Can I Use Shampoo To Wash My Car?

Automobiles require exact care and maintenance to roar for long on the roads. And washing the vehicles regularly is an important task. This is because dirt and dust can ruin the paint if left for long. Some people take their vehicles to washing services for proper cleaning. But you can do it by yourself with special tools and equipment as well. One of the things you need when washing vehicles at home is shampoo. A question about whether can I use shampoo to wash my car at home might strike your mind. 

Can I Use Shampoo To Wash My Car?

So can you wash car with shampoo? The answer is definitely yes.

wash car with shampoo
Picking the right shampoo for your car is really important (Photo: pinterest.com)

Choosing a reliable hair shampoo for car wash is necessary to make things go the right way. There are a whole lot of hair shampoos available in the market. One should wash the car after a certain interval to keep it clean. A wash becomes necessary when the dust and debris stick to the car paint.

Following an ideal car washing technique is necessary to clean the car and prevent scratches. It is because dirt gets stuck to the paint and results in scratches when you wash. One must follow the basics of car wash with shampoo to keep things perfect.

One can wipe the dirt or dust off with a cloth as well. But you have to wash the car with shampoo and water sometimes. If you wonder can use shampoo to wash my car or not, then asking a washing expert would be the better choice.

Read more:

Using Hair Shampoo To Wash the Car – Good Or Bad?

Yes, you can use a shampoo to properly clean the car. But do not let the shampoo stay on the car paint for long. The reason behind it is that the car paint might start to fade. There are special car washing shampoos available to clean the car as it should be. You can wash car with shampoo that you have at home as well. But according to expert maintenance tips, using an appropriate car shampoo will be a wise decision.

Car shampoo is gentle on the paint and is not so costly. Besides, one should choose the best product for washing the car at home. It is because you do not want to repaint the car when it fades while using cheap products.

Using hair shampoo on cars also works rightly. But choose this option when you do not have any other choice.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Picking a sunny day to wash your car

It is the most common mistake when people wash their cars. You may think a sunny day will help your car dry as quickly as possible. But unfortunately, the sunny day may spell dark time ahead. Too much direct sunlight or heat can dry off the moisture or the shampoo before you properly finish washing. So washing your car under the blue sky is not as good as you think anymore, it could end up with water spots, a streaky finish, and stubborn drip masks. You should wash the car either early morning or late evening during hot spells.

how do you make homemade car wash shampoo
How do you make homemade car wash shampoo (Photo: pinterest.com)

Using the wrong sponge

This is the second common mistake when using shampoo to wash car. It is not correct that you can use whatever type of sponge for a car wash. It is important to remember that do not just assume you can use any old sponge you have lying around. The sponge for washing clothes, and dishes can scratch your paintwork. Use a separate sponge that is used for the car only to clean the car and maintain the paint layer at the same time. One tip is to keep the sponge in a safe place for the next time of wash it so you do not take time to find the sponge.

Leaving the car to dry by itself

When someone who asks “Can I use shampoo to wash my car”, usually do not know that leaving a washing car under the sun and letting it dry by itself is bad. It will leave a streaky watermark on your car. You should dry it with chamois leather or microfiber cloth to avoid the watermark.

Starting washing the car from the top

It is exactly a really common mistake that we have to remind readers on how do you make homemade car wash shampoo. The correct way is washing the car from the wheels, this is because any dirt you flick up or off won’t affect the already dirty car. So be prepared a bucket of water together with a brush. After washing the wheels, rinse them with a high-pressure hose and avoid touching your hand into it.

Tip Of Choosing Shampoo

Picking the right shampoo for your car is important. You likely choose the shampoo for your hair. You cannot put everything you find in the grocery store into your hair. So does the car. Shampoo for your hair can be used to wash your car but you should not use the washing-up liquid. Sine washing up liquid is designed to wash the ceramic dishes and not relatively soft paintwork.

So even if you already have the answer to the question “Can I use shampoo to wash my car”, we still recommend you to use the shampoo for cars only. So for the long term, you will help to keep the car painted for a long time. By that, the value of the car increases and if you want to resell, the price is higher. 

Washing a car with shampoo is likely washing a car with car washing foam. You just need to follow the car washing step by step. To know better how to wash a car in detail, check out the article How to Do a Proper Home Car Wash.  

How to wash your car with the hair shampoo:

The Final Words

There you have it! That is all about your question: can I use shampoo to wash my car or not? Washing your car with hair shampoo is quite a good option to clean it properly. But if you want to give your car a quality car wash, then choosing an appropriate car shampoo would do wonders. Do not forget to follow the maintenance tips for a better understanding of your car problem and how to fix it. If you have any questions or shared ideas, leave a comment and we will be back!