CarDumb

I'm heading off to a mini-meet in Toronto today, and want to clean up my car a little. Unfortunately I don't have a place to wash it by hand at my condo. (And I don't have much time either). I just got it 2 weeks ago, so it's still pretty clean, but I have to park in a gravel alley.

Some people tell me not to go to a 'touch' car wash, 'cause it'll scratch the finish. Other people say the touchless car washes use harsh chemicals that will rot the body. Some people say I should find a 'soft touch' car wash. Are any of these OK?

There is a carwash where my friend works. They have those stalls with the hoses you can use to wash the car yourself I think. If I just wash it with some dish soap (i.e. Palmolive) and then rinse it, should that be OK?

(I've never been big on washing cars, so I don't know much about it).

Bear2Day

A lot of car washes places, give you the option of hand washing . Just that it cost a little more, but in the long run well worth it.

lakies

Get some Meguiar's soap for washing cars. It is gentler to the finish.

shimbo519

if you dont plan on waxing right after washing it, DO NOT USE PALMOLIVE OR ANY liquid dish soap. These products STRIP off the layer of wax. Use the car wash stuff u get at a auto store. ONCE AGAIN, DO NOT use liquid dish soap if u do not plan on waxing right after.

CarDumb

I'm glad you caught this thread... I was just about to go out the door with my Palmolive. I'll have to hope they have some of the right soap at the car wash place, or I'll be doing a water-only rinse for today I guess.

fsttyms1

i wouldnt worry about using any soap- dish soap or from a car wash. yes the dish soap will pull wax off the finish but nothing is going to happen to the finish overnight. as long as you eventually wax the car you will be all right.