Thanks to the pressure washer, cleaning becomes easier and spot-free for various surfaces, whether for concrete, wood, car exterior, etc. But given the costly expense of the pressure washer itself, and cleaning products, some might want to save money with a cheap pressure washer soap hack.
So this article will share how to make car wash soap for pressure washers with household items.
Read on for information about DIY soaps for wood, concrete, and general use as bonus tips.
Table of Contents
Ways to Make Car Wash Soap for Pressure Washer
1. Baby Shampoo Solution
If you got a little one at home, then you probably have baby shampoo in the bathroom that you can use to make a homemade pressure washer soap.
As baby shampoo is made with a mild formula that’s gentle for babies, it also makes a gentle DIY car soap that’s safe for cars.
Ingredients:
- Baby shampoo – ¼ cup
- Warm water – one gallon
Make sure to horoughly mix the ingredients to achieve a smooth consistency.
2. Coconut Oil, Liquid Castile Soap, and White Vinegar Solution
This car wash soap substitute can effectively clean your car without harming its paintwork. Coconut oil is actually used to clean the car interior, it also works well on car windows and windscreen.
Meanwhile, castile soap is known for its natural ingredients, allowing you to wash your car with eco-friendly agents.
Ingredients:
- Coconut oil – ¼ cup
- Liquid castile soap – ¼ cup
- White vinegar – ½ cup
- Water – one gallon
Easy steps:
- In a container, thoroughly mix the coconut oil and liquid castile soap.
- Pour in the white vinegar, and thoroughly mix the three ingredients.
- Finally, add in the water slowly, and constantly mix all the ingredients until they’re well combined.
3. Baking Soda, Liquid Dish Soap, and White Vinegar Solution
This solution combines baking soda’s abrasive properties for removing contaminants, liquid dish soap’s foaming ability for lifting contaminants off a car exterior, and white vinegar’s degreasing, disinfecting, and odor-eliminating properties.
Ingredients:
- Baking soda – ¼ cup
- Liquid dish soap – ¼ cup
- White Vinegar – ¼ cup
- Warm water – one gallon
You want the final product to be a well-mixed pasty substance to start cleaning your car.
4. Citrus-Based Dish Soap, White Vinegar, and Baking Soda Solution
This mixture would be a great option for car washing soap recipes if you want a solution to deal with grease on your car parts.
It uses citrus-based dish soap to safely clean off dirt and grime on the paintwork. If you also need to remove stubborn stains, the baking soda will take care of it.
This mixture also works well in degreasing and disinfecting because of the white vinegar—moreover, both the baking soda and white vinegar work together to remove foul odor.
Ingredients:
- Citrus-based dish soap – ½ cup
- White vinegar – ½ cup
- Baking soda – ½ cup
- Water – one gallon
5. Lemon Juice and Liquid Dish Soap Solution
For an even more natural car detergent alternative for washing with a pressure washer, you can use actual lemon juice with liquid dish soap.
Ingredients:
- Lemon juice – ¼ cup
- Liquid dish soap – ¼ cup
- Water – one gallon
6. Borax and Liquid Dish Soap Solution
A very versatile household cleaner, borax is also something you can use instead of car wash soap with a pressure washer. It’s advisable to mix it with liquid dish soap for best results.
Ingredients:
- Borax – ¼ cup
- Dish soap – ¼ cup
- Water – one gallon
How to Make DIY Pressure Washer Soap for Concrete Surfaces?
This DIY solution will work well for oil and grease stains on your driveway. If there are some bad stains on it, it’s advisable to pretreat them with this solution before pressure washing the area for best results.
Ingredients:
- Borax – ½ cup
- Washing soda – ½ cup
- Liquid dish soap – one tablespoon
- Water – one gallon
- Bleach (optional for stubborn non-grease and organic stains) – one quart
Detailed Steps:
- Mix the powdered ingredients thoroughly.
- Let the mixed powdered ingredients sit overnight.
- The following day, add the liquid ingredients. Slowly and thoroughly mix all of them together.
How to Make DIY Pressure Washer Soap for Wood Surfaces?
This is the suitable DIY solution for power washer to clean wood surfaces, especially that it contains bleach. Because mildew is a common problem for wood surfaces, and the bleach can effectively remove it.
Ingredients:
- Powdered laundry detergent – ⅓ cup
- All-purpose household cleaner – ⅔ cup
- Bleach – one quart
- Water – one gallon
How to Make DIY Pressure Washer Soap for General Use?
So take note that you must use a phosphate-free powdered laundry detergent to make this all-purpose pressure washer soap.
Ingredients:
- Phosphate-free powdered laundry detergent – ⅓ cup
- Household cleaner – ⅔ cup
- Vinegar (optional) – one cup
- Water – one gallon
Conclusion
There are different ways how to make car wash soap for pressure washer that you can choose from according to the availability of ingredients in your house. If you lack some of the ingredients, you can just buy them for a cheap price.
By making your pressure washer soap, you can reinforce your pressure washer for better cleaning without having to spend much on a commercial cleaner. And it’s not only for cars but for various surfaces as well.
Read next: How to Clean Your Car With a Pressure Washer
