Truck wash
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 180
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From: Abingdon, MD
Truck wash
What does everyone wash their truck with. I've only washed my Ranger 3 times since i've owned it, and i've used dawn dish soap mixed with water in a bucket. My family keeps a bucket with that in the car washing stuff. I'm thinking this can't be to good on my truck, and i could probably be using something better. What does everyone use?
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,237
Likes: 3
From: Belleville, Ontario
Heard something to the affect that dish soap is formulated to surround oil molecules and that was how it would attack the paint.
Even the cheap car wash soap works OK.
P.S. DON'T USE ARMOR-ALL ON YOUR TRUCK !!!
Even the cheap car wash soap works OK.
P.S. DON'T USE ARMOR-ALL ON YOUR TRUCK !!!
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,318
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From: On A Ship, MI
i use meguiars car wash then every other wash i use there three step process (paint cleaner , polish, wax) it comes out really nice but it gets dusty really quick(i live in the city) westly's beach white for the letters on the tires, then mothers chrome polish on the bumpers and wheel covers (i need one for a 69 ranger). but dont use the chrome polish on your wheels if you have the 96 stlye or earler it cakes on and looks really nasty. just use a brillo pad on them and they shine up really nice
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Randolph, NJ
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Chico Ca
to keep that showroom finish
spray off the surface of any grit first with high stream of water, use car soap and a good car mitt, use a lot of soapy water if real dirty and gently wipe, rinse. Don't apply full pressure when washing a car's finish
start at the top to wash first that's what I do. Have other mitt just to wash tires, fender trim
There is meany ways to screw up a car's showroom finish like harsh soap, a rag washing in a circular motion with pressure.
My worse problem I have is that my dogs would jump into the back of the truck and dig there claws into the finish and while 4 wheeling the brush against the finish but hey it's a truck! The finish still looks ok
spray off the surface of any grit first with high stream of water, use car soap and a good car mitt, use a lot of soapy water if real dirty and gently wipe, rinse. Don't apply full pressure when washing a car's finish
start at the top to wash first that's what I do. Have other mitt just to wash tires, fender trim
There is meany ways to screw up a car's showroom finish like harsh soap, a rag washing in a circular motion with pressure.
My worse problem I have is that my dogs would jump into the back of the truck and dig there claws into the finish and while 4 wheeling the brush against the finish but hey it's a truck! The finish still looks ok
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New User
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Everybody knows this is nowhere
Originally Posted by Diabolic
What does everyone wash their truck with. I've only washed my Ranger 3 times since i've owned it, and i've used dawn dish soap mixed with water in a bucket. My family keeps a bucket with that in the car washing stuff. I'm thinking this can't be to good on my truck, and i could probably be using something better. What does everyone use?
Between waxings I use Blue Coral Wash - n - Wax avaliable at Wally's.
The Pacifier
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,245
Likes: 7
From: Cloverdale, BC
Back when I was a kid out of high school, I washed cars at a VW dealership. I was supplied with Zip Wax car washing soap.
That's what I have used since, on my own cars, 11 years later.
As for cleaning the interior, I use Armor-All cleaning wipes. The ones that come in the bottle with the PURPLE top, not the yellow one. They clean up spilled coffee and dust like you wouldn't believe, and doesn't leave a greasy shine like the yellow topped bottle wipes do.
That's what I have used since, on my own cars, 11 years later.
As for cleaning the interior, I use Armor-All cleaning wipes. The ones that come in the bottle with the PURPLE top, not the yellow one. They clean up spilled coffee and dust like you wouldn't believe, and doesn't leave a greasy shine like the yellow topped bottle wipes do.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 306
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Expensive Soaps Waste Of Money !!!
Save the cash guys ! Use any dish detgergent that is clear that you can hold the bottle up to the light and see trough. The key to a great wash is the rinse to get all the soap off. Then a good dry.
Most late model trucks have clearcoat that will withstand any soap and the paint will not be harmed in any way.
Waxing ??? many have nice shiny new trucks and never wax them. But a good cheap wax that is safe for clearcoat is just as good as the expensive ones. I once talked to a guy that actually made up the formulas for car waxes and he said one is no better the other, It's how clean and well rinsed the truck is before you apply the wax.
Most late model trucks have clearcoat that will withstand any soap and the paint will not be harmed in any way.
Waxing ??? many have nice shiny new trucks and never wax them. But a good cheap wax that is safe for clearcoat is just as good as the expensive ones. I once talked to a guy that actually made up the formulas for car waxes and he said one is no better the other, It's how clean and well rinsed the truck is before you apply the wax.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 412
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From: St. Louis region
Dishwashing detergent is not a good idea...no one ever said it will harm you paint but it WILL strip the wax off of your truck. Unless you want to wax your truck everytime you wash it, I suggest using an actual car wash soap...it's not like its expensive.