Car Shampoo Explained
Car shampoo is one of the most basic products in any detailing kit, but there is a lot more to choosing the right shampoo than simply picking the one that produces the most foam.
What is Car Shampoo?
Car shampoo is a cleaning product specifically formulated for use on automotive paintwork and exterior surfaces. Its primary purpose is to help lift and remove dirt, road grime, and other surface contamination during the contact wash stage, whilst providing lubrication between your wash mitt and the paintwork.
This lubrication is important because it helps reduce the risk of dirt being dragged across the paint and creating scratches or swirl marks.
Why shouldn't you use Washing Up Liquid?
It might seem like an easy alternative, but household washing up liquid isn't designed for vehicles.
Car Shampoos are specifically formulated for vehicles and are generally designed to provide the combination of:
Cleaning ability
Lubrication
Controlled Foaming
Compatibility with existing protection
Using the right product is therefore an important part of a proper process.
What does pH-Neutral actually mean?
You'll often see car shampoos described as pH Neutral. This means the product sits around the neutral point of the pH scale when diluted correctly.
pH-Neutral shampoos are popular because they are most suitable for regular maintenance washing and are much less likely to interfere with existing protection or damaged your paintwork.
However, pH-Neutral doesn't automatically mean better. Different shampoos have different purposes, and cleaning power, lubrication, and protection can vary considerably.
What is a High Foaming Shampoo?
A shampoo that produces lots of foam can make the washing look impressive, but foam alone doesn't determine cleaning power or performance.
Foam can help distribute the product across the vehicle and provide some visual indication that the shampoo is working, but the lubrication and cleaning performance are much more important.
Different Types of Car Shampoo
pH-Neutral
A good choice for regular maintenance washing. Particularly useful for any protection you want to maintain.
Wax-Infused Shampoo
These shampoos contain ingredients designed to leave some additional gloss or protection behind after washing. They can be useful for maintaining the appearance of a vehicle between a more comprehensive protection application.
Ceramic Shampoo
Ceramic shampoos are designed to provide additional hydrophobic properties or help boost/maintain an existing ceramic protection.
How much shampoo should you use?
Always follow the manufacturer's dilution instructions. More product doesn't mean a cleaner car, using an excessive amount can make rinsing harder or just waste product.
How Should You Use Car Shampoo?
A good contact wash follows this process:
Pre-rinse the vehicle: Remove as much loose dirt as possible and cool down the paintwork.
Apply a pre-wash: If you have a pre-wash, you should use it before the contact wash stage where you use shampoo. The pre-wash will remove as much dirt as possible before touching the vehicle.
Wash using a suitable wash mitt: After you rinse off the pre-wash (if applied) you can now go in with your mitt. Saturate your mitt with the shampoo in a bucket diluted to the correct amount and work methodically from the top to the bottom of each panel. If your mitt has two sides you can clean a panel, flip and clean a second panel. Then re-saturate your mitt and repeat.
Rinse thoroughly: Once the entire vehicle has been completed, rinse the vehicle thoroughly of shampoo.
Dry the Vehicle: Use a drying towel or chamois to dry the vehicle.
Does Expensive Shampoo Mean Better Shampoo?
No. A more expensive shampoo may offer better characteristics but the best shampoo is ultimately the one that suits your needs.
If you are going to polish the vehicle, there is no need for a wax shampoo. If you are a professional valeter, there more need for a stronger shampoo. When buying your shampoo you should consider:
How often you wash your vehicle
What protection your vehicle has
How dirty the vehicle gets
What you're trying to achieve
If you are interested in buying a shampoo and not sure what suits you, feel free to get in contact with us and we will advise where we can.
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