Woah there Nelly, settle down. I wasn't challenging your manhood. In spite of the few posts, I've been around the block a few times, so easy with the NOOB comments.
Just some background. I've been in the professional car-washing business for over 5 years, and have learned a thing or two.
1. Dishsoap is made for dishes. The plastics used in food containers are different from the mouldings and other plastic components on your car. Remember that there are degrees of alkalinity - acid and acidic are the same thing. A citrus cleaner CAN be put on your car - with 7 being neutral, a pH of 6.5 isn't going to hurt your car. It's acidic yes, but you can consume citric acid (in the form of orange juice) while you would NEVER consumer hydroflouric acid. As others have concurred, you can use a citrus to clean the paint. Or, you can get a true CLEANER polish that will revome grease and wax buildup. There are those as well.
2. Sorry I misunderstood the timing of the clean and the paintjob. I'll stand behind my comment, however. New or old, get the right stuff. You'd hate to turn around in a couple of years and find out that play-doh actually dulled the paint. All to save $10/year. Way the pros and cons. It's pretty cut and dried as far as I can see. Maybe they are the same thing, but how would you know?
Originally posted by louisw:
Originally posted by DefZ:
Well - first off. DON'T EVER USE DISH SOAP!!! I'm SHOCKED that the Zaino site said to do that. They should be shunned for that. Dish soap will discolor your plastic moldings - the alkalinity is made for dishes, not paint and plastic. Plus, it gets into the local drinking water, etc...
dawn comes in a clear plastic bottle. seems to be ok. as far as the toxicity, it's not motor oil; it'll be fine. runoff from your sink ends up in the same place.
Your sink water goes to the sewer, where it ends up in water treatment. Storm runoff (the drains in front of your house on the road) goes to either a river, or ocean, or reservoir not too far from you. At least that's how it works here in Taxachusetts. Do some research, you'll see I'm right in most cases.
To GT-Slow Pete: I DO know what I'm talking about, that's why I posted. Your experience may be different, but just because you don't agree doesn't make it so. I will try to dig up some info on this. Give me a little while, though. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. But I'll see what I can find. Can you provide some proof as well (beyond anecdotal) that dishsoap is safe? 
