The Dawn Wash (let's be a little more clear)

[Accumulator]

I use Dawn for the initial wash of vehicles I don't really care about, it works OK and I'm not gonna waste a decent shampoo on, for example, my mechanic's 250K mile loaner or a rental.

I don't get the kind of wax-stripping that DavidB recently reported, but Dawn is cheap and effective (though lacking in lubricity).

If you want to do a super-strength wash, I'd go with AutoInt's "A" (alkaline part of ABC system) instead, it works a lot better for this than Dawn. Not as cheap or as commonly available as Dawn though.

[lp2137]

I don't mean to hijack the thread but what about adding a little bit of dawn to your car shampoo? I've seen some people do this to give their shampoo an extra kick for super dirty cars.

I was thinking to do this for my brother's car since he always goes in the country and his car was so filthy that i was afraid to dry it because of small dirt particles on the surface.

[tdekany]

Originally Posted by John Styrnol

If you are going to polish/glaze the vehicle anyways, why use Dawn. If you are not going to polish/glaze then use a good car shampoo/wash.

My thoughts exactly.

[Setec Astronomy]

Since when do plastic and rubber have oil in them?

[xTravBx]

I thought plastic and rubber are actually -made- from oils...?

I'm not saying for sure, I'm saying that's what I thought...

[cruisemainst]

Originally Posted by lp2137

I don't mean to hijack the thread but what about adding a little bit of dawn to your car shampoo? I've seen some people do this to give their shampoo an extra kick for super dirty cars.

I was thinking to do this for my brother's car since he always goes in the country and his car was so filthy that i was afraid to dry it because of small dirt particles on the surface.

yeahhh i also do this for really dirty cars.

[salty]

I have used dish soap, at times, for over 13 years. Never noticed any problems. Working at a used car dealership my reasoning is to remove fillers and oils, to see condition of paint, and to have a clean surface if the car needs some paint touchup.

As far as removing wax, it will remove a layer, but definitely not all.

Decon systems are approved for vehicle wash and dwell and are much more aggressive than dawn.

Also listen to some threads on tree sap or tar removal. Everyone has a solvent or product with solvent in it and they say to apply to paint and dwell.

I think Dawn wash has it's place, but a good car wash soap is cheap enough.

[blkZ28Conv]

A Dawn wash (~1oz per gallon for wax/oil/silicone removal) will do absolutely no harm to any vehicle exterior components. Dawn will strip the surface dressing (sheen) from plastic components but not the internal intrigrity (structure) of these components. These components are exposed to much harsher daily assault by their exposure to the environment than an single Dawn wash will ever impact on them.

The Dawn washing procedure should only be needed if one does not plan/need to clay and polish after washing. If one is going to clay or just polish prior a new apllication of a LSP, there is no need to Dawn wash. Just use your regular vehicle shampoo.

Dawn/Suds/Lubricity. Dawn suds very well and even though suds do not equal high lubricity, some of the increase resistance when washing with Dawn is due to the stripping of the wax/oils/silicones from the washed surface. Using proper washing techniques, soft wash mitt/towel, a good cleansing and high surfactant shampoo will decrease the chances of self-induced swirling more so than a high suds producing shampoo. Suds do look great and add to a false sense of security.

Dawn (blue) is recommend as a household available product for this degreasing task because it has been shown to have the least amount of cosmetic additives (i.e. hand softeners).

A small bottle of Dawn(blue) is usually less than a $1. Dawn is also a great tire cleaner.

[pogo123]

From Proctor and Gamble's web site:

"Question
Can I wash my car with dishwashing detergent?
Answer
Your car surface and the dirt that gets on it are a lot different from the food soils and dishes that dishwashing liquids clean effectively. We don't recommend them for cleaning your car."

When the manufacturer of the product says "don't do it" then you probably shouldn't do it.

[Neo62381]

This thread is heading in a direction that I really didn't want it to go,... it just seems like every other dawn wash thread on here, where everyone gives thier two cents on if it should be used or not. I already know that there are better alternatives for stripping wax. As a matter of fact, If I was working on a well prepped car, I would just polish over it, and not owrry about it. I'm not cencerned with "stripping wax" at all.....I'm more concerned with really abused vehicles, vehicles that have so many bonded contaminants that doing just a regular wash wouldn't be much help. So much so, that if you tried claying after a normal wash, or without trying some sort of body solvent, that you would be able to hear the contaminants scrape your paint while claying, and/or it would feel very rough.

I already know, and have made the descision a LONG time ago, that I am going to use a Dawn wash on really neglected, "beater" vehicles that people bring me and have done so with what seems to be NO adverse effects whatsoever. Here's a perfect example: Sunday I have a little white Geo Metro (rolls eyes) that's owned by a 21yr old girl. The paint on this car is in such bad shape that you can run your finger down certain panels and the oxidation from the paint will turn your finger a diffrent color. The car looks like it hasnt seen love in at least over a year. The lower panels have so much contaminants, bugs, road paint, tar, and other things. When you look at the lower section of the car it almost, makes you want to give up.

I would MUCH rather use a dawn wash on this car, and possibly remove a lot of the stuck on stuff, then to wash with a regular soap, and leave it all behind. Only to have to spend a lot of time attempting to clay it all off, wasting clay, and marring the finish (scince there are wayyy more contaminants down there then usuall)

[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

[DennisH]

I use to have a student working for me that went to work at P&G and I ask him to find out about Dawn and washing cars. This is what he came back with; Dawn is not made for washing cars but the current formula probably will not cause any damage to the auto. Dawn formula is in constantly changing and P&G doesn’t not test Dawn on automotive surfaces. The majority of Dawn formula changes are additives to replenish oils to the hands, many people wash dishes several times a day and this oil relishing is a necessary additive to any products that come in frequent contact with the skin. Dawn and other products have a form of wax to make dishes sheet water rather than bead to prevent spotting, also this wax will build up and make it easer over time to clean the dishes. Every time you see that Dawn has increase the cleaning power 1 fold you skin conditioners have increase by 5 fold. I ask if he would use it and he said no, a large portion of Dawn has nothing to do with cleaning and car surfaces do not benefit from skin conditioners.