

  • Comes in different products, including Detailing Clay and specially designed Swirl Remover.
  • Meguiar’s G7164 Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo is greatly designed for all surfaces. As such, you can rest knowing that your vehicle is safe from wax stripping and wearing away of paint.
  • It works effectively, helping to eliminate tough stains and swirls.
  • 100% safe for all clear coats and paints.

You can check here for more information regarding the price of Meguiar’s G7164 Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo and how you can order it on Amazon.

4- Griot’s Garage 10866 Car Wash

Occupying the fourth spot on the list of best car wash shampoo products is Griot’s Garage Brilliant Finish Car Wash. Just like the rest of the products on this list, Griot’s Car Wash is also designed with non-toxic substances and packs amazing features. Let’s have a quick look at some of what it has to offer, below:

  • Griot’s Garage Brilliant Finish Car Wash is designed with a safe formula, meaning that it’s safe for all paint surfaces and clear coats.
  • It comes with a balanced pH level, making it very effective to eliminate dirt & grime from your car.
  • It’s made from premium ingredients, so you can rest assured of streak-free results.
  • A little amount of the car shampoo is enough to wash your vehicle – all thanks to Griot’s Garage Brilliant Finish Car Wash advanced foaming technology.

You can check here for more information regarding the price of Griot’s Garage Brilliant Finish Car Wash and how you can order it on Amazon.

5- Milwaukee Muscle Car Shampoo

Occupying the last spot on the list of best car wash shampoo products is the Milwaukee Muscle Car Shampoo. I’m recommending the product because of its safe cleansing features, which include the following:

  • Milwaukee Muscle Car Shampoo is designed with a great pH-neutral car wash formula. So, you can rest assured that it’s safe for your vehicle’s paint surfaces and clear coats.
  • It ensures no unaesthetic marks are left behind after rinsing.
  • The product comes with a rich, high-sudsing, and concentrated formula, making it very effective to easily eliminate dirt, grime, and dust.
  • All thanks to the advanced foam technology, Milwaukee Muscle Car Shampoo offers great ceramic protection for your car.

You can check here for more information regarding the price of Milwaukee Muscle Car Shampoo and how you can order it on Amazon.

What Household Products Can You Use To Wash Your Car?

Apart from making use of car wash shampoo products, it’s also worth knowing that there are lots of household products out there that can be used. With ingredients such as baking soda, vinegar, and dish soap, you can easily watch the interior and exterior parts of your vehicle. That said, here are the best household products on Amazon for washing your car.

1- Baking soda

Baking soda is one of the best household ingredients that you can utilize to wash both the interior and exterior parts of your vehicle. It’s a less abrasive substance, making it a good option when it comes to washing your car.

In case you’re wondering where to get the best baking soda for your car, you might have to stop worrying too much about it. One of the best products that you can trust for the job is PURE Baking Soda. That said, you can check here for more information regarding the price of the product and how you can order it on Amazon.

2- Vinegar

Apart from baking soda, another great household product that you can utilize to wash your car is vinegar. Furthermore, the ingredient packs a host of amazing features, which include helping to deodorize and clean your windshield.

Are you looking for the best vinegar product for washing your car? Look no further, as Heinz All Natural Multi-Purpose Cleaning Vinegar is one of the best products you can count on. Available on Amazon, you can check here for more information regarding its price and how you can order it.

3- Dish soaps

Although not all dish soaps are great for washing cars, there are a few of them out there with great features. These dish soap products, when mixed with water, deliver excellent foams that offer great ceramic protection for your car. That’s not all! The products are also great for eliminating tough stains, grime, and dust around your cars.

In case you’re wondering where to get the best dish soap product for your car, you might have to stop worrying too much about it. One of the best products that you can trust for the job is Dawn Ultra Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap.

That’s because it packs a host of amazing features, including biodegradable surfactants for eliminating stains. It also requires less scrubbing, meaning that you can rest assured that your car is safe from scratches. However, it’s not recommended for the seats, because of its abrasive quality.

Available on Amazon, you can check here for more information regarding the price of Dawn Ultra Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap and how you can order it.

Can You Use Shampoo To Wash Your Car?
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