"Soap" vs "Detergent"?

[aeronca65t]

I just ordered some 303 Protectant for the vinyl top on my Miata.
The product suggests that I first wash the top with "soap" and not "detergent"
There's a difference? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[aerog]

They mean don't use something like dishwashing detergent (except in rare cases you shouldn't use it on the car anyway)- they're harsh on vinyls/fabrics, and strip wax.

Use a non-detergent based auto wash, or other products designed to be used on your car.

If you have dirt build-up in the "grain" on the vinyl mix up some car wash in a spray bottle, soak the area, and rub lightly with a "magic eraser" - works like a charm (on interiors too).

 

[ChrisS]

Nial,
Soaps are the salt of animal fat (tallow) and / or vegetable (i.e. coconut) oils / fatty acids. Soap would be considered a natural surfactant. Detergents are the synthetic version of soap and are often petroleum derived. Technically soap is a detergent but this is the difference they were talking about.

You can often read the ingredients or find the MSDS and tell if it is synthetic or not. A popular liquid car wash concentrate lists Sodium Alkyl Aryl Sulfonate and Sodium Olefin Sulfonate as ingredients which would make it a detergent / synthetic. If the ingredients have "petroleum distillate" or "naphtha" then it would be synthetic as well. Also assume that if it is a granule it is synthetic.

 

[steve99]

Sorry, I cant be of much more help regarding soap vs. detergent, but if you have not used 303 before, you'll like it. works great on just about everything, I use it most on my kevlar canoe to prevent fading.

Steve

 

[aerog]

Going back and reading my 303 brochures, I'm surprised they even mentioned using soap and not just their cleaners.

Here's a tutorial on cleaning tops by the way: https://autopia.org/forum/guide-detailing/80227-convertible-top-care.html

 

[Keoke]

Aerog's post is spot on and is also supported by the reference he provided. "Car Wash" is for cars, Detergent is for the laundry and dishes.---Fwiw--Keoke

 

[aeronca65t]

Wow!
Thanks to all for the great info! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

 

[DART]

Good resource, thanks for the link.