Been detailing cars professionally for a while now, and I see the same mistake constantly when people wash their own cars at home: using dish soap or hand soap instead of an actual pH-neutral car wash soap.

Here's why it matters — dish soap is designed to strip grease and wax. On your car, it strips the wax/sealant protecting your clear coat, dries out rubber trim and seals, and leaves your paint more vulnerable to swirl marks and UV damage. Do it enough times and you'll notice your paint looking duller and your trim turning gray/chalky faster than it should.

Quick tips if you're washing at home between professional details:

• Use a dedicated car wash soap (pH-neutral) — a $10 bottle lasts months.

• Two-bucket method: one bucket with soap, one with plain water to rinse your mitt before reloading soap. Cuts down on swirl-inducing grit.

• Microfiber wash mitt > sponge. Sponges trap dirt against the paint.

• Dry with a microfiber towel or blower, don't let it air dry (water spots from minerals in tap water).

• Wax/sealant every 2-3 months minimum if you're not getting it done professionally.

Happy to answer any car care questions in the comments — daily driver or weekend car, doesn't matter.