Re: How-to Basic Wash?
Originally Posted by Mike-in-Orange
In all fairness, though, what you said about soap is true for essentially just "soap". A good car wash shampoo will have much more in it than simply "soap", as do dishwashing detergents. The general consuming public will generically refer to a wide variety of products simply as "soap" when there's a lot more to it than that, hence the misconception that typical household dishwashing "soap" is just fine for washing the car. Sure, it will clean a dirty car very well - to well, in fact. It will strip the wax right off.
I think that what I said covers car wash shampoos as well, these shampoos may contain other elements but the essence of what I said is also true of these shampoos.
The statement is also true for hand soap, hair shampoo etc. as well. They may contain aromatics, aloe etc. but the main ingredient is still good old soap of some description.
I have no desire to make my own car wash shampoo, the following list shows some of the possible ingredients:
Beta-alanine, N-(2-carboxyethyl)-N-dodecyl monosodium salt
Cocoamide DEA
Trideceth – 7
Alcohols, C11- 15- secondary, ethoxylated ( I prefer good scotch straight)
EDTA tetrasodium salt
Carnauba wax
Carboxy vinyl polymer
Tall oil fatty acid
Dimethylamino ethanol
Sodium hydroxide
Dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid
Sodium tripolyphosphate
Potassium hydroxide
Ethanol
PS, do not forget to add water and stir.
Last edited by onehundred80; Jul 23, 2009 at 07:23 PM.