Car Washing Techniques: The Importance of Using Soft, Clean Cloths

At our B&B, we are always looking for ways to improve our services by listening to feedback from our guests. In an effort to provide honest and reliable information about car accessories, we have decided to focus on products that we use and purchase with our own income. In our previous post, we highlighted the brands of foam cannons that we use on our own vehicles. In this post, we will be discussing the soap that we use in those foam cannons.

Before we dive into the soap, it is important to note that regardless of whether you use a foam cannon or a bucket, using a washcloth (or mitt) that is smoother than an android’s bottom is crucial to avoid scratching your car’s paint. Some car enthusiasts take this a step further by using expensive towels and other materials, but the main message is to use a clean and soft cloth that is rinsed frequently and immediately discarded if it comes into contact with the ground.

For those who do not use a foam cannon, the “two bucket” method is highly recommended. This involves using separate buckets for suds and rinsing to prevent dirt from being reintroduced to the soapy wash water. Some people also use a plastic filter-like grate at the bottom of their wash bucket to trap dirt.

Mr. Pink Suds from Chemical Guys

Now, let’s talk about the soap. Our go-to soap is Mr. Pink Suds from Chemical Guys. Although it is not cheap, it has been on sale for about a decade and has received numerous positive reviews. This soap creates a frenzied lather that is reminiscent of car wash commercials or Liv Tyler’s video with the Geo Metro. It works equally well with a foam cannon or bucket, although the cannon provides thicker coverage more quickly.

In addition to its effectiveness, Mr. Pink Suds smells great and is pH balanced, which makes it gentle on all exterior surfaces of your car. The product is designed as a concentrate, which means that only 1-3 oz. of Mr. Pink in a 5-gallon wash bucket is needed to create a foam frenzy.

Mega Foam from Adam’s Polishes

Another soap that we recommend is Mega Foam from Adam’s Polishes. Although the company does not invest much in marketing or attractive bottle design, they make up for it by creating a high-quality soap that has received many positive reviews. Like Mr. Pink, this soap is highly concentrated and provides excellent cleaning power.

Optimum No Rinse

Lastly, we recommend Optimum No Rinse as a car wash soap alternative. This soap only requires 1 oz. of product per 2 gallons of water, which is more than enough to wash your entire car. We recommend using distilled water for this task to avoid leaving spots on the finish. Mix the recommended ratio of Optimum No Rinse and distilled water, then pour it into a clean spray bottle.

Optimum No Rinse is designed to encapsulate and create a barrier between dirt particulates and your car’s finish, making it ideal for mid-winter cleanings in the warmth of a heated garage or underground parking lot. Although we would not recommend this approach for an extremely dirty car, it is perfect for keeping your car looking good between washes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, using soft and clean cloths is crucial to avoid scratching your car’s paint. The “two bucket” method is highly recommended for those who do not use a foam cannon. Our go-to soap is Mr. Pink Suds from Chemical Guys, but we also recommend Mega Foam from Adam’s Polishes and Optimum No Rinse as high-quality alternatives. As always, we will continue to focus on products that we have actually used and purchased with our own income.