Shampoo
guide
This IS your wash, know your stuff!
Sure, you can fill a bucket with washing-up liquid. It'll strip off all the dirt, grit, grease, your wax, your coating... wait, what? That's why you need a dedicated car shampoo, with just the right chemical balance and cleaning power.
1 It just cleans stuff, right?
Easy there, the grit's already gone.
A good shampoo isn't actually that powerful, if your car's well-maintained it will easily do its job. Also, your pre-wash should have removed most of the grit and dirt already. So, what makes a good shampoo?
Lubricates your wash mitt, saving your paint from any left over grit that can scratch the surface as you wipe.
Doesn't remove protection from your paintwork - it should be just strong enough, but not too strong.
Easy to rinse off provided you used the right ratio of shampoo to water (see bottle for details).
2 Choices, choices
All completely safe for your paint.
Pure shampoos
Our most common recommendation.
PH-neutral making it gentle - perfect if you have a wax or coating.
Gloss-enhancing.
Great lubrication, making washing safer from scratches.
No protection offered, but it makes Quick Detailing easy & efficient to apply.
Protecting shampoos
Like a shampoo and quick detailer or wax in one - perfect if you're 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.
Faster to dry after washing.
Less lather - this is normal!
Matte shampoos
There's a category just for you! No gloss-enhancers needed here.
Your matte paintwork or wrap requires a slightly different bundle of products.
Find everything you need to safely maintain and protect matte finishes in Matte Car Care.
Pro Tip: Use filtered water or rain water to wash, otherwise you may need more than the recommended amount of shampoo due to impurities in the water. Check out our Water Filters.
3 Here are a few pointers
To solve some common mistakes.
Measuring
Read the bottle and respect the ratios.
Used too much?
It will be hard to fully rinse off.
It could leave a greasy film behind.
You're throwing away money!
When choosing, check for highly-concentrated shampoos - they're smaller but you get way more washes out of one small bottle.
Mixing
We'll say it loudly for the people in the back: first water, then shampoo.
Fill your bucket with 10-15 litres of water.
Add your shampoo - use the the amount on the bottle as a guideline and find what works for you. Try using a pump for consistency.
Mix until the shampoo is evenly diffused in the water. If you lather-up too much all your product will be lost in the bubbles!
Suds are overrated
If you measured-out perfectly but your shampoo isn't leaving a thick, soapy trail behind - don't worry!
There's actually no technical benefit.
Yes, it can be satisfying to see - and handy to see where you've been, but if you're working panel-by-panel then you'll know anyway.
Pro Tip: Concentrated shampoos only need a tiny amount per bucket. You need to mix extremely well to be sure it's evenly diffused in the bucket, or use your pressure washer to be sure.
4 Choosing the one for you
Which type of washer are you?
Got protection?
As a good rule of thumb: stand with your brand. Got a Brand X coating? Then a Brand X shampoo will be your safest choice.
Brands usually design their maintenance products to boost their own coatings or waxes.
Not sure what's on your car? Go for a brand that you know offers coatings or waxes, that you might want to use again in the future.
Washing everyday?
Check those dilution ratios to get the most out of the bottle.
Concentrated pure shampoos are cost-efficient for mass-use with no heavy smells, colourants or aromas, just high-quality shampoo.
With a product like Gyeon Bathe Essence, there's nothing in the bottle that's not meant for cleaning your car, with a little pump to make measuring quick & easy.
Weekly washer
You're in it for the love of the game - the wash experience.
Nice aromas, a smooth feel to application and even a cool colour make washing all the more fun, whichever type you use.
We hand-selected the whole range, so you know they all do their job well. Check product descriptions for details on aroma and other specific qualities.
