I’m not interested in wax/soap combo, I want it clean before putting on compound and wax.
Youtube seems to like Mr Pink and Maguire’s Gold. But most all the videos focus on how much shine the wax gives or how foamy the soap is, when I’m most interested in how clean the soap gets it.
Are you sure you need to compound the finish?
Be very careful with rubbing compound.
But whatever you plan to do after washing, Dawn dishwashing soap will cut through a lot of crud. But use only if you intend to follow with polish and wax, or a cleaner wax.
Car wash soaps are usually formulated to preserve existing wax.
When I was a kid, I’d do the wash then the wax. I see now why that old Volvo 245 looked brand new until the day I wrecked it.
My car has some nasty scratches on the hood from the automatic car wash (never again!) but before I try to use compound to get them out I want a good clean. I don’t want to rub dirt into the finish.
I want to do it the way I’m used to doing it, with a bucket and sponge. But I go to the auto parts store or walmart, and I’m just inudated with different brands.
But plain ol’ detergent seems an interesting choice.
Make sure is PH balanced.
I use megs car wash. There is no soap that will really clean the surface before wax. To do that you need to go over it with a clay bar. The smoothness will be very apparent. Then you can wax on a smooth and clean surface. You tubes are only opinions or sales talks. Good clay bar, good wax, and good car wash in between. Brand is less important but we use what we got accustomed to.
When I had my 2006 Nissan Altima ( green ), I used dish soap to wash the car. I was physically capable to self-wash back then before my disability got worse.
Within a year or so, the car paint started to look dull ( white/ish ) I couldn’t understand what was going on.
It got so bad for an almost new car that I brought it into a paint shop to ask questions.
The paint guy looked at the car and asked if I ever used dish soap to wash the car and I said yes. He then said “ I figured. You ruined your car paint with it. “
I second the clay bar suggestion above.
Dishwashing soap strips the wax off. Car washing soap preserves the wax.
Rubbing compound on scratches will just make them worse if you don’t clay-bar first. You will be shocked to find how much dirt ends up on the clay.
A compounded car will show horrible scratches in the sun light. It will get the scratches out but leave finer ones. The next steps are polishes with steadily finer grits. At least two steps from rubbing compound.
I’m going to have to take mine to a detailer to get clay bar, black car with water spots. In the words of Danny Glover, “I’m getting too old for this stuff”, stuff is the G rated word.