Is a foam bath with dish soap safe?

**Mike777G** · 05-25-2011, 02:41 PM

I am looking for a good product for my foam cannon to prep the for a polish or waxing job to cleanse the paint. I know some people use dish soap. Is that safe for all cars? I am a little skeptical.

**Thomas Dekany** · 05-25-2011, 03:38 PM

It is safe - so is a degreaser.

**RaskyR1** · 05-25-2011, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by tdekany

It is safe - so is a degreaser.

I can`t comment on Dawn, but some degreasers will stain paint very easily so use caution! Never mix then too strong and don`t let them dry on the paint.

P21S TAW and Optimum Power Clean should be fine though.

**JohnZ3MC** · 05-25-2011, 04:12 PM

It`ll be fine Mike.

I once had a pork chop stuck on the car and a bit of Dawn, applied carefully, removed the chop without staining.

Quite a story that was.

**Dan** · 05-25-2011, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by tdekany

It is safe - so is a degreaser.

Paint safe, but hell on rubber.

**Junebug** · 05-26-2011, 07:34 AM

You`ll be fine, just don`t let it dry on the paint/rubber. I usually rinse, foam, wipe down with a sponge, rinse again. Oh yeah - i use an electric power washer.

**rdorman** · 05-26-2011, 08:03 AM

I normally use dawn if I am going to proceed to clay, polish....

**Accumulator** · 05-26-2011, 10:22 AM

Modern auto paint is pretty tough stuff. Aerating dish soap with a foamer so it has a longer dwell-time shouldn`t turn it into something too aggressive. Heh heh, dish soap is a lot milder than products like AutoInt/ValuGard "A" and that stuff is *made* for this sort of job.