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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

WIBU to wash my car with washing up liquid?

56 replies

TheLostWinchesterWife · 12/04/2014 13:29

It's quite sunny and I need something to do outside. DD has chicken pox so she can't go out (she looks like a very sore piece of bubble wrap! ) but I could keep the front door open and wash the car while she snooze in the living room. But I don't have car wash shampoo. Do you think Fairy Liquid would be ok or will I wreck the Mummy Mobile?

OP posts:
TarkaTheOtter · 12/04/2014 13:31

I used very dilute baby shampoo recently with no ill effects if you have that.

ZenGardener · 12/04/2014 13:31

Don't do it!!

I have no idea why but my gut says no!

SugarMiceInTheRain · 12/04/2014 13:31

I have used washing up liquid to clean the car, with no problems.

SirChenjin · 12/04/2014 13:33

I have only ever used a dilute washing up liquid solution (20-odd years of car ownership) - with no ill effects whatsoever! It will be fine Smile

thenightsky · 12/04/2014 13:33

I always use washing up liquid. It seems to shift the grease better than car shampoo, which always seems to leave the windows streaky and greasy.

TheLostWinchesterWife · 12/04/2014 13:36

Right...Oooh I have baby shampoo. I'm off to scrub the Kid cab Grin

OP posts:
fluffyraggies · 12/04/2014 13:36

If you've got a car with good paint work, or a decent layer of wax, dont use w.u.l unless you're going to re-wax ... it strips it completely. Opens any fine scratches or damage up to rust. According to DH.

TheLostWinchesterWife · 12/04/2014 13:39

Oh god do i need to wax it? Can't i just give it the once over and leave it. Maybe I'll risk taking DD to the car wash Confused

OP posts:
CadleCrap · 12/04/2014 13:40

Only as long as it is Fairy Wink

Car shampoo is over rated and over priced.

I use washing up liquid for most things, the specialist stuff is just a ploy.

Hope DD gets better soon.

TarkaTheOtter · 12/04/2014 13:40

Can't you take dd so long as she doesn't get out of the car?

RevoltingPeasant · 12/04/2014 13:40

Fluffy really? I have never used anything other than Fairy liquid and have no rust whatsoever on my 13yo car Confused

Personally I think car shampoo is a com but then I am a bit tight Grin

RevoltingPeasant · 12/04/2014 13:40

con

CadleCrap · 12/04/2014 13:44

Sorry Op but do you think the searing acidity of your baby's shampoo is likely to damage your car? If so, why the fuck are you using it on your baby's head.

Just rinse the car, but the worst that will happen is streaky bits ignoring acid burns to baby's head

Mind boggles.

fluffyraggies · 12/04/2014 13:44

revolting - i'm just repeating what DH has told me Grin Personally - ''i know naaarthing''.

I used it on my old granada for years. Before DH. i started to use it on BMW and he was Shock and waxed it for me.

BackforGood · 12/04/2014 13:48

I don't wash my car that often, but in 30+ years of driving, whenever I have washed cars, I've only ever used w.u.l.

CadleCrap · 12/04/2014 13:51

If w.u.l. is that harmful to cars, why have our plates never disintegrated?

TheLostWinchesterWife · 12/04/2014 13:58

cradlecap I asked if I was ok to use washing up liquid. I hadn't thought of baby shampoo until someone else suggested it and i found it a great suggestion because obviously it would be mild. Chill dear Brew

OP posts:
Housemum · 12/04/2014 14:00

It's something to do with salt levels in washing up liquid (and I don't think the OP ever said anything against baby shampoo, think she was asking about washing up liquid only?). The salt is in washing up liquid to cut through grease, but isn't good for car paintwork. In theory.

AWimbaWay · 12/04/2014 14:01

I've always used washing up liquid, never been a problem in the 23 years I've been driving. (I thought it was what everyone used)

ZenGardener · 12/04/2014 14:07

If you google "Can I wash my car with washing up liquid" you will see that Flyffy's DH is right. It's way to harsh for car paintwork.

mousmous · 12/04/2014 14:09

take itto the (supermarket) valet?

Pasithea · 12/04/2014 14:13

Shit so when the grandchildren come should I be washing them in car shampoo

CadleCrap · 12/04/2014 14:33

OP Thanks for the Brew, I never thought for one minute you would harm your DD.

I am chilled Grin

ICanSeeTheSun · 12/04/2014 15:56

I once washed DH car with WUL he went mad, he waxed it for years and I managed to strip every layer in the few weeks we was into the relationship.

Shampoo sounds like a good alternative,when we run out of the 5 litres of car wash.

TheLostWinchesterWife · 12/04/2014 16:35

I have been told by DH he will take it to the car wash Monday I am not to touch it. So I know how to get out of washing it in future Grin

OP posts:
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