What features are most important to you in a car shampoo?

[Todd@RUPES]

Of the following features which are the three most important factors you look for in a car shampoo?

Cleaning Ability- The ability to remove stubborn contamination, bug splatter, tar, and grease, as well as the ability to release dirt from the paint`s surface.

Gloss/Shine Enhancement- The ability of the car shampoo to increase gloss or shine relative to your starting point. (Freshly detailed car).

Hard Water Resistance- A measure of how well the soap performs in hard water condtions; specifically how the chemicals in the soap encapsulate hard water to resist mineral desposits and staining during the drying process.

Lubricity/Slickness- The amount of lubrication felt between the wash mitt and the paint`s surface. How well the wash media glides over the surface.

Protection- How much protection the car shampoo delivers to the paint surface.

Rinse-ability- How easy it is to rinse away the soap suds without leaving a soap film.

Sudsing- The volume of soap suds created by the soap solution as well as how long the suds stay active in the wash bucket.

Water Spotting Resistance- How the soap solution affects surface tension immediately after rinsing. Some soaps can be tweaked to allow the water to sheet (cause "lazy" elongated beading) although this is effect can often be mistaken for the soap `striping` the wax solution.

[Bunky]

I voted for: cleaning, lubricity, and rinse-ability.

Since you did not mention cost as a variable, I would note there are quite a number of soaps that meet all needs at all price points so you do not have to pay more to get a top performing soap.

[ca.detailchick]

I chose cleaning ability first ,then protection, then looks.

I want a car shamppoo to clean well and protect the wax mostly.

I am willing to pay a lot of money for some items but car shampoo I have to say is not one of them .( thanks Al for bringing up cost)

Just to add fragrance is a factor too . I dont use anything that smells bad to me .

[Rocket]

I voted for: cleaning, lubricity, and rinse-ability.

I picked the same. A few of the others are important too but if I can only pick 3 then these are the most important to me

[C. Charles Hahn]

I voted for: cleaning, lubricity, and rinse-ability.

Same here.

[CT3]

Cleaning, Lubricity, Sudsing

[RaskyR1]

I also voted: cleaning, lubricity, and rinse-ability.


I like a pleasant scent too.

[Old Pirate]

These are important to me here in Florida.

Cleaning Ability
Hard Water Resistance
Lubricity/Slickness
Rinse-ability
Water Spotting Resistance

[Time 2 shine]

I also voted: cleaning, lubricity, and rinse-ability.


I like a pleasant scent too.

sounds like Optimum car wash, that soaps great.

[Time 2 shine]

cleaning
hard water resistance
rinse ability

[TroyScherer]

My top three are Cleaning Ability, Hard Water Resistance, Lubricity/Slickness

Being from the north and having hard water it would be great to have a mixture of Hard Water Resistance & Water Spotting Resistance as the deposits in the water make it hard to always get everything dry before spotting occurs.

Cleaning ability is always high on the list because if it doesn`t clean well then I`m not going to use it. But at the same time the easier it is to rinse off the better.

Lubricity/Slickness is always important because you don`t want to feel like you a dragging a dirty mitt across your paint all the time...


I am going through a phase in which I am actually moving away from Gloss/Shine Enhancement & Protection. Mostly because I want my soap to clean well and be done. I want my LSP to shine through because I choose it for a reason.... Also sometimes these soap alter the beading and sheeting properties of my LSP and I don`t care for that.

[Street Dreams]

Theres enough quality shampoos out right now that rock for cleaning our own cars but I`d love to see more shampoos which help a detailer prep a car for a detail, polishing, waxing etc.

I`m interested in good cleaning power, fast rinsing, LSP stripping and something as Troy mentioned too, that does not leave any gloss or protection on the finish.

And yea pleasant smell, because, stuff that smells good is obviously better than stuff which smells like its used to clean elephants.

[SS 07C70]

My order would be:

1) Cleaning Ability
2) Water Spotting Resistance
3) Lubricity/Slickness
4) Hard Water Resistance

[ca.detailchick]

These are important to me here in Florida.

Cleaning Ability
Hard Water Resistance
Lubricity/Slickness
Rinse-ability
Water Spotting Resistance

You only get 3 choices Angelo!

[oldcracker]

I voted for: cleaning, lubricity, and rinse-ability.

Since you did not mention cost as a variable, I would note there are quite a number of soaps that meet all needs at all price points so you do not have to pay more to get a top performing soap.

^ I agree ^
since I QD after every wash anyways