When planning an auto detailing project, there are three main things you need. You must have a pressure washer with at least 2000 PSI, a foam gun or foam cannon, and of course, the best car soap. With these three items, you can quickly and effectively remove stuck-on grime and dirt from your vehicle’s exteriors.
Today, let’s focus on finding professional-grade cleaning agents. Even if you do not have a pressure washer for cars, it is okay just to mix these solutions in water and use a bucket and sponge.
If you want to find the best car wash soap for pressure washer, dive in and take a peek at my top 5 picks. My review comprises the slickest cleaning agents that provide the thickest foam.
5 Best Car Wash Soap for Pressure Washer
I have done extensive research and tested a decent number of products in the market. Here are the very best car wash solutions that are formulated to dissolve and strip off stubborn dirt and road grime.
Meguiar’s is one of the most popular manufacturers of car care products. This brand has a range of highly specialized products that help to maintain vehicles in pristine condition. It has a whole line of car wash solutions, and the G7101FFP caught my attention for all the right reasons.
This product produces rich suds, just what you need to remove stuck-on mud on your car’s exteriors. It serves as a shampoo as well as a conditioner and therefore leaves the paintwork with an alluring shine.
Even though this car wash soap is not the cheapest on the market, it is an ideal choice for anyone in search of an auto detailing shampoo.
This is a biodegradable car soap/shampoo, and it works best when using a pressure washer and foam cannon. To create a snow-white layer all over your car, just mix 1/5th of soap with warm water. Another perk you will like about this car wash soap is that it has a pleasant, natural scent.
When I tested the cleaning agent, I noticed that my car had a few water spots on the paintwork, even after giving it a proper rinse. On the bright side, it is simple to remove these streaks using a soft towel.
Pros and Highlights
- Can be used to clean aluminum wheels
- Pleasant scent
- Does not strip of wax, polish, or other protectants
- Highly concentrated product, ideal for use with a pressure washer
- Leaves the car with an appealing shine
- Creates thick, long-lasting suds
- Doubles as car shampoo and conditioner
- Effectively loosens up dirt, making cleaning fast and easy
Cons
- Only ideal for exterior use
- The product may leave a few watermarks that you can wipe off with a soft towel
Adam’s Polishes is a brand that has been around since the dawn of the new millennium. It’s a relatively new brand, compared to companies like Meguiar’s, although it has risen to be a name to reckon with in the car care products industry.
What makes its products ideal is that they are researched and tested to ensure they deliver impeccable performance.
This car wash shampoo is a concentrated formula that produces thick suds. The soap helps you deep clean your car effectively without scratching the paintwork. Because it has a neutral PH balance, dirt and grime particles are stripped off without affecting the wax.
Another perk worth mentioning is that this is one of the slickest car wash soaps you can find. It contains polymers that give it a lubricated feel. Better still, this soap smells like candy or wild berries. In case pungent chemical smells offend you, this is a cleaning agent you may want to consider using.
Additionally, this product is biodegradable. You don’t have to worry about causing harm to your lawn, pets, or kids. After you give your vehicle a thorough rinse, it will dry without a single spot or streak.
Pros and Highlights
- Neutral PH balance
- Great wild berry scent
- Usable under direct sunlight
- Biodegradable, eco-friendly car wash soap
- Concentrated, long-lasting formula
- This is the slickest product in today’s market
- Designed to break down mineral deposits found in water
- Formulated for multi-purpose use
- Creates more suds for impeccable deep cleaning
- Protects wax and vehicle polish
- Leaves the car free of streaks and water spots
- Safe to use when cleaning rubber, paint, vinyl, plastics, and glass
Cons and Flaws
- This product is expensive when compared to other equally great car wash soaps
Let’s agree on this one; the lives of car owners would be miserable without companies like Chemical Guys. They are renowned manufacturers of premium auto detailing and car care products, including the best vehicle shampoos and car polishes.
The CWS_110 snow foam is a unique formulation that removes grime, dirt, and environmental contaminants from your car exteriors in a matter of minutes.
From a company that has been around since 1968, I expected nothing but the best from them. This specialized detergent is by far the best car wash concentrate for pressure washers.
It is designed to create tons of small, tightly grouped bubbles that remove all impurities without affecting sealed or waxed surfaces.
The Honeydew is slick because it contains potent hyper surfactants that leave your paintwork with a sparkle after rinsing. You can wash your car under direct sunlight and still expect to achieve a spot-free shine.
Because this product is concentrated, you need to mix 1 ounce of soap with 5 gallons of water. This will create an impressive amount of suds, especially if you are using a pressure washer and foam cannon. The concentrated solution will stick to the surface and deep clean, even hard-to-reach areas.
Pros and Highlights
- Formulation with a neutral PH
- Biodegradable
- Creates small, tightly grouped bubbles for impeccable cleaning
- Leaves the paintwork with an outstanding shine
- Concentrated formula
- This car wash soap has a fresh, natural scent
- Ideal for multi-purpose use
- Product from a trusted brand
- Formula with improved thickness and slickness
- Protects sealed and waxed surfaces
- Can be used to clean rubber, plastics, glass, paint, and vinyl
- Provides a spot-free shine
- Ideal for removing tough grime and dirt
Cons and Flaws
- The packaging may leak if placed directly on concrete surfaces
Very few things in life are half as pleasing as a squeaky clean car that smells like citrus. Chemical Guys have impressed us again with a concentrated car wash and gloss that is engineered to give your vehicle a professional clean look devoid of the professional cost.
This is one of the slickest citrus-based formulations that leave your ride with an impressive shine. What makes this better than good car wash soap is that it is derived from hyper citrus extracts. It is one of the most concentrated detergents in the markets, and what’s more, is that it is biodegradable and eco-friendly.
Just a small amount of soap, mixed with water, can help you break down heavy grime, dirt, mud, and other contaminants on your vehicle’s surface in a matter of minutes.
I like how the soap creates tons of suds when using a foam cannon or foam gun. To my surprise, the bubbles are also relatively thick and supper effective even when using a bucket and sponge.
After rinsing the car, I noticed that it still had a sweet lemon scent. The best part is that the polish appeared enhanced. All I can confirm is that this is an excellent product that is worth a look.
Pros and Highlights
- Naturally sourced from hyper citrus extracts
- Highly concentrated product (lasts longer)
- 100% surface friendly
- Has a sweet lemon scent
- Excellent gloss enhancer
- Biodegradable and eco-friendly formula
- A small amount of soap produces tons of suds
- Effectively breaks down hardened grease, grime, and dirt
- Professional grade cleaning agent
- 1 cup dilutes 5 gallons of water
- Affordable
Cons and Flaws
- You must shake the bottle vigorously before using the product
Trust Mothers to know what’s best for your metal babe. Here is a premium product from an American brand that will not cost you more than you would spend on a decent coffee date.
This sleek shampoo is engineered to be gentle on the paintwork and tough at breaking down grease, contaminants, and stuck-on dirt on your car’s exteriors.
You are promised excellent value for your money because this car wash shampoo also serves as a wax. It leaves your vehicle with outstanding shininess and enhances the looks of existing wax and polishes.
This is a biodegradable and eco-friendly pressure washer soap with a neutral PH. You can use it for other cleaning tasks, including blasting grime from a motorcycle. Once you effectively rinse the cleaned surfaces, no streaks or water spots will be left behind.
When testing the product, I first used a foam lance, and the outcome was spectacular. The level of gloss and color vibrancy achieved is equally impressive, even when bucket washing.
This is simply the best car wash soap with wax, and having a steady stream of water is not necessary for you to produce thick suds.
There are more than a few good reasons why this is my favorite car wash soap. It is inexpensive, produces tons of suds, and is well concentrated. You can feel the wax and gloss when you rub the formula between your fingers. The best perk is that it smells like bubble gum. Trust me; this stuff is awesome!
Pros and Highlights
- Bubble gum scent
- Slick and concentrated car shampoo
- Ideal for multi-purpose use
- Superb gloss enhancer
- PH neutral formula
- Biodegradable and environmentally friendly
- Easy to use detergent
- Protects the paint and makes cleaning quick and easy
- Thick solution (a little goes a long way)
- Affordable
Cons and Flaws
- Not ideal for use under direct sunlight
Things to Consider Before Buying Car Soap for Pressure Washer
I own an old-school ride, a Ford Escort RS1600, to be precise. This is the same kind of Ford featured in fast and furious 6. Such cars are a rare treasure and the only way to maintain them, and possibly pass them down to our generations is to take auto detailing tasks very seriously.
If you also have a soft spot for your vehicle, here are key aspects to consider when searching for the best auto detailing soap.
Eco-Friendly
Global warming is real, and for all its worth, you must protect the environment to the best of your ability. When choosing car wash products, it pays to select those that are biodegradable. Eco-friendly soaps protect your lawn, pets, and loved ones from harm.
Foaming Properties
One of the prime qualities of an efficient car soap is that it will create a thick and rich lather. This is what suspends the dirt particles, making them easier to wipe off.
Some of the best brands provide solutions that create lots of long-lasting suds. I like using products that can paint my black Ford white with foam for a whole 15 minutes. Read the exact process of adjusting foam cannon for the highest foam here.
Value for Money
Times are hard, and it is a little tempting to choose the cheapest product you can find. Instead of making blind choices that solely revolve around cost, consider the value your specific car wash soap offers for your money.
PH Levels
A good formula will have just the perfect balance of alkalinity and acidity. It will, therefore, be tough enough to loosen up grime and dirt on the paintwork to make cleaning easier.
At the same time, the solution will be mild and gentle enough not to cause any damage. Products with PH imbalances can corrode the paintwork or the wax on your vehicle.
Concentration
Thick products last longer and give you an optimal bang for your buck. It is best to find a solution that has soap to water ratio of 1:1. If you want a car wash shampoo that can last for a reasonable time, you cannot afford to overlook the concentration of various products.
Streak and Water Spots Resistance
Have you ever washed your car only to find it with swirls, water spots, and streaks? Well, it could be that your rinsing methods are not the problem. Some products take longer to dry. This is what causes the blemishes even after giving your vehicle a proper rinse.
To avoid leaving the paintwork with unsightly streaks, choose quick-drying solutions. It is also vital to refer to your user’s manual and find out whether you should clean your car under shade, or if it is okay to do so under direct sunlight.
Scent
We all love pleasant scents. When you hit the markets in search of the best car wash shampoo, beware that not all products smell like roses. Some have a strong smell that could easily trigger your allergies.
I like solutions that have a lemon or cherry scent. It is also perfectly okay to settle for those that are scentless.
Homemade Car Wash Soap Good or Bad and How to Prepare Them
Car cleaning solutions come in all shapes, sizes, and flavors. Each product will have a unique formulation that gives it an edge over its competition. Even though I prefer buying ready-made cleaning agents, I also make my car wash soap at home from time to time.
From my very qualified perspective, I can say that homemade soap is just as good as car wash solutions. The main difference is that homemade car wash cleaning agents cannot be used with a pressure washer. They, however, come in handy when you are cleaning your vehicle with a bucket and sponge.
I use readily available ingredients that are safe for my vehicle’s exteriors and still do an excellent job of stripping away grime, dust, and dirt. Here are three unique recipes that are my personal favorite. You can try them out, depending on the ingredients you have at home.
- Method 1: Vinegar and Water
Technically, creating a 50/50 mixture of water and vinegar will not create soap. However, this creates a potent solution for cleaning the glass panels, windshields, and paintwork. Vinegar contains high amounts of acid, although it is softened by water, making it less abrasive.
You can trust vinegar to do a great job of removing dirt from surfaces. Unfortunately, it does not have the most pleasant of smells, so you should not use it to clean your car interiors. Moreover, do not use this solution on aluminum alloys because the acid may mess with their alluring finish.
- Method 2: Baby Shampoo
Baby soap is mild and gentle on your baby’s skin. In the same respect, it will be gentle on your car’s paintwork. Such soap will not break down the polish, protectant, or wax on the exteriors.
I consider this to be a better alternative to using dishwashing detergents. Some solutions are abrasive and can stripe away any protectants on your vehicle’s exteriors.
- Method 3: Leftover Soap Bars
Making soap jelly is fun. Just take those small leftover soap bars and chop them into even smaller pieces. From this point, soak them in warm water and allow them to dissolve into a jelly-like solution. Just ensure that you create a mixture that is sturdy enough to help you effectively clean your car.
- Method 4: Water, Dishwashing Soap, Borax, and Powder Laundry Detergent
If you have all these ingredients, here is how to make effective car wash soap. Fill a bucket with water and pour a generous amount of liquid dishwashing soap. Add one teaspoon of borax to every 5 liters of your solution. Borax helps to ensure your vehicle is streak-free after it is properly rinsed.
The final step is to add a generous amount of powder laundry detergent and mix everything well in the bucket. Voila! You have quality, homemade car soap.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How frequently should I wash my car using professional cleaning agents?
It is crucial to wash your car weekly. This will help you maintain the paintwork and the exterior of your vehicle in good condition. Frequently removing stuck-on dirt also helps to preserve the value of your car by protecting the bodywork from premature deterioration.
- Do I still need to wash my car when it’s not heavily soiled?
As long as your car is in use, it will gather dust, dirt, and sand. While it may not be heavily soiled, it is still important not to skip your weekly car washing routines. Dirt particles are abrasive and notorious for scratching off the finish of the paintwork.
- Is it cheaper to wash my vehicle at home?
Yes, washing your car at home will save you money. You will also save time if you have a pressure washer for vehicles. Anytime you visit a professional car wash, you are charged for not just the water, cleaners, and equipment used, but also for labor.
- Is it safe to use dishwashing soap when I’m out of my regular car soap?
Yes, you can use your dish soap to clean your car. However, you are likely to get better results when using special vehicle shampoos. These formulations have superior ingredients that help to effectively dissolve dirt and grime, while at the same time protecting your paintwork.
- Will car shampoo affect the wax on my vehicle?
This highly depends on the soap you use. Some products are uniquely formulated not to break down the protectant, wax, or polish on your automobile.
Final Words
Cars are not cheap assets. Vehicle shampoos will, on the other hand, not cause havoc in your wallet. The five products listed above can help you maintain the overall integrity and value of your car.
For a small price, you can enjoy a long list of perks allied with using the best car wash soap for pressure washers. This will save you from the huge expense of having to routinely invest in car cosmetics, paintwork services, or paint touch-ups.