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Since you drive your car every single day, it’s already a given that it’s going to get dirty. Whether it rains or shines, placed in the garage or not, dust and dirt will accumulate at certain areas. Because of this, your car deserves some tender loving care, even in the simplest ways.
As the owner and the driver, you can maintain your car’s cleanliness by washing and soaping its exterior. Though you can always bring it to your neighborhood car wash, it will cost you some money.
Why don’t you do it yourself and spend some quality time with your favourite toy?
All you need is a bucket of water, a few microfiber cloths or gloves, and an effective car soap and you’re ready to go.
Water and cleaning cloth are simple choices. But what car soap should you use or buy when there’s hundreds of brands to choose from?
Looking for the right soap to use is no problem as long as you know what you need. You want to make sure you’re going to get something that actually does the job and leaves a streak free shine (without spending a fortune).
That’s exactly why we wrote this article.
Considerations When Buying Car Wash Soap
Brands are important. Nevertheless, what you should pay attention to the features that will guarantee great results after the wash.
1. Liquid to Water Ratio
Car wash soaps and liquids aren’t applied as is when you clean your vehicles. Usually, they have to be diluted, not just to lessen the concentration but also to save more money.
When you have a lower liquid to water ratio, you can maximize the soap concentration for more washes.
2. Formula pH Level
You should always check the pH level of your soap for many reasons. Knowing the range of alkalinity will tell you if it’s powerful enough to remove those bird droppings on your windows.
Additionally, you have to watch out for potent concentrations to avoid corrosion of solid materials and chemicals. It’s not far that your car will suffer from paint discoloration or wax damage when the pH level’s too high.
But buying neutral liquids won’t also do your car good. If it’s neutral like water, then there won’t be a huge change in your car’s appearance.
3. Price
A product’s price is an indicator of its quality. But, you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars just for a bottle of soap, do you?
With so many brands to choose from, you can buy a quart of car soap at an affordable price. If you’re looking for tough products that can address more serious problems such as grease, you can expect to shell out a bit more for trusted and known brands.
4. Function
Before you head to the nearest auto store or grocery, know first what you need to address. Are you planning to bring back your car’s gloss? Or do you just want to remove all dirt residue on your car?
There are car wash soaps made for specific functions, and some have multiple purposes.
5. Scent
Though not a major consideration for most drivers, the scent of your soap also matters. For some, it’s a huge turn-off if the soap has no long-lasting fresh smell.
There’s no doubt that you’d want to remove that stinky smell off of your car. But don’t even try using a product with a pungent smell.
It might stick to your car for quite some time and it’ll most probably irritate your nose. Safe yet pleasing smells are usually the citrus fragrances.
Types of Car Soaps
There are different types of car soaps available in the market. It’s a good idea to know what you are looking for in this particular product.
1. Car wash soap. This is the typical soap you use to remove dust, dirt, and other road debris that’s found on your hood and windows.
2. Car wash soap and wax. This is another innovation in this line of products since this is a 2-in-1 car soap. As it rinses and removes dirt from your car, it leaves a bit of wax on the surface.
3. Car soap conditioner. From the name itself, this type of car soap conditions your car by bringing back the shine of your car’s wax and paint. It also helps clean the exterior at the same.
4. Non-rinse soap. Even car soap has room for innovation. Today, there are several brands that offer this new product. This works best if you just need to wipe light dirt and dust off of your car. By using this car soap, you can save tons of water and cash in the end.
Now that you know all the options, it’s time to buy trusted car soaps that can suit your needs and preferences.
Here are GarageChief’s top picks of soaps that can give your car that squeaky clean and endless sheen it deserves.
The 5 Best Car wash Soaps
Trinova Car Wash Concentrate – Soap and Conditioner & Chenille Microfiber Glove Kit
What We Like
- Affordable
- Great results
- Safe on all exterior surfaces
Trinova Car Wash Concentrate car soap from Trinova is our top pick for many reasons. First, it is an effective formula for removing any tip of dirt or grease residue of your car’s exteriors.
The formula is powerful enough that a drop in a bucket is highly concentrated. What you’ll love about this product is its sudsy formula that won’t leave marks when it dries off.
Plus, it’s safe to use for cars with exposed sealants and layers of wax. True to its label, it is the standard solution for any car that needs cleaning. By using this Trinova creation, you won’t have to drive to the car wash for a spotless rinsing.
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Meguiar’s G7164 Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo & Conditioner – 64 oz.
What We Like
- Premium quality
- Eco-friendly detergents
- Cleans and conditions
Another premium product for car soaps is Meguiar’s G7164 Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo & Conditioner. It is a rich formula for removing all types of contaminants that land and stay on your car.
With just one product, you can clean your car totally and add the extra shine that it needs. Plus, it revives the vibrant color of your car paint.
This product is also safe for all types of paint and wax applied on the car’s surface. Just drop a concentrate on a bucket, get a sponge and you can start working. This affordable $7 car wash soap is a customer favorite that never lets anyone down.
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Griot’s Garage 10866 Brilliant Finish Car Wash – 64 oz.
What We Like
- Smells nice
- pH balanced
- High viscosity
This car wash formula is very attractive to buyers and it’s not just because of its bright pink color. It is the pH-balanced formula, which means it’s safe for your hands and for your car.
Griot’s Garage 10866 Brilliant Finish Car Wash soap’s high concentration will give your a lather which smells like heaven. It boasts is solution that can brighten your car’s color.
For best results, it’s recommended to dilute a drop in 1 gallon of water. What’s more, you won’t feel guilty in draining the solution because its biodegradable.
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Rain-X 5072084 Foaming Car Wash – 100 fl oz.
What We Like
- Great foaming quality
- Wax coat safe
- Biodegradable
Rain-X 5072084 Foaming Car Wash is one of the most value for money car soaps you can find in stores, but also one of the best there is. It is a high-foaming car wash with a fresh scent that lasts for hours.
Another main feature of this product is its components for wax protection. So don’t worry, it won’t rob your car of that shiny finish when you use this solution.
And last but not the least, this formula will give you many, many washes. Thanks to its easy-lathering feature, a drop will take you a long way. This product from Rain-X will surely give you a run for your money.
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Chemical Guys CWS_101 Maxi-Suds II Super Suds Car Wash Soap and Shampoo, Cherry Scent
What We Like
- Can be used under the sun
- Super sudsy
- Streak- and spot-free
Chemical Guys CWS_101 Maxi-Suds II Super Suds Car Wash Soap and Shampoo is the most expensive, but that’s because it is used by the professionals. From the name itself, you’d know that the soap will give your car rich lather.
This feature will help you hose down all the dirt and grime spots in your car. This concentrate is guaranteed to leave your car free from spots and streaks.
And even if there’s no wax in this product, it can make your car shine like it’s brand new. Just one ounce of this formula in a 4 or 5 gallon bucket, and it can remove all kinds of dirt and contaminant in your car.
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Conclusion
No one wants to see his car filthy and battered-looking. As the owner, you’d definitely do everything to keep your car’s appearance in tip-top shape.
Since your car is one of your prized possessions, won’t it be a pride to see it spic and span? You can give your car the best only if you know the right things to do and the best soap to use.
But before you grab a random product on the shelf, doing a quick research is very helpful. The best car wash products will give you the best finish for your car and leave you smiling in the end.
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