Lies, damn lies and folklore: common myths about car care unmasked
Some drivers have the best intentions when it comes to car care. Unfortunately, commonly-used products and techniques passed down in legend from family or friends undo all their hard work down the road. Take note of these common misconceptions and erase them from your routine—your car will thank you.
Do not use dishwashing soap for giving your vehicle a bath! Sure, it'll get the grime off your vehicle much the way it strips grease out of your pans, but dish soap is much more counterproductive than helpful. The strong grease-cutting detergents included in dish soap also strip waxes and protective coatings off your finish, leaving paint bare and defenseless. Your paint is now wide-open for UV damage, swirl marks from drying and many other assailants. Laundry soap is an equally awful car wash solution.
Refrain from using either of these household soaps unless specifically directed by a pro in the know. Instead, stick with car wash soap. It's specially formulated to ditch the dirt without stripping your protective waxes and coatings.
These commonly-used drying cloths are the leading cause of swirl marks in your paint. They may feel soft, but these old rags can cause tiny scratches wherever they are used because of their abrasive surfaces. Plus, they're most prone to collecting dirt particles and tiny rocks throughout their life that will magnify tiny abrasions into full-blown scratches.
Only use towels specifically designed for finish care, including 100% cotton terry towels, microfiber cloths and synthetic chamois. These towels have been tested time and again to pamper your finish like royalty. The same can't be said for your old cloth diapers.
Using the same product for your tires as your dash can be the kiss of death for your interior. Tire shine products are full of oils that penetrate your dashboard and then expand under hot temperatures. As the shine product expands, it forces a rift in the surface of your dash which is generally irreparable.
Stick with interior-specific cleaners and shine products to prevent this damage. Or, simply keep the dust off with an interior duster or vacuum brush attachment. That way, you can avoid the blotchy oil slick, overpowering smell and possible cracking caused by using the wrong product.
If you've browsed the wax aisle recently or just bought a new car, chances are you heard about Teflon paint protection. While these waxes and expensive dealer treatments may contain some trace amounts of the magic no-stick substance, their use of Teflon is flat irrelevant.
To get the wondrous protection enjoyed by omelet chefs and Mafioso bosses, a true Teflon coating has to be heated to a searing 600°F. Any guesses what such extreme temps would do to your paint?
While you may see some Teflon-like effects with these waxes and treatments, they aren't a true Teflon coating. You do still have to care for your paint as normal, you will have to wax your car again, and the "Teflon" wax layer is still susceptible to the damage that all auto paint combats daily.