Zaino Users - Washing with DAWN????

WashCrazy

New member
I am just getting back into washing and waxing since I got a new car and decided to try Zaino's line of goods. It suggests washing the car with Dawn to get any waxes and residue off.



Now I have also searched and read just about every post I could find on zaino, and people's comments on Dawn and many DO NOT recommend using it on your car.



Seems like some use IPA mixed with water, and others just use the dawn. Then I've seen some others use some other products.



What is the best soap, product, or process to get the surface ready for a zaino treatment? Is Dawn fine if I am only using it once? anyone recommend using it, or not using it and using something else?



Any tips and experience appreciated.
 
The Dawn Debate.



Dawn is an alkaline soap, it shouldn't harm your finish.



Its fine to use to prep your car.



I think you could have found this answer as well as others by simply searching.



One negative aspect is Dawn isn't highly lubricious, try mixing 3-4oz of dawn with 1-2oz of your regular shampoo if your concerned.
 
NSXTASY said:
The Dawn Debate.



Dawn is an alkaline soap, it shouldn't harm your finish.



Its fine to use to prep your car.



I think you could have found this answer as well as others by simply searching.



One negative aspect is Dawn isn't highly lubricious, try mixing 3-4oz of dawn with 1-2oz of your regular shampoo if your concerned.



Or you wash twice - first with the regular car soap, and then an immediate second wash with Dawn.
 
I have searched and that is basically why I am trying to ask some more recent people their opinions. Seems like the dawn debate is a questionable one at all angles. I am new to Autopia and did a search first, and then posted since it seems like there are many detail professionals around here.



My Zaino came in the mail today and I plan to do it within the next week so I am hoping to hear from some people on their opinions on using dawn before zaino.
 
themightytimmah said:
The Dawn wash is kind of an old-school Zaino throwback - with the introduction of Z-AIO, there's no need for an alkaline wash to remove waxes and oils on the surface.



I got the Z-2 and Z-5 since I have a darker car, and have a few lighter cars I may want to also use it on. Seems like people like the Z-2/Z-5 combo so I figured I would do that.



Is Z-AIO something I should consider buying instead of using dawn on the car? Or is Dawn safe enough to use one time to get a fresh base?
 
SuperBee364 said:
Is it time again already for another Dawn thread? Seems like it was just yesterday...



It probably was!



:dance



FWIW: You only need to do it once as long as you keep a good regimen of washing/'waxing'
 
themightytimmah said:
The Dawn wash is kind of an old-school Zaino throwback - with the introduction of Z-AIO, there's no need for an alkaline wash to remove waxes and oils on the surface.



This is assuming he's using AIO. I've yet to try it.. this weekend or next I think will seal the deal there.

:usa
 
I just do it for the hell of it once in a while. I just don't make it a habit. I'd say I would use a dawn wash on a friends car that's going to be detailed the first time.
 
the dawn is recommended for a prep. wax....it gets all deep soiled dirt and residue,,,the res=ason it is not "recommended for wash after wash is because the it takes off wax...so once you wax the car wash with a zaino/car wash soap
 
I do not have Z-AIO. Instead I have the Z-2, Z-5, and Z-6 spray. I also have the clay Z-18 so am going to do that.



The problem with the Dawn debate as I see it is some say use it, others say don't, but there is no backing behind either side, other than a personal preference. Makes it tough to decide if I should use it, or just pick up some Z-AIO and start with that instead.



So Dawn, Z-AIO, or is there something else that can be used safely? My car is only about a month old and the dealer definitely put some light coat of something on because they left residue here and there. I want to be sure the Zaino is going to bond.
 
http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/103313-washing-dawn.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/hot-tub/103095-my-new-bottle-dawn.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/102540-dawn-only-washes.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/101226-dilution-ratio-dawn.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/detailing-product-discussion/99887-dawn-contenders.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/97893-dawn-method-pros-cons.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/detailing-product-discussion/94308-use-dawn-not.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/detailing-product-discussion/88496-dawn.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/detail...etter-than-dawn-stripping.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/87818-home-made-degreaser-dawn-aio.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/87807-zaio-pc-dawn-wash.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/87312-wax-grease-remover-instead-dawn.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/detailing-product-discussion/85077-dawn-detergent.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-de...sh-effective-we-all-think.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/80252-dawn-zaino.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-de...h-let-s-little-more-clear.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/77086-dawn-remove-wax.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/detail...inks-dawn-removes-wax-car.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/68925-dawn.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/67984-prepping-paint-dawn-wash-not.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/detail...awn-dishwashing-detergent.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/62418-do-you-really-need-use-dawn.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/machine-polishing/60937-dawn-wash-necessary.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-de...cerning-dawn-initial-wash.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-de...wax-dawn-will-clay-enough.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/detail...wn-dish-soap-bad-your-car.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/50713-does-have-dawn.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/49860-how-much-dawn-do-you-use.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/member-polls/45262-do-you-dawn-wash.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-de...y-layers-will-dawn-remove.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/46169-mini-cooper-dawn-zaino.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/45501-dawn-wash-claybar-zaino.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/44567-z7-then-dawn-dawn-then-z7.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/43804-dawn-what-dawn.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/42742-what-s-deal-dawn.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/41302-dawn-50-50-alcohol.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/40710-removing-sg-do-i-use-dawn.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-de...urn-gloss-after-dawn-wash.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/39797-dawn-alternatives.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/39796-ph-dawn-vs-car-washes-shampoos.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-de...asf-glasurit-paint-repair.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/37300-does-dawn-strip-wax-sg-not.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/36785-dawn-harmful-not.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/36075-dawn-question.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/35746-dawn-wash-new-3m-hood-film.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/34100-dawn-wash-power.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/33909-new-car-deatiling-dawn-not.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/33477-ipa-instead-dawn-z-then-what.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/27903-what-else-instead-dawn.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-de...en-applying-new-brand-wax.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/29167-new-use-dawn.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/27779-dawn-soap-black-bumper-trim.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/27418-washes-between-dawn-washes.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-de...n-i-wait-after-using-dawn.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-de...r-ok-clean-black-interior.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/26709-dawn-wash-necessary.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/25680-dawn-meguiars-gold-class.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/25323-dawn-washing.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-de...aio-just-shampoo-then-aio.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/25303-dawn-wash.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/24773-washing-dawn.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/24616-dawn-detergent.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/23364-dawn-wash.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-de...her-neat-looking-crystals.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/21040-after-dawn-wash-one-coat-s100.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/21026-dawn-wash-question.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-de...ou-use-dawn-wash-your-car.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-de...t-fad-detailing-community.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/18681-after-dawn-then-what.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/18562-dawn-vs-polish.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/18417-how-much-dawn.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-de...problems-also-dawn-washes.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/17463-dawn-after-gepc-before-zaino.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/16899-dawn-z7-before-smr-w-pc.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/16735-how-much-dawn.html?highlight=dawn

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/16369-what-chemicals-dawn.html?highlight=dawn



That's the first 80 of 143 message threads on this board that contain the word "Dawn" in their title.
 
WashCrazy said:
I do not have Z-AIO. Instead I have the Z-2, Z-5, and Z-6 spray. I also have the clay Z-18 so am going to do that.



The problem with the Dawn debate as I see it is some say use it, others say don't, but there is no backing behind either side, other than a personal preference. Makes it tough to decide if I should use it, or just pick up some Z-AIO and start with that instead.



So Dawn, Z-AIO, or is there something else that can be used safely? My car is only about a month old and the dealer definitely put some light coat of something on because they left residue here and there. I want to be sure the Zaino is going to bond.





Just pick up the Z-AIO.



I would wash with car shampoo, clay, (maybe polish if there's swirls), apply Z-AIO, and apply an LSP. Simple as that.
 
Thanks for the links. I also did a search and skimmed the threads. Seems like many people recommend many different things. You then have the batch of people saying to use the dawn. Guess i'll just have to find something else, or give the dawn and try. I hate to spend more on Z-AIO since I just got their leather cleaner, wheel stuff, soap, and z-2 and z-5.
 
WashCrazy said:
Seems like many people recommend many different things. You then have the batch of people saying to use the dawn. Guess i'll just have to find something else, or try. I hate to spend more on Z-AIO since I just got their leather cleaner, wheel stuff, soap, and z-2 and z-5.



Welcome to Autopia. If you are looking for a community in agreement over process and product selection, uh....you didn't find it, lol.



Good luck m8 :heelclick
 
If you use dawn a few times over the life of the car I don’t think you will have any problems. Just don’t make a habit of if. If you have something that will do as good of a job then use it. But if not Dawn won’t kill your car. I think a good pre wash with car shampoo is a good idea



Just to get everyone on the same thought process as me, I think we all have used household products on our cars before. Such as grout sponges, Q tips, peanut butter, and toothbrushes and the list goes on. So I think as long as you keep the trim and rubber in good condition, using Dawn a few times over the life of the car will be just fine.
 
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