What is a shampoo

Written by:

Car shampoo is a specially formulated cleaning liquid that is used in combination with a washmitt to clean a car in a safe way. It is recommended to wash a car with a proper car shampoo and the 2 (or 3) bucket method.

Difference between car shampoo and household cleaning liquids

Household cleaning liquids (like all purpose cleaning or dishwashing soap) doesn’t rinse off easily, has a negative effect on wax and similar products, can actually dry out the paint and doesn’t remove all the dirt a car comes into contact with.
Car shampoo has a very different formulation. Combined with water, it creates a slightly slippery liquid that allows for the washmitt to glide over the paint, decreasing the risk that dirt is rubbed over the paintwork. It also allows for much easier rinsing, which decreases the risk of dried up soapy substance.

Wrong terminology

The word ‘shampoo’ actually means a product that is designed for washing hair. Since a car doesn’t have any hair, the term ‘shampoo’ isn’t really correct terminology. However, the word is so common among detailers and valeters, that perhaps the meaning of the word should be adjusted.
A more correct term for this product would be ‘car washing liquid’. Some people have even tried to make the term CWL a popular term, with no luck.
To compromise, most manufacturers call it ‘car shampoo’.

Additives

Shampoo can contain certain additives to achieve a certain result. There are shampoos that contain gloss enhancers, Glaze oils or extra cleaning abilities such as fallout removers. Other shampoos can also contain rinsing agents, anti-watermarks agent or have a certain quick detailer effect. A difference between shampoos can be that one is a bit more slippery, others are thicker, some can be diluted a lot more. Most shampoos are very similar in cleaning abilities, the biggest difference is in how they feel, smell, rinse off, dilute etc.

Snowfoam

Shampoo and snowfoam are not the same products, although some shampoos can be used as snowfoam, they don’t offer the same cleaning properties. Snowfoam is designed to be sprayed on, left to soak and then rinsed off. Shampoo is made to to applied via a washmitt or sponge and then rinsed off.

Different related articles

  • Waxedshine
    Manufacturers
    Waxedshine is an United Kingdom based manufacturer of detailing products. The brand has a wide variety of products on offer via their own webshop. The English company is run by father and son....
  • Valma
    Manufacturers
    Valma is brand that originates from around the 1930's and is still available in several shops. The can be recognized by their logo that hasn't changed much in the last 80+ years....
  • The best lights
    Detailing Miscellaneous
    It is often asked on detailing fora and social media: "what is the best lights". Off course there is a difference between certain products and brands, but it is important to know what you are asking. In this guide I will try to explain what the problem is with this question unless it is asked more in-depth....
  • 3D International LLC
    Manufacturers
    3D is an American based manufacturer of detailing products. Apart from also distributing other brands they offer a private label service. ...
  • What is surface tension
    Detailing Miscellaneous
    Surface tension is the energy a liquid contains that prevents its surface to be deformed by an object with a higher surface tension/energy. The surface energy of water has as a side effect that it can form beads on surfaces with a very low surface energy or high repulsive force....
  • Last Step Product (LSP)
    Detailing Miscellaneous
    A Last Step Product (LSP) is the product that you use in the last step of detailing. This is the "protection" part of detailing. The term is often used by people telling or asking what product was used to protect the achieved finish after a small or large detailing session. As abbreviations are popular, this term quickly become shortened into: LSP....

Links to this article

This article currently has one link

Sidebar