I've noticed one of the ways to remove wax is washing the entire car with dawn. What is the dawn/water content you are using when mixing the wash? Is it safe to wash the entire car (windows, plastic pieces) with the mix? Finally, do most of you wash again afterwards with normal car wash soap? Thanks.

 

Funny you should ask, I just did mine today. You can wash everything with it, I usually use about 1/2 a bottle in a bucket. On one detailing show, the guy washed the entire car using just his had and dishsoap, no water or washmit at all. I tried it once, but its very hard to rinse it off that way.

 

oo. Can I use the one thats soft on your hands?

 

LOL...because that's important!!!

 

No get the one that contains 1/4 moisterizers......

 

unless specified (like by Zaino) save dawn for your dishes...

 

Unless you need to strip your wax, I wouldn't use it too often. I don't even use the much when I do.

 

Agreed, it dries out the rubber and plastic parts on the exterior also, not good to use it very often

 

WAY too much, 1/2 a bottle of Dawn to wash a car? would you use 1/2 of a bottle of car wash in your wash bucket? Dawn is way more concentrated than most regular car washes. One cap full of Dawn per gallon of water is plenty.

Dawn is very, very high in alkaline, that is the reason it strips dishes so well of grease and grime, also the reason it strips the paint of waxes and glazes.

Do not wash your car on a regular basis with Dawn, and only use it if you are intending to rid your paint of all wax and polish that is on it.

Do not wash your car with just water either, you need a quality car wash to provide lubrication to the paint to float off debris without leaving scratches.

You can also wipe the entire car down with denatured alcohol or 3M Wax and Grease remover if you want to remove polish and wax and do not want to use Dawn.

 

interesting topic.
whenever i clay my car i use my regular car soap to do so, then wash again with the same car soap to final clean before my wax/polish application. i remember a few z owners telling me i was nuts for not washing with dawn before my claybaring or polishing. i was sure the claybar was removing wax/polish as well as contaminants in the paint. i never really saw the reason why to use dawn if you are going to clay the paint or use a cutting polish on the paint as everything will get removed anyways.
curious to hear what some have to say on this subject.

-justin

 

Depends if you are using Zaino or not, if you are you need to have the paint completly stripped before the Zaino first application. Yes, a clay bar or cutting polish will remove a normal wax from the surface do Dawning might not be needed in your case. But if you use a cutting polish, you need to rid the paint completely of oils left from this polish before Zaino applicaton.

 

+2


I agree that Dawn dries out the exterior plastic and trim and makes it look crap...

I used dawn when first applying Zaino on my wifes car and regret it...

Just use reg carwash soap...

 

thanx for the input kevin. i guess thats why i get the "your nuts for not using dawn" statements. its usually zaino users that add these comments. im not a zaino user......
i do remember reading that dawning is good before initial zaino applications.

-justin

 

From what I thought or believe. I thought the clay just removed oxidation and not wax. I bought the mothers clay bar detail kit and it worked great. I washed the car with car wash soap and then used the clay kit with the polish that comes with the kit and it left my paint so smooth that if you put a cloth on the hood it would slide down it.