By Haroun Adamu
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It’s no secret that black cars are magnets for dirt and dust. This makes your car look unsightly, but it can also damage the paint job over time.
That’s why it’s important to use good quality car wash soap when you’re cleaning your vehicle. This blog post will cover six of the best car wash soaps for black cars on the market today.
If your car isn’t black, check out our general guide on the best car wash soaps.
Choosing the Right Car Wash Soap for Your Black Car
When choosing the best car wash soap for black cars, there are a few factors you need to consider. Here are the most important ones:
The Type of Dirt Your Car Is Exposed to Regularly
If you live in a dry, dusty area or frequently drive on unpaved roads, you’ll need to choose a car wash soap designed for those conditions. Most options will easily clean your vehicle. However, if you mostly drive paved roads and want to spend the least time washing your car, a waterless option will do just fine.
How the Car Wash Soap Affects Your Paint Job
This is probably the most important factor to consider when choosing a car wash shampoo for black cars. You want to make sure that the product you choose will not strip away your car’s protective wax coating or damage the paint surface in any way.
Many car wash soaps on the market today are designed not to damage your paint job, but some still can. All the options on our list are safe on car wax and will not scratch your paint. In fact, our best pick will leave a glossy shine on your car, while our waxy pick will keep your wax intact for longer.
The Method of Applying the Car Wash Soap
This might not seem like an important factor, but it can be. If you plan on using a wash bucket and microfiber towel, then any car wash shampoo will do. However, if you’re planning on using a foam cannon or pressure washer, you’ll need to choose a car wash solution designed to produce a lot of foam.
Price of the Car Wash Soap
Of course, you’ll also want to consider the price of the car wash soap when making your decision. Most options on the market are reasonably priced, but some, such as our affordable pick, go above and beyond to give you more for less.
Now that we’ve gone over what you need to consider when choosing the best car wash soap for black cars, let’s look at our top picks.
Best Car Wash Soap for Black Cars Overall: Chemical Guys Black Light
If you’re looking for the best car wash soap for black cars, look no further than Chemical Guys Black Light. This powerful car soap is designed specifically for cleaning and enhancing black and dark-colored vehicles and is our pick for the best black car wash soap overall.
It’s tough enough to take on dirt and grime but gentle enough to protect your paint surface. Plus, it leaves a brilliant shine that will make your car look its best. What’s not to love about this soap? It’s one of the most popular choices among car owners for a reason. So give it a try and see for yourself!
It is designed specifically for cleaning and enhancing black and dark-colored vehicles. It's tough on dirt but gentle on your paint surface.
- Premium formula for black and dark-colored cars
- Excellent shine
- None
Best Car Wash and Wax Soap for Black Cars: Meguiar’s Ultimate Wash & Wax
Meguiar’s Ultimate Wash & Wax is our pick for the best car wash soap for black cars with waxing ability. This wash and wax product does both jobs of washing and waxing quite well and will leave a deep, glossy shine on your vehicle.
Of course, it won’t offer you the same level of protection as an actual coat of wax, but it’s not bad by any means.
To get the best out of Meguiar’s Ultimate Wash & Wax, use it between your standard car waxes to stay longer between each episode without the level of glossiness of your black car taking a hit.
It’s a great choice for anyone looking for an all-in-one solution. Plus, it’s affordable and easy to use.
It does both jobs of washing and waxing quite well, leaving a deep, glossy shine on your vehicle.
- Increases existing wax duration
- Leaves a deep shine
- None
Best Car Wash Soap for Black Cars To Use With Power Washers: Adam’s Car Wash Shampoo
If you’re looking for a good car wash soap for your black car that can be used with a power washer, Adam’s Car Wash Shampoo is a great choice. Look past the company’s generic name, and you’ll find that this car wash soap foams up well and removes dirt and grime easily, leaving your car clean and shiny.
It’s a good all-rounder, too, and will leave you satisfied whether it’s used as a simple hand wash, with a foam gun, or foam cannon.
It foams up well and will leave you satisfied whether used as a simple hand wash or with a foam gun or cannon.
- Foamy enough for use with pressure washers
- Great all-round solution
- None
Best Car Wash Soap for Black Cars To Use With a Foam Cannon: Chemical Guys Extreme Maxi Suds II
Chemical Guys Extreme Maxi Suds II is not so different from Adam’s car wash shampoo or even Chemical Guys Mr. Pink Super Suds from the same manufacturer.
However, it’s a bit foamier than the other two, making it our choice for the best car wash soap for black cars when using a foam gun, which generally produces less lather than a pressure washer.
It creates mountains of suds, and it’s gentle enough not to strip away wax or damage your paint job. Even if you use it for a good ol’ bucket wash, you’ll still get an outrageous amount of foam.
It creates mountains of suds, making it excellent for foam guns, which generally produce less lather than pressure washers.
- Suitable for use with pressure washers and foam guns
- Very foamy even for bucket washing
- Wash is not very slick
Best Affordable Car Wash Soap for Black Cars: Rain-X Foaming Car Wash
Rain-X Foaming Car Wash is a great choice for anyone looking for an affordable black car wash soap that works well.
It’s not as powerful as other car wash soaps on this list, but it gets the job done and is gentle on your paint job. Plus, it’s easy to use and affordable enough to buy in bulk.
It also produces a reasonable amount of foam, considering the price. And it will not strip or dull your car wax.
It's not as powerful as some of the other car wash soaps on this list, but it gets the job done and is affordable.
- Very affordable
- Nails the basics
- Not the best for a glossy effect
Best No-Rinse Car Wash Soap for Black Cars: Optimum No Rinse Wash & Shine
Optimum No Rinse Wash & Shine is a great choice for those looking for an environmentally friendly and waterless car wash soap. You only need a rinse bucket, 1-2 gallons of water, and some microfiber towels — no rinsing required. And the result is as good as some of the other options on this list.
Like any other similar eco-friendly soap, Optimum No Rinse Wash & Shine is not ideal for filthy vehicles with caked-on mud or big messes. Instead, it removes minor impurities like dust, grime, and droppings.
It's environment-friendly, requiring only a rinse bucket, 1-2 gallons of water, and some microfiber towels.
- Requires very little water to use
- Great results when used correctly
- Not suitable for a filthy car
Car Wash Soaps and Car Washing Tips
1. Put the Dish Soap Away
When it comes to car washing, never use dish soap. Your car paint is delicate, and harsh chemicals are bad for it. Dish soap is designed to remove grease and oils from dishes and will strip away the wax and protective coatings on your car. This can lead to premature paint oxidation and dullness.
2. Use Two Buckets
When washing your car, it’s important to use two buckets — one for the car wash soap and water mixture and one for rinsing. Use the latter to rinse your sponge or wash mitt after every pass. This will prevent you from re-depositing any dirt they pick up on your car and accidentally scratching your paint.
3. Pre-Rinse the Car
Start by rinsing your car with a hose to remove any big pieces of dirt or debris. This will make the washing process easier and prevent you from scratching your paint.
4. Wash Under the Shade
Wash your car in the shade to prevent the car wash soap from drying on your paint. If you have to wash in direct sunlight, be sure to work quickly. When done, passing over the car with a microfiber towel can help clear up any unwanted water spots left on the car’s surface.
5. Wash Your Car Regularly
It’s best to wash your car at least once a week. This will prevent dirt and grime from building up and making the washing process more difficult. Plus, it’ll help keep your car looking its best.
Get Foamy and Start Washing
All the soaps on this list will do an excellent job cleaning your black car and preserving your paint. But some work better than others, depending on your specific needs. So we recommend trying out a few of them to see which one you like best. Once you’ve gotten your wash soap, here’s how to wash your black car like a pro.
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