Is It 'Safe' To Wash Your Car With Fairy Liquid ?

[Bristle Hound]

As this has been mentioned in some posts thought I would create a thread on it

I remember in the dark recesses of my mind something about the use of Fairy Liquid to wash your car

Found these link's (& will add further ones as & when I find them)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/advice/why-you-shouldnt-use-washing-up-liquid-to-wash-your-car/
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=538730
https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=27
https://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=101779

 

[V6_Man]

As this has been mentioned in some posts thought I would create a thread on it

I remember in the dark recesses of my mind something about the use of Fairy Liquid to wash your car

Found this link (& will add further ones as & when I find them)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/advice/why-you-shouldnt-use-washing-up-liquid-to-wash-your-car/
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=538730
https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=27

What if you work for a takeaway. Makes perfect sense to wash it with FL then

 

[Richard46]

So as I read that Fairy Liquid removes any existing wax treatment. Is that a problem if one is doing it in preparation for a new polish and wax job?

 

[Bristle Hound]

So as I read that Fairy Liquid removes any existing wax treatment. Is that a problem if one is doing it in preparation for a new polish and wax job?

@Richard46 - Direct quote from the first link in post number 1
'The bleach and ammonia contained in washing-up liquid break down the wax that is applied to the paintwork to protect it.
Once that protective layer is damaged, modern water-based paints can turn dull and, in extreme cases, start to crack.'

Plenty of info in the four links buddy

 

[Charlie Farley]

Do not use it on a car bodywork, I can fully agree with the comments .
I have seen first hand how household detergents and cleaning solution very quickly ruin a cars paintwork .
A few years back a so called " car hand wash" near me was shut down after numerous complaints to trading standards , they were charging top rates for washing cars etc , but, in reality they were found to be using industrial rated washing liquids etc .It was just stripping off the protective layers on cars .
Owners that were regular customers were very soon complaining of faded and poor paint finish, even complained to the car makers , which led into the investigation that uncovered what was going on.
I never use hand car washes , do you know whats in those buckets , let alone what they are spraying over the car and wheel, I suspect you have never considered it but just keep it in mind, you have been warned.

Bulk washing liquid etc works out at a very good profit for dodgy wash centres compared to using specific cleaning products, £10 a car for a basic wash and they are probably making £9.00 profit.

 

[Jassyo06]

I washed my dad's bosses cars on a Saturday morning for pocket money way back in the 70s.... 75/76/77 and l used the old fairy liquid lol how detailing had come along way since, oh some of their cars where Opel Manta berlinetta"s, Vauxhall Royale, Granada 2-8 ghia x injection, BMW 325i, Brooklands 2-8 capri injection, l was hooked on cleaning cars from a very young age 12 years old l think

 

[Richard46]

@Richard46 - Direct quote from the first link in post number 1
'The bleach and ammonia contained in washing-up liquid break down the wax that is applied to the paintwork to protect it.
Once that protective layer is damaged, modern water-based paints can turn dull and, in extreme cases, start to crack.'

Plenty of info in the four links buddy

Quite that was why I asked if it was still a problem if the FL was used prior to a reapplication of wax. I understand the argument that removing a wax protection without replacing it would be harmful.

 

[Jassyo06]

It's a cheap way of degrading whatever you've put on the car previously l don't see any harm in using fairy liquid as long as you don't use too much of it... Would be a pain in buttocks rinsing the paint.....

 

[Adam14]

I washed my dad's bosses cars on a Saturday morning for pocket money way back in the 70s.... 75/76/77 and l used the old fairy liquid lol how detailing had come along way since, oh some of their cars where Opel Manta berlinetta"s, Vauxhall Royale, Granada 2-8 ghia x injection, BMW 325i, Brooklands 2-8 capri injection, l was hooked on cleaning cars from a very young age 12 years old l think

Join the club, spent most weekends from about aged 11 cleaning parents cars and neighbours, used it to fund school trips. Albeit no double bucket or half the stuff I currently use! Not even a pressure washer.

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

 

[Seanchadwick2k3]

When I had my first car I used to clean it every Friday after work. One day I had the bright idea of squirting the FL straight on the body work. I ended up jet washing for hours! Suds were just coming from everywhere!

 

[A4A4]

You might find this useful lol

I'm off to Morrisons, sod the fairy.

 

[Ron240]

I washed my dad's bosses cars on a Saturday morning for pocket money way back in the 70s.... 75/76/77 and l used the old fairy liquid lol how detailing had come along way since, oh some of their cars where Opel Manta berlinetta"s, Vauxhall Royale, Granada 2-8 ghia x injection, BMW 325i, Brooklands 2-8 capri injection

All of those cars bring back great memories for me from the 80's.
I had a soft spot for the Manta GT/E with the 4 round headlights....also the Opel Monza GSE. Granada 2.8i Ghia X was the ultimate luxury Ford of its day.
I remember back to 1986 or 87 when I was on day release at Motherwell College(when it used to be up behind Fir Park), I went into Trust Motors on my lunch break to have a look at the brand new Capri 280 Brooklands that they had in the showroom.
It would have cost around £12000 back then....but I could only dream about owning a car like that.
I have sometimes wondered what it would be like if I could go back to that era with the car buying ability I have now.......I would be like a kid in a sweetie shop.

 

[Taxboy]

I'll have to do a bit more digging around but I believe that Fairy Liquid doesn't necessarily strip wax with one wash. I'm not saying it's great for your LSP but the Fairy Liquid gives the impression that you wax has gone. Another clean with a proper car shampoo may get the sheeting / beeding back

Sent from my SM-T800 using Tapatalk

 

[CHEZ]

When i go to town and give the cooooopay a good fettling i always use a strong really hot fairy liquid wash to detox and strip previous wax.
I learned this from detailing world years ago and works for me.
Totally leaves the paint squeaky clean ready for claying, polishing waxing etc.
It is a little bit unorthodox by todays standards, but years ago was common practice with sunday car washing up and down the country with people doing this to there metro and montegos tooled up with yellow sponges and hose pipes.
Probably why they have all dissolved tbh

 

[Jassyo06]

I Used Fairy liquid tonight on my young sisters brand new Focus lol Frozen white is the colour. .. I had ran out of car shampoo true waiting on some ... The car had no protective coating at all.... Ford dealerships for you.. .. so gave it a quick wash and fired on some Gyeon wet coat.. .. Just a quick fix until l find the time to detail it properly the dirt was difficult to remove .. . Ergo no lsp...

 

[Jassyo06]

All of those cars bring back great memories for me from the 80's.
I had a soft spot for the Manta GT/E with the 4 round headlights....also the Opel Monza GSE. Granada 2.8i Ghia X was the ultimate luxury Ford of its day.
I remember back to 1986 or 87 when I was on day release at Motherwell College(when it used to be up behind Fir Park), I went into Trust Motors on my lunch break to have a look at the brand new Capri 280 Brooklands that they had in the showroom.
It would have cost around £12000 back then....but I could only dream about owning a car like that.
I have sometimes wondered what it would be like if I could go back to that era with the car buying ability I have now.......I would be like a kid in a sweetie shop.

Lol my choice would be a XR4x4 lol the Granada I washed was the exact same as the one that flew out the glass windows on the building at the start of The Professional lol
The Opel Mantas where in light blue and the other Orange... Both flat paints with Vynl roofs both had Sunroofs and 8 track stereos

 

[Neil Woodburn]

Something for you jassyo6 - my old Opel Manta registered in Glasgow - Low's Of Shawlands & sold it with 25k miles on the clock a few years ago

 

[Jassyo06]

Something for you jassyo6 - my old Opel Manta registered in Glasgow - Low's Of Shawlands & sold it with 25k miles on the clock a few years ago


View attachment 180787 View attachment 180788 View attachment 180789

Ah automotive memory lane lol yeah almost identical as the ones l washed but they had black velour, them windy wipers on the headlamps were very posh back then loved this car as a lad

 

[Audi Bairn]

Something for you jassyo6 - my old Opel Manta registered in Glasgow - Low's Of Shawlands & sold it with 25k miles on the clock a few years ago


View attachment 180787 View attachment 180788 View attachment 180789

Nice! My mate had a yellowy orange one of those when we were at college, when I had my Mk5 Cortina lol

 

[NevMan]

Back on topic, @FranA3 recommended I use fairy to clear layers (on top of my Max Protect ceramic coating). As it is a rubber based coating it can take it. My initial misgivings (despite assurances MP recommend this approach) were unfounded. The below is after a fairy wash, and nothing else has been added at all after drying. Will be doing another one of these washes next time, and then the following wash add something like Max Protect Silk or CarPro reload.

 

[Bristle Hound]

Just my tuppence on this
Personally I would never use Fairy Liquid, regardless of what anyone told me

When I go down this route of a strong decontamination wash I use G3 Detox Shampoo
Cheap enough at £7 a bottle & it will last
& yes I know its not as cheap as FL lol
https://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-cleaning/shampoo-polish-wax/farecla-g3-body-prep-shampoo-500ml
Review here -
https://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=230721

There's also CarPro Reset which is the same type of product but a little more expensive
https://carpro.uk.com/products/reset500
Review here -
https://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=335971

Having used both of the above I tend to favour the G3 product as it is cheaper
Personally I didn't find much of a difference between the 2 TBH

If my memory serves me right the CarPro Reset is recommended for all ceramic coatings

My friend @scotty76 swears by Reset

 

[NevMan]

Just my tuppence on this
Personally I would never use Fairy Liquid, regardless of what anyone told me

When I go down this route of a strong decontamination wash I use G3 Detox Shampoo
Cheap enough at £7 a bottle & it will last
& yes I know its not as cheap as FL lol
https://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-cleaning/shampoo-polish-wax/farecla-g3-body-prep-shampoo-500ml
Review here -
https://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=230721

There's also CarPro Reset which is the same type of product but a little more expensive
https://carpro.uk.com/products/reset500
Review here -
https://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=335971

Having used both of the above I tend to favour the G3 product as it is cheaper
Personally I didn't find much of a difference between the 2 TBH

If my memory serves me right the CarPro Reset is recommended for all ceramic coatings

My friend @scotty76 swears by Reset

Col, I never do stuff to save money, and use reset A LOT. Was sending @FranA3 pics and water runoff shots, he suggested using FL, as used it all the time apparently, and maintains some SERIOUS cars out there.

 

[V6_Man]

OK. So, it is getting interesting this debate here. Even during my younger days I never used FL but did use Head & Shoulders to wash my dad's cars and my bikes and moved on to buying dedicated car shampoos at a tender age of 18 after finishing my boarding school

Having said that I do use a water bucket mixed with fairy liquid and dip my arch and tyre cleaner brushes in it (mind, not the alloys). I will wash the brushes after cleaning each tyre/arch and then dip the 'clean' one in the bucket again just to make sure.

Personally, I am not comfortable with using FL on the paintwork.

Having said that, I am guilty of washing my dad's car with non-bio Surf on a few occasions

 

[Bristle Hound]

Col, I never do stuff to save money, and use reset A LOT. Was sending @FranA3 pics and water runoff shots, he suggested using FL, as used it all the time apparently, and maintains some SERIOUS cars out there.

@q5man - Not suggesting you are a cheap skate Nev lol Its just I wouldn’t use it
I know @FranA3 is the expert here but he no doubt does 100’s if cars to my 2 so may be its more cost effective for him lol
Some of the info in those 4 links from the 1st post make a bit of frightening reading
As our wee little scotch friend @jassyo06 likes to say, ‘tis subjective this detailing malarkey

 

[V6_Man]

Just my tuppence on this
Personally I would never use Fairy Liquid, regardless of what anyone told me

When I go down this route of a strong decontamination wash I use G3 Detox Shampoo
Cheap enough at £7 a bottle & it will last
& yes I know its not as cheap as FL lol
https://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-cleaning/shampoo-polish-wax/farecla-g3-body-prep-shampoo-500ml
Review here -
https://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=230721

There's also CarPro Reset which is the same type of product but a little more expensive
https://carpro.uk.com/products/reset500
Review here -
https://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=335971

Having used both of the above I tend to favour the G3 product as it is cheaper
Personally I didn't find much of a difference between the 2 TBH

If my memory serves me right the CarPro Reset is recommended for all ceramic coatings

My friend @scotty76 swears by Reset

I have not used G3 but have been using Reset after @scotty76 's recommendation and ever since I bought the S4 and especially after it had been ceramic coated. It's cleaning ability compared to a few other shampoos that I have used is second to none. Yes, I agree it is expensive to use but then so is the whole detailing malarchy, isn't it. I might as well go for G3 if you are recommending it and try it out on the A3.

 

[V6_Man]

Back on topic, @FranA3 recommended I use fairy to clear layers (on top of my Max Protect ceramic coating). As it is a rubber based coating it can take it. My initial misgivings (despite assurances MP recommend this approach) were unfounded. The below is after a fairy wash, and nothing else has been added at all after drying. Will be doing another one of these washes next time, and then the following wash add something like Max Protect Silk or CarPro reload.

Blimme Nev @q5man. Is there a specific FL or any will do.

 

[NevMan]

Blimme Nev @q5man. Is there a specific FL or any will do.

Any mate. I knew this would prompt response, and trust me I resisted for a long long time, but have to say the results speak for themselves, well I think so anyway.

 

[Jassyo06]

OK. So, it is getting interesting this debate here. Even during my younger days I never used FL but did use Head & Shoulders to wash my dad's cars and my bikes and moved on to buying dedicated car shampoos at a tender age of 18 after finishing my boarding school

Having said that I do use a water bucket mixed with fairy liquid and dip my arch and tyre cleaner brushes in it (mind, not the alloys). I will wash the brushes after cleaning each tyre/arch and then dip the 'clean' one in the bucket again just to make sure.

Personally, I am not comfortable with using FL on the paintwork.

Having said that, I am guilty of washing my dad's car with non-bio Surf on a few occasions

Head n Shoulders.... They'd be no "Flake Pop shots" from you back then.....lol

 

[Jassyo06]

Back on topic, @FranA3 recommended I use fairy to clear layers (on top of my Max Protect ceramic coating). As it is a rubber based coating it can take it. My initial misgivings (despite assurances MP recommend this approach) were unfounded. The below is after a fairy wash, and nothing else has been added at all after drying. Will be doing another one of these washes next time, and then the following wash add something like Max Protect Silk or CarPro reload.

Going to be Frank...here Ah l know my names is James but ..l just think the gloss levels on your car have potential for improvement especially it being black mate

 

[NevMan]

Going to be Frank...here Ah l know my names is James but ..l just think the gloss levels on your car have potential for improvement especially it being black mate

Wouldn’t expect anything else mate. I agree, will be sorting that soon

 

[V6_Man]

Head n Shoulders.... They'd be no "Flake Pop shots" from you back then.....lol

. I believe it is precisely the reason why I lost most hair as I was using the shampoo washing the car rather than my hair

 

[Jassyo06]

Wouldn’t expect anything else mate. I agree, will be sorting that soon

Cannae wait it should look oot of this world you being a tad anal with your car like lol
You'll have the paint looking like a black mirror lol
Ps you do know that l am on the wind up. .. Or do you lol

 

[Bristle Hound]

Cannae wait it should look oot of this world you being a tad anal with your car like lol
You'll have the paint looking like a black mirror lol
Ps you do know that l am on the wind up. .. Or do you lol

@jassyo06 - Can't imagine you winding anyone up buddy ...
lol

 

[NevMan]

Cannae wait it should look oot of this world you being a tad anal with your car like lol
You'll have the paint looking like a black mirror lol
Ps you do know that l am on the wind up. .. Or do you lol

I do realise this Mr wind up merchant

 

[cuke2u]

As this has been mentioned in some posts thought I would create a thread on it

I remember in the dark recesses of my mind something about the use of Fairy Liquid to wash your car

Found these link's (& will add further ones as & when I find them)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/advice/why-you-shouldnt-use-washing-up-liquid-to-wash-your-car/
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=538730
https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=27
https://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=101779

Those words should be permanently banned from this forum...

 

[NevMan]

Those words should be permanently banned from this forum...

In my case, I have Max Protect Ceramic which is rubber based, and Max Protect themselves recommend fairy for decon wash. Results speak for themselves:

 

[Bristle Hound]

Those words should be permanently banned from this forum...

@cuke2u - Which ones ?

 

[Bristle Hound]

Thread title changed changed to a more appropriate one IMO

Don't care what anyone says, the answer to the new thread title is NO!

 

[cuke2u]

@cuke2u - Which ones ?

I cannot, simply cannot mention that well known cleaning product by name ;-)

 

[Bristle Hound]

I cannot, simply cannot mention that well known cleaning product by name ;-)

@cuke2u - PMSL