What is a good car shampoo, learn the differences!
Yes, you can fill a bucket with washing-up liquid. It will remove all the dirt, oil, grease and so on, but it will also immediately remove your wax and/or coating, dry out your rubbers and bleach plastics. That's why you need a special car shampoo, with the right chemical balance and cleaning power.
1
What does it do?
It makes washing safe and leaves your coating or wax intact.
2
Different types
Pure, protective & matte shampoos.
3
How to dose & use
Use just the right amount and mix correctly.
4
Your choice
We keep it simple and help you choose.
01 | A shampoo just cleanses, right?
A good shampoo is actually not that powerful, if your car is well maintained, a mild ph neutral shampoo is more than powerful enough. Besides, your pre-wash should have already removed most of the dirt. So, what makes a good shampoo?
It is a lubricant on your wash mitt, protecting the paint from residual dirt and sand grains that can cause scratches as you rub them across the paint.
Does not remove protection from your paintwork - it should be just strong enough, but not too strong that it affects your protection.
Easy to rinse off, provided you use the right ratio of shampoo and water (see bottle for details).
02 | The 3 types
Pure shampoos
The most common shampoo, every high-end brand has one on offer.
PH-neutral making it soft - perfect if you have a wax or coating.
Lathers nicely and adds shine.
Great lubrication, making washing safer from scratches.
No extra protection, but this is the perfect preparation for Quick Detailing.
Protective shampoos
Think of it as a shampoo and wax in one - perfect if you are in a hurry, but not as effective as taking the time to do both steps separately.
Adds a temporary wax, sealant or SiO2-type coating.
Quicker to dry after washing.
Less foam - this is normal!
Matte shampoos
This is a specific category of shampoos! No shine enhancers are needed here.Less lather - this is normal!
Your matt paint or wrap requires a slightly different set of products to maintain.
Find everything you need to safely maintain and protect matt finishes in Matte Car Care.
Pro Tip: Use filtered water or rainwater to wash, otherwise you may need more than the recommended amount of shampoo due to impurities in the water. Also check out our Waterfilters.
03 | Here are a few tips
Precise measuring
Read the instructions on the bottle and respect the proportions.
Used too much?
Then it becomes difficult to rinse everything nicely.
It can leave a greasy film.
You are wasting money unnecessarily!
When choosing, always check the concentrations of the shampoos - some are smaller, but you sometimes get a lot more washes out of one small bottle.
Correct mixing
Not unimportant: water first, then shampoo.
Fill your bucket with 10-15 litres of water.
Add the shampoo - use the amount on the bottle as a guide and find what works for you. Use a pump or measuring cup for consistency.
Mix until the shampoo is evenly dispersed in the water. If it foams too much, all the product will be lost in the bubbles!
Foam is for show
If you measured perfectly, but your shampoo doesn't leave a thick, soapy trail - don't worry!
There is actually no technical advantage to foam.
Yes, it very nice to see - and useful to see where you have been, but if your panel works for panel then you know anyway.
Pro Tip: Concentrated shampoos only need a small amount per bucket. You should mix extremely well to make sure it is evenly distributed in the bucket, or use your pressure washer to make sure.
04 | Your choice
Is there any protection on it?
A good rule of thumb: stick to the brand. Do you have a Brand X coating? Then a Brand X shampoo is the safest choice.
Brands usually design their maintenance products to properly maintain and possibly boost their coatings or waxes. With a Pure shampoo, you basically never go wrong.
Not sure what's on your car? Go for a brand you know offers coatings or waxes that you might want to use again in the future.
Do you wash cars every day?
Check your mixing ratio to get the most out of the bottle.
Concentrated pure shampoos are cost-effective for large consumers. The downside is that they contain no fragrances, dyes or aromas, only a high-quality shampoo.
Weekly washing
We do it not just because we have to but because we love doing it and love nice, clean cars. Then it is important to make it a fun washing experience.
Nice aromas, a soft feel on application and even a cool colour make washing all the more fun, whatever type of shampoo you use.
We have personally selected the entire range, so you know they all do their job well. Check the product descriptions for details on flavourings and other specific qualities.
