[Deanski]

Ah go ahead and use Dawn. Follow with any good high-lube car soap or straight to clay/polish. No big deal in using it.

I use Megs APC+ (last gallon I have since change to newer APC) to remove heavy dirt. Works very well, but not as cheap as Dawn or other dish detergents.

Yes, Dawn and others are alkaline, but not enough to damage unless used every time on same car. Besides, you are going to dress any rubber, vinyl, plastic etc anyway with 303 or other dressing right? To really damage rubber, vinyl etc with dish detergents, you'd have to wash it every day with a very high amount in your wash water bucket. An ounce per gallon will not do any harm.

Think also of when dish detergents are used to clean Rubbermaid, or other plastic items in the sink. Dilution is much lower in the sink. However, put same items in a dishwasher and use the very high alkaline dishwashing detergent, now you start to get damage due to the very high alkalinity of dishwasher detergent, dilution level and heat.

So, as long as you're not using it on a daily basis, it works fine. Sure, it doesn't have the lube of other car detergents/soaps, but first wash to get or soften any hard debris along with brake dust is OK. You just have to be a bit more cautious as to how you remove the debris. If by a wash mitt, chances are it may leave tracking due to lack of lube to float and cushion it off the finish. Best is a powerful stream of water, then go back to high-lube car wash soaps and your mitt. Then, any remaining will be "floated" a bit more, less risk of marring. Feel the finish after a Dawn wash with your clean hand and then go with whatever you need next.

Regards,
Deanski