How To Make Car Wash Soap For Pressure Washer

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Pressure washers are good for cleaning any surface, and if you have a car that uses a pressure washer, you can clean it like new. There are different varieties of pressure washers, and if you want the best cleaning results, then it is better to use detergents or soap with a pressure washer. Many soaps and detergents are available in the market that you can use with your pressure washer. 

Pressure washer detergents are very expensive compared to regular detergents and have limited use. Using a regular detergent in a pressure washer is not recommended; you should also avoid using a detergent for one surface on any other surface. If you regularly clean your car with car wash soap or have your car wash, it will be a good idea to prepare your car wash soap from regular items, saving you a lot of money.

This article will discuss how to make car wash soap for pressure washers from regular and daily use items. So let’s get started.

Why Can You Not Use Regular Detergent In Pressure Washer?

You should avoid experimenting with your pressure washer, and using regular soap or detergent in the pressure washer is a big NO. Some pressure washers have a mechanism in which the detergent is mixed with water in the pump, while some pressure washers have foam cannons to mix the detergent. Using regular household soap or detergent can cause the internal pipelines to choke because these detergents are very dense. Moreover, they might cause corrosion and damage to the pump if not removed properly. These detergents and soaps are not designed for high-pressure use and can cause irreparable damage to your pressure washer.

How To Make Car Wash Soap For Pressure Washer

Different types of car wash soap are available in the market, but if you want them for regular use, choosing them might be an expensive option. Thanks to DIY pressure washer users worldwide, you can make your pressure washer soap to wash cars and other similar surfaces from household items. These are some of the common recipes for making car wash soap:

Dishwasher Soap For Car

For this recipe, you will need a reputable brand’s dishwashing liquid, borax, a gallon of lukewarm water, and a cup of vehicle cleaning solution. 

First, fill the bucket with one gallon of lukewarm water. The purpose of using lukewarm water is for better solubility. If you do not have lukewarm water, you can use regular cold water. You will need to add 14 cups of dishwasher liquid to the water and stir it properly. Now add 1 tablespoon of borax to the solution. Make sure to stir it properly so that it gets consistent. Add a cup of vehicle cleaner to the solution, and your car wash soap for the pressure washer is ready for use.

You can keep the remaining soap in the refrigerator in an air-tight bottle for later use. Please do not leave the soap in heat or direct sunlight as it can affect the cleaning efficiency.

Laundry Detergent Solution

You can also use laundry detergent to make the car wash soap for the pressure washer. You will need 12 tablespoons of laundry detergent and a gallon of water.

First, heat the water until it starts to create bubbles. You do not need to boil it completely; some bubbles would be enough. Now gradually add laundry detergent to the water and mix it properly. Please do not put all the detergent in one go. Otherwise, it might create suds. Keep mixing the solution and adding the laundry detergent until it gets uniform consistency. You can filter out any suds using a piece of cloth. Make sure you check the solution properly and remove any solid particles. Otherwise, it can cause problems in the pressure washer. 

The solution is powerful, so use only a little amount. Using a sponge to clean the windows or headlights with the solution, you can avoid using a pressure washer.

Vinegar

Vinegar has been used for a long time for cleaning purposes, and it is an organic and environment-friendly cleaning agent that you can use to clean almost everything. You can also make a pressure washer usable car wash cleaner with vinegar, and you will need distilled white vinegar, water, and some vehicle cleaner soap.

First, add one-third cup of vinegar to one-gallon water. It is unnecessary to use warm water, and you can water at any temperature you like. If you think your car needs extra time for cleaning as it is very dirty, then you can add 5 to 10 cups of vehicle cleaner to the solution for better cleaning. 

Things To Consider When Preparing Homemade Car Wash Soap

If you are making a car wash soap, then these are things that you should consider:

  • Do not use any harsh chemicals in your solution. Using bleach or acid-based solution can not damage the surfaces but also cause tremendous harm to pumps and pipes of pressure washers.
  • Make sure to filter the cleaning solution if it has any solid particles before putting it in the pressure washer; otherwise, it can cause severe damage.
  • Make sure to clean the surface with a fine cloth before pressure washing. The particle on the surface can fly due to high water pressure and can cause damage.
  • Use the detergent or soap on a small area and see the results before applying it completely to the car.

Conclusion

Pressure washer detergents are more costly than conventional detergents and have a restricted application. You may produce pressure washer soap from ordinary materials to clean vehicles and other comparable surfaces. To manufacture dishwasher soap for a pressure washer, combine dishwashing liquid, borax, a gallon of lukewarm water, and a cup of car cleaning solution. You may also produce car wash soap for the pressure washer with laundry detergent. A gallon of water and 12 teaspoons of washing detergent are required. You may also use vinegar to produce a pressure washer-safe car wash cleaner. Avoid using strong ingredients in your solution when using a new detergent, and test a tiny area first.

Jose Kelly
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