When you hear the name Armor All most people will think tire dressing not car wash.
Armor All car wash is a product made by a company iconic for one of the original tire dressings.
But just this mean that their car wash is a product worthy of your time, money and effort when compared to other car wash products.
Even though I don't have huge expectations in a car wash soap, I do have certain requirements:
If you are like many people, car washing isn't just about getting a clean car but repreesents a cheap form of self-therapy with a hands-on tactile experince between you and your car.
Armor All Car Wash Soap on Amazon
Darren's Note: What you won't find here is generic information written by a professional writer versus a professional detailer.
I am going to make sure you walk away with more knowledge that comes straight from my decades of experience!
I would never say that a car wash and wax product will ever replace an application of a dedicated car wax. What I will say is that due to chemical engineering you can do more than just wash the dirt off your car.
You can also apply what I consider to be a "maintenance" car wash soap that will not only safely remove bassic dirt, but leaves a better shine and will help extend the life of the car wax on your car.
I am a huge fan of getting what I call a better ROI (return on investment) whenver I can and using a wash and wax to wash my car represents the winning ROI in my world.
Armor All car wash soap kit on Amazon
Chemical Guy's Citrus wash and shine wash kit on Amazon
Darren's Tips: I used to be very skeptical of wash and wax or wash and gloss products until I actually used them.
I can tell you with certainty that they do work and they do provide additional shine and gloss when compared to a traditional car wash soap.
Meguiar's Water Magnet drying cloth on Amazon
Darren's Tips: If you are still using a bath towel to dry your car you really need to rethink this outdated and horrid strategy! I realize many people equate 100% cotton bath towels to being super soft and absorbent, but until you have tried one of these drying cloths, you just don't know what you are missing.
Not only will you dry your car faster than ever, but you will do it safer and with no annoying lint!
Yes. Virtually any dedicated car wash shampoo will work to remove superficial dirt and dust.
But dedicated car wash shampoos are really intended to be more about lubricating the surface of your car and the dirt particles you are washing off.
Since dedicated car wash shampoos do not rely on aggressive detergents, these products will not remove heavy grease, oils, or other types of dirt.
No. Once again, any dedicated car wash shampoo is more about lubrication and creating a great user experience than removing heavy amounts of dirt.
Car wash shampoos are formulated using lubricating chemicals, surfactants that create lots of suds, along with fragrances and bright colors that create a nice washing experience.
There is this very common myth called wax build-up. It refers to the fact that you could possibly apply too many layers of wax and create an unwanted build-up on your car.
I believe this originates from back in the days when people literally used to wax their vinyl or linoleum floors with a product like Mop and Glow.
This product would literally leave a layer of "wax" on your floor that would discolor over time and have to be stripped off before any new application of floor wax was applied.
This same thinking bled over into car care and car waxes.
There are times when you may want to strip your car of any waxes, oils, or greases before you polish your car or start applying a new brand of wax products.
If this is the case, you can use traditional dish soap that is used to clean dishes. Dawn dish soap is a perfect example. And despite the many myths that follow this soap, it is safe to use on your car and will clean your car in ways that a dedicated car wash shampoo will not or cannot do.
If you have made it this far down the page you deserve a badge of honor! Clearly you are committed to improving your skills and knowledge.
Society is on the instant gratification mentality and want things to be super easy without wanting to put in any effort.
I hope I have helped enlighten you into better product sand better ways so that you will not just enjoy your car more, but perhaps add a little enjoyment at keeping your ride beautiful and clean.
I wish you much success in your detailing efforts!
Sincerely,
Darren Priest
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