Car shampoo is the foundation of any car cleaning toolkit. Used as part of a lengthier process or as an all-in-one solution, it’s the cleaning workhorse that shifts dirt and helps leave your car looking its best.
In this complete guide, we’re going to dig deeper into exactly what car shampoo is, why you need it, how best to use it and some top tips, as well as a few product recommendations from the expert detailers here at Autobrite Direct.
What is Car Shampoo?
Car shampoo is a specially formulated detergent for cleaning cars and other vehicles. It’s designed to cut through various surface contaminants and lift away dirt, and, in some cases, leave behind a protective coating.
Many car shampoos contain lubricants to help your wash mitt move smoothly over the paint surface, reducing scratching and swirling. They are created to allow safe application to all materials on your car, from body panels to windows and plastic trim, with carefully chosen pH values to deliver a high-quality clean.
Why You Need Car Shampoo
Firstly, why would you use car shampoo as opposed to dish soap, for example, to wash your car? Well, the answer’s kind of in the name. Dish soap is for getting bolognese stains out of your dishes, not cleaning your pride and joy. Car shampoo is specially designed to clean your car. Other detergents can strip away protective layers from your paint, causing it to degrade faster.
As well as protecting your paintwork, car shampoo is formulated to help it look its best, enhancing colour depth and shine. Above all else, car shampoo is not expensive and usually costs less than £1 per wash.
How to Wash Your Car With Car Shampoo
While it is possible to use car shampoo as a standalone product for washing your car, we advise a more thorough method, using a range of products to achieve improved results that give your paint the protection it needs.
- Pre-Wash: Start by rinsing your vehicle with clean water to remove any loose dirt. Then apply a quality pre-wash or snow foam and rinse off.
-
Wash: Next, the main wash. You’ll need a clean wash mitt, two buckets and your choice of car shampoo. In one bucket, mix water with your shampoo and fill the other with clean water. Starting at the top, clean your car with your shampoo, rinsing the mitt regularly in the bucket of clean water to avoid putting any dirt residue back onto your paintwork. Once you’ve gone over the whole car, rinse with clean water and dry with a large microfibre towel.
-
Decontamination: After you’ve washed away the surface grime, it’s time to thoroughly decontaminate your paintwork to remove stubborn particles and dirt. Apply a decontaminant such as our Purple Rain Fallout Remover, which can be rinsed off with clean water.
- Polish and Protect: Finally, protect your hard work with a polish, wax and sealant.
Car Shampoo Top Tips
While car shampoo is exceptionally easy to use, there are a few tips to help you get the best results.
-
Clean Your Tools: Cleaning with dirty tools isn’t just a waste of time; it can damage your car’s paintwork. Make sure to regularly clean all the tools you use, from wash mitts and brushes to buckets. Even if you don’t wash your car frequently, keeping everything fresh between washes will help you get the best results every time and protect your paintwork from scratching and swirling.
-
Always Pre-Wash: The wash before the wash is the most important wash … wash. OK, it might sound like overkill, but trust us, the pre-wash makes a huge difference to the quality of your final clean. This stage helps remove some of the heaviest dirt and grime, making way for your shampoo to do its thing as effectively as possible. Without the pre-wash, it’s easy for your shampoo to become lost in a sea of debris, and you can find yourself rubbing abrasive dirt into your precious paintwork.
- Choose The Right pH: Car shampoos are formulated to different pH values, meaning various products can be more acidic, alkaline or neutral. Acid or alkaline formulas can be more effective for heavy soiling, eating their way through stubborn grime, but we’d almost always recommend a pH-neutral shampoo. Adverse pHs can degrade your paintwork over time. An alternative to acidic or alkaline shampoos is a good quality snow foam pre-wash.
-
Get The Right Level of Foam: Some car shampoos foam more than others. Foamier shampoos tend to have more surfactants, which help lift dirt from the surface of your car. Less foamy shampoos often produce a better sheeting effect after drying, encouraging water to flow off your paintwork more readily. Which one you choose is a matter of personal preference, but make sure to consider each before buying.
-
Avoid Added Wax: You’ve probably come across wash and wax before – a car shampoo with added wax to reduce the need for waxing as a separate step. This can be helpful between full waxes, but we’d generally advise avoiding wash and wax products. The added wax interferes with the shampoo’s ability to clean and makes it less effective than non-wax shampoos. While it is more time-consuming, washing and waxing separately will always deliver a better result and more thoroughly protect your paintwork.
-
Two-Bucket Method: Even for the casual car washer, this is a must. When washing your car by hand with a bucket and mitt, always use two buckets. One bucket should contain your mix of shampoo and water, and the other should be filled with just clean water. Work your way over your car, dipping your mitt first into the shampoo bucket, then, before dipping back into the shampoo bucket, rinse your mitt in the clean water. This helps you avoid rubbing abrasive dirt and dust back onto your paint.
-
Use a Wash Mitt, Not a Sponge: Sponges are fine in a pinch, but using a decent quality wash mitt will give better results. Mitts are softer and hold more shampoo, protecting your paint and helping you clean more efficiently.
-
Top To Bottom: When washing your car, always work from the top to the bottom. The bottom of your car is typically the grubbiest part, and washing top down makes sure that dirt is not dragged around from panel to panel.
Our Car Shampoo Recommendations
We've got a few standouts in our range of car shampoo, each with its unique benefits.
Here's a quick rundown:
Luxury Suds - Wash and Wax
If you want to achieve a glossy wax finish, you must try our Luxury Suds - Wash and Wax shampoo. This non-caustic, concentrated premium car shampoo and wax is formulated with high-quality surface-active detergents to remove grease and dirt. It will leave your car spotless and gleaming with a glossy wax layer.
- Best For: High foaming and glossy wax finish
- Scent: Bubblegum
-
Application: For best results, pre-wet the vehicle surface and apply a 1:100 to 1:200 solution of car shampoo.
Purple Velvet Car Shampoo
If you’re after that showroom shine, Purple Velvet Car Shampoo is your go-to. This high-gloss shampoo gives your car a stunning, reflective finish that'll turn heads. It’s like giving your car a good old pamper session at the salon. Plus, it smells lush, which makes the whole washing experience a bit more enjoyable.
- Best For: High gloss finish
- Scent: Juicy fruit
-
Application: Dilute in water and lightly agitate to encourage foam, then wash the vehicle using a mitt before rinsing with clean water
Decon Shampoo
If your ride’s been through the ringer and needs a proper deep clean, Decon Shampoo is the one. This bad boy is designed to tackle tough grime and dirt while keeping your Last Stage Protection (LSP) intact. Think of it as the heavy-duty cleaner that doesn't mess up your hard work. Plus, Decon Shampoo is versatile—you can use it through a snow foam lance at a 10:1 ratio or through a pump sprayer application at 50:1. Proper handy, eh?
- Best For: Deep cleaning and maintaining LSP
- Scent: Pear drops
-
Application: Use through a snow foam lance (10:1) or a pump sprayer (50:1)
Buy Your Car Shampoo From Autobrite
Since 2005, the team at Autobrite Direct has been helping car owners restore their vehicles’ showroom shine. To help you get professional results at home, whether you’re a detailing whizz or just looking for an easy way to get a quality shine, our range of car shampoos provides stunning results every time.
If you have any questions at all or need a guiding hand, just give our expert team a call now on 01782 315632.
