There’s nothing like the feeling just after you’ve washed your car - that pride of ownership can’t be replicated. The sunlight dances on the paintwork, the rims shine brightly, and you can’t wait for the first drive with your windows down.
But maybe you’ve run out of car shampoo, or you’re just trying to consolidate the cleaning products you keep in your arsenal. We get asked all the time, can you use washing-up liquid to wash a car? The short answer is no, at least, not if you care about your vehicle!
We’ll compare and contrast car shampoo vs washing-up liquid to show you why this is a poor idea. Here’s the sneak peek why you should not use washing-up liquid on your car, though:
- It doesn’t have the right pH for vehicle paint
- There’s an increased risk of scratches and swirl marks
- It can leave residues (especially on glass or dark paint)
- It could dry out rubber seals and dull plastic trim
The truth is, there really is no such thing as a good alternative to car shampoo. It’s designed specifically for cleaning your car effectively and safely at the same time.
So, stock up on the best car shampoo online at Jennychem today and avoid doing more harm than good! We also carry the UK’s premier selection of washing-up liquid. This is your one-stop shop for the finest cleaning chemicals and solutions online.
Overview of Car Shampoo
You’re probably plenty familiar with car shampoo, or car wash soap as it’s often called. It’s a purpose-built cleaning solution formulated specifically for use on vehicle paintwork, trim, glass, and wheels. It effortlessly lifts away dirt, road film, and grime without damaging the vehicle’s protective layers such as wax, sealant, or ceramic coatings.
Most quality car shampoos are pH-neutral, meaning they’re gentle on clear coats and won’t strip existing protection. They also have lubricating agents so your wash mitt glides smoothly across the surface, reducing friction and lowering the risk of swirl marks.
Some formulations, like wash-and-wax shampoos, also leave behind a thin protective layer to boost shine and water beading. This is to say there are quite a few different types of car shampoo, from highly concentrated liquids for use with buckets to high-foaming options for snow foam lances and contactless washing.
This is an essential staple in any detailing regimen, whether you’re washing your own car or you run a valeting operation. The key takeaway from this comparison of car shampoo vs washing-up liquid is that it cannot be replaced by any other cleaning solution.
Overview of Washing-Up Liquid
Washing-up liquid is designed to remove grease, oil, and food residue from dishes, cutlery, and cookware. It’s formulated with strong surfactants and degreasers, such as sodium lauryl sulfate and artificial fragrances.
These ingredients work together to lift and disperse oils so they can be rinsed away easily. The formulation makes quick work of even the most stubborn residue.
This cleaner performs best in warm water and is usually applied with a sponge or cloth. The foaming action and degreasing power are great for a variety of kitchen materials, including stainless steel, ceramics, and plastics. What it’s not safe for, though, is vehicle paint.
Still, washing-up liquid is widely available, affordable, and designed for frequent use. It’s a staple in most UK households. This is why we get asked all the time, can you use washing-up liquid to wash a car?
Can You Use Washing-Up Liquid to Wash a Car, or Vice Versa?
Like we said from the start, the answer is a resounding no. Washing-up liquid is formulated for dishes, not cars - and car shampoo is formulated for vehicles, not cookware. The two aren’t interchangeable, and you shouldn’t confuse them as such.
People often ask this because washing-up liquid is cheap, familiar, and already in the house. But convenience doesn't justify the long-term damage it can cause to your vehicle.
Even if foams up and looks like it's working, what’s going on behind the scenes is sinister. It's stripping protective layers and leaving your paintwork vulnerable to serious and costly damage.
As for using car shampoo on dishes, that’s perhaps even worse than attempting to use washing-up liquid on your vehicle. It won’t cut grease properly, and it’s not food-safe. Even after rinsing, you could end up consuming residual chemicals.
Just because they both fall under the umbrella of “soap” doesn’t mean they can serve the same purpose. Let’s take a closer look at car shampoo vs washing-up liquid below to show you more clearly why they’re so different.
Car Shampoo vs Washing-Up Liquid: Key Differences to Consider
Washing your car safely isn’t just about removing dirt, after all. How you remove it matters.
Just as we showed in our comparison of snow foam vs car shampoo, car shampoo and washing-up liquid are two very different formulations, and this translates to very different outcomes when used on your vehicle. Here’s what you need to know.
pH Balance and Paint Safety
Car shampoo is pH-balanced at right around neutral (7). It cleans without being too acidic or too alkaline, which is important for preserving paintwork, clear coat, wax, and any ceramic coatings. The right formulation removes dirt and road film without impacting the surface protection.
On the other hand, washing-up liquid leans fairly alkaline - which is great for breaking down kitchen grease, not so much for protecting your car’s paint job, though.
Some of these formulations even include trace salts as stabilisers. You might already know about the toll salt can take on your vehicle’s paint and other components. No good!
You risk dulling the paint and breaking down protective layers over time. Using a high-alkaline cleaner on your car consistently can accelerate paint degradation and lead to a faded or chalky finish.
Lubrication and Swirl Prevention
Think about how you use car shampoo - dragging car wash mitts across the surface is safe as long as you have a bit of lubrication there. Otherwise, you could end up pushing little dirt particles into the paintwork and causing microabrasions.
Car shampoo is made with this in mind. It features lubricants that allow your wash mitt to glide across the surface. That lubrication acts like a buffer, helping to lift dirt away without grinding it into the paint.
But washing-up liquid has no lubricants at all. It’s designed to cut through grease on static surfaces like plates, not to glide across sensitive finishes. Using it on your car could lead to swirl marks, especially if you’re not using a proper two-bucket wash method or a high-quality mitt.
Effect on Wax, Sealant, and Coatings
A major benefit of car shampoo is that it’s designed to be wax- and sealant-safe. Most formulas will clean thoroughly while leaving protective layers intact. Some, like our wash-and-wax shampoos, even leave behind a light protective finish to boost gloss and water repellency.
Washing-up liquid does the opposite. It’s a degreaser by design, and what do degreasers do? They strip wax and sealant. This may not seem like a big deal the first time you do it, but it leaves your paint unprotected.
UV exposure, water spots, road salt, and general contamination all become more damaging without that protective barrier. Even just one use of dish soap can undo hours of detailing work.
Rinsing and Residue
Car shampoo is formulated to rinse clean. It foams well but doesn’t cling in unwanted areas, and it won’t leave behind a sticky or streaky film. This is really important on glass specifically, where residues can impair visibility and cause streaking.
In contrast, washing-up liquid is notorious for leaving behind residue. You can sometimes see it on your dishes. Not a problem, you just give them another rinse and you’re good to go!
On your vehicle, though, that film can create dullness on the paint and smearing on the windows. It’s often mistaken as “bad rinsing technique” when the problem is actually the wrong product.
Whether You Need Car Shampoo or Washing-Up Liquid, Jennychem Has the UK’s Best Formulations!
It’s clear you can’t use car shampoo and washing-up liquid interchangeably. They serve two distinct purposes. You need both in your arsenal for their respective uses. We’re here to provide both at Jennychem!
Whether you need thick foaming action, high lubrication, or a gentle pH-balanced wash, we’ve got you covered. Choose our Cherry Bomb, High Foam Shampoo, or our Snow Foam Shampoo for safe, streak-free cleaning every time - all designed to protect paint, wax, and coatings.
And when it comes time to handle the dishes, our Ultraclean Washing Up Liquid line includes 10%, 20%, and 28% strength formulas, all built to cut through grease fast.
The 20% concentration hits the sweet spot for everyday cleaning, while the 28% formula is ideal for heavy-duty jobs. Prefer something milder? The 10% variant is great for sensitive skin or light use.
From driveway to dish rack, Jennychem is your one-stop shop for cleaning chemicals that actually work. We have so many other great professional car cleaning products, too! Shop today and see why we’ve been the UK’s trusted choice since 1985.
Bringing Our Comparison of Car Shampoo vs Washing-Up Liquid to a Close
So, can you use washing-up liquid to wash a car? As we wrap up our comparison of car shampoo vs washing-up liquid, we’ll reiterate once more that this is a horrible idea.
They may look similar in the bottle, but they serve entirely different purposes. One is built to protect your paintwork, the other to strip grease from plates. Using the wrong product in the wrong place isn’t just ineffective - it can cost you in the long run.
Fortunately, you can stock up on either car shampoo OR washing-up liquid here at Jennychem. You can rest assured you’re getting the quality you deserve in both formulations, and you’ll be able to tailor the product to your exact needs.
Whether it’s cars or kitchens, clean like a pro with our specialist solutions. Stick with the right tools for the job, and shop smarter with Jennychem today!
There’s nothing like the feeling just after you’ve washed your car - that pride of ownership can’t be replicated. The sunlight dances on the paintwork, the rims shine brightly, and you can’t wait for the first drive with your windows down.
But maybe you’ve run out of car shampoo, or you’re just trying to consolidate the cleaning products you keep in your arsenal. We get asked all the time, can you use washing-up liquid to wash a car? The short answer is no, at least, not if you care about your vehicle!
We’ll compare and contrast car shampoo vs washing-up liquid to show you why this is a poor idea. Here’s the sneak peek why you should not use washing-up liquid on your car, though:
- It doesn’t have the right pH for vehicle paint
- There’s an increased risk of scratches and swirl marks
- It can leave residues (especially on glass or dark paint)
- It could dry out rubber seals and dull plastic trim
The truth is, there really is no such thing as a good alternative to car shampoo. It’s designed specifically for cleaning your car effectively and safely at the same time.
So, stock up on the best car shampoo online at Jennychem today and avoid doing more harm than good! We also carry the UK’s premier selection of washing-up liquid. This is your one-stop shop for the finest cleaning chemicals and solutions online.
Overview of Car Shampoo
You’re probably plenty familiar with car shampoo, or car wash soap as it’s often called. It’s a purpose-built cleaning solution formulated specifically for use on vehicle paintwork, trim, glass, and wheels. It effortlessly lifts away dirt, road film, and grime without damaging the vehicle’s protective layers such as wax, sealant, or ceramic coatings.
Most quality car shampoos are pH-neutral, meaning they’re gentle on clear coats and won’t strip existing protection. They also have lubricating agents so your wash mitt glides smoothly across the surface, reducing friction and lowering the risk of swirl marks.
Some formulations, like wash-and-wax shampoos, also leave behind a thin protective layer to boost shine and water beading. This is to say there are quite a few different types of car shampoo, from highly concentrated liquids for use with buckets to high-foaming options for snow foam lances and contactless washing.
This is an essential staple in any detailing regimen, whether you’re washing your own car or you run a valeting operation. The key takeaway from this comparison of car shampoo vs washing-up liquid is that it cannot be replaced by any other cleaning solution.
Overview of Washing-Up Liquid
Washing-up liquid is designed to remove grease, oil, and food residue from dishes, cutlery, and cookware. It’s formulated with strong surfactants and degreasers, such as sodium lauryl sulfate and artificial fragrances.
These ingredients work together to lift and disperse oils so they can be rinsed away easily. The formulation makes quick work of even the most stubborn residue.
This cleaner performs best in warm water and is usually applied with a sponge or cloth. The foaming action and degreasing power are great for a variety of kitchen materials, including stainless steel, ceramics, and plastics. What it’s not safe for, though, is vehicle paint.
Still, washing-up liquid is widely available, affordable, and designed for frequent use. It’s a staple in most UK households. This is why we get asked all the time, can you use washing-up liquid to wash a car?
Can You Use Washing-Up Liquid to Wash a Car, or Vice Versa?
Like we said from the start, the answer is a resounding no. Washing-up liquid is formulated for dishes, not cars - and car shampoo is formulated for vehicles, not cookware. The two aren’t interchangeable, and you shouldn’t confuse them as such.
People often ask this because washing-up liquid is cheap, familiar, and already in the house. But convenience doesn't justify the long-term damage it can cause to your vehicle.
Even if foams up and looks like it's working, what’s going on behind the scenes is sinister. It's stripping protective layers and leaving your paintwork vulnerable to serious and costly damage.
As for using car shampoo on dishes, that’s perhaps even worse than attempting to use washing-up liquid on your vehicle. It won’t cut grease properly, and it’s not food-safe. Even after rinsing, you could end up consuming residual chemicals.
Just because they both fall under the umbrella of “soap” doesn’t mean they can serve the same purpose. Let’s take a closer look at car shampoo vs washing-up liquid below to show you more clearly why they’re so different.
Car Shampoo vs Washing-Up Liquid: Key Differences to Consider
Washing your car safely isn’t just about removing dirt, after all. How you remove it matters.
Just as we showed in our comparison of snow foam vs car shampoo, car shampoo and washing-up liquid are two very different formulations, and this translates to very different outcomes when used on your vehicle. Here’s what you need to know.
pH Balance and Paint Safety
Car shampoo is pH-balanced at right around neutral (7). It cleans without being too acidic or too alkaline, which is important for preserving paintwork, clear coat, wax, and any ceramic coatings. The right formulation removes dirt and road film without impacting the surface protection.
On the other hand, washing-up liquid leans fairly alkaline - which is great for breaking down kitchen grease, not so much for protecting your car’s paint job, though.
Some of these formulations even include trace salts as stabilisers. You might already know about the toll salt can take on your vehicle’s paint and other components. No good!
You risk dulling the paint and breaking down protective layers over time. Using a high-alkaline cleaner on your car consistently can accelerate paint degradation and lead to a faded or chalky finish.
Lubrication and Swirl Prevention
Think about how you use car shampoo - dragging car wash mitts across the surface is safe as long as you have a bit of lubrication there. Otherwise, you could end up pushing little dirt particles into the paintwork and causing microabrasions.
Car shampoo is made with this in mind. It features lubricants that allow your wash mitt to glide across the surface. That lubrication acts like a buffer, helping to lift dirt away without grinding it into the paint.
But washing-up liquid has no lubricants at all. It’s designed to cut through grease on static surfaces like plates, not to glide across sensitive finishes. Using it on your car could lead to swirl marks, especially if you’re not using a proper two-bucket wash method or a high-quality mitt.
Effect on Wax, Sealant, and Coatings
A major benefit of car shampoo is that it’s designed to be wax- and sealant-safe. Most formulas will clean thoroughly while leaving protective layers intact. Some, like our wash-and-wax shampoos, even leave behind a light protective finish to boost gloss and water repellency.
Washing-up liquid does the opposite. It’s a degreaser by design, and what do degreasers do? They strip wax and sealant. This may not seem like a big deal the first time you do it, but it leaves your paint unprotected.
UV exposure, water spots, road salt, and general contamination all become more damaging without that protective barrier. Even just one use of dish soap can undo hours of detailing work.
Rinsing and Residue
Car shampoo is formulated to rinse clean. It foams well but doesn’t cling in unwanted areas, and it won’t leave behind a sticky or streaky film. This is really important on glass specifically, where residues can impair visibility and cause streaking.
In contrast, washing-up liquid is notorious for leaving behind residue. You can sometimes see it on your dishes. Not a problem, you just give them another rinse and you’re good to go!
On your vehicle, though, that film can create dullness on the paint and smearing on the windows. It’s often mistaken as “bad rinsing technique” when the problem is actually the wrong product.
Whether You Need Car Shampoo or Washing-Up Liquid, Jennychem Has the UK’s Best Formulations!
It’s clear you can’t use car shampoo and washing-up liquid interchangeably. They serve two distinct purposes. You need both in your arsenal for their respective uses. We’re here to provide both at Jennychem!
Whether you need thick foaming action, high lubrication, or a gentle pH-balanced wash, we’ve got you covered. Choose our Cherry Bomb, High Foam Shampoo, or our Snow Foam Shampoo for safe, streak-free cleaning every time - all designed to protect paint, wax, and coatings.
And when it comes time to handle the dishes, our Ultraclean Washing Up Liquid line includes 10%, 20%, and 28% strength formulas, all built to cut through grease fast.
The 20% concentration hits the sweet spot for everyday cleaning, while the 28% formula is ideal for heavy-duty jobs. Prefer something milder? The 10% variant is great for sensitive skin or light use.
From driveway to dish rack, Jennychem is your one-stop shop for cleaning chemicals that actually work. We have so many other great professional car cleaning products, too! Shop today and see why we’ve been the UK’s trusted choice since 1985.
Bringing Our Comparison of Car Shampoo vs Washing-Up Liquid to a Close
So, can you use washing-up liquid to wash a car? As we wrap up our comparison of car shampoo vs washing-up liquid, we’ll reiterate once more that this is a horrible idea.
They may look similar in the bottle, but they serve entirely different purposes. One is built to protect your paintwork, the other to strip grease from plates. Using the wrong product in the wrong place isn’t just ineffective - it can cost you in the long run.
Fortunately, you can stock up on either car shampoo OR washing-up liquid here at Jennychem. You can rest assured you’re getting the quality you deserve in both formulations, and you’ll be able to tailor the product to your exact needs.
Whether it’s cars or kitchens, clean like a pro with our specialist solutions. Stick with the right tools for the job, and shop smarter with Jennychem today!