Carwash Shampoo: How it is different from other shampoos?

May 27, 2023

When I acquired my first automotive in the month of June 27^th, a second-hand Premio sold to me by the then founder of Dodi Autotech (I can’t remember the names well, but he had just retired from a senior Position from one of the big banks), but my broker was a village mate, a Mr. Muchena (RIP). The latter, lived a very lavish lifestyle and we could occasionally go to pick vehicles he sold (he used to drive them with a size A4 banner at the rare wind breaker screen written “For Sale”). One thing I noticed about the choice of his carwash garages is that they were very costly and extremely busy. The second thing that attracted my attention was an accessory of products in stylish small bottles with black labels with Arabic writings in yellow. Among the items was what I noted was a shampoo in a 1L bottle, equally branded expensively. When it came to my turn to take my new car for cleaning, somewhere in Komarocks Estate, they didn’t have those queer accessories. Few years later I found myself in Lavington neighbourhood carwash booths and by contrast, their charges were slightly higher compared to those of Eastland then. On enquiry in a bid to bargain, one very honest attendant disclosed to me that the carwash shampoo they use is equally expensive, besides waxing the dashboard and deodorizing the carpets.

Car Detailing Industry

Just like the developed countries, the car detailing industry in Kenya has a notable growth, as is witnessed with the mushrooming car wash ‘garages’ in every estate of our major cities as well as rural Towns in Kenya in the past Ten Years. As at now, there are no very accurate figures available to enlighten us more about the precise number of car detailing booths across Kenya.

However, quoting a respectable international research organisation, Transparency Market Research, “the industry’s global growth estimates puts the global car detailing market growth and development projection at a CAGR of 9.6% from 2022 to 2031, with a market size worth $ 3.35 Billion”, it is safe to conclude that it is an industry worthy not ignoring, especially here in Kenya where, according to a local daily “The Star”, the number of newly imported cars in 2020 was 107,499.

Carwash Shampoos

Before any form of car detailing is carried out, a car shampoo is routinely used to remove dirt, stains grime in preparation for car detailing. But what many refer to as “car shampoo” is just, the ordinary liquid (multi-purpose) detergent that akina mama concoct at home and sell in 5 Litre jerry cans at throwaway price. Needless to say, “jua kali” car wash shampoo exposes motor vehicle paint finishing to degradation which manifests as gradual loss of gloss, lustre, fading metallic or pearl shine in most expensive cars. What many car wash garage attendants will not tell car owners is that the inexpensive shampoo they use to clean their motors vehicle will cause them to repaint (an expensive undertaking) their cars when they want to sell it off or make their machines look old though the Plate Numbers are recent. Also, shampoos with high phosphate levels that have a direct impact on clear coat

So, what is the best carwash Shampoo? How is it made?  

A good carwash shampoo is much different, in formulation, from the ordinary liquid detergents. Where the traditional multipurpose detergents may be formulated with a pH of 9, and at times even 13, modern, standard carwash shampoos have a neutral pH which will keep the natural wax applied on the PVC parts intact. It will also allow the synthetic sealants on the motor vehicle to last longer.

A good, professional carwash shampoo must also contain a lubricant, notably a silicone. This lubricates the paint work, cover the wax with a thin protective layer to preserve the buffing lustre appearance of a car  

High quality carwash is also high in suds, envisaged by good foam generation, which helps to encapsulate the dirt particles and mechanically dislodge them off the body surface.

But, wait. Not all carwash shampoos will have all the above properties combined in one formulation. Actually, carwash shampoos are made or categorised according to where they are being applied in the cleaning routine. For example, some imported carwash shampoos have a Volatile Organic Component (VOC), whose task is to remove residual waxes on protective coatings containing greasy compounds such as glazes, sealants. Now, this helps us understand that there are two major classes of Carwash Shampoo: Prewash Snow Foam Shampoos, Alkaline Shampoos and Solvent Based Neutral Shampoos.

A good manufacturer needs to understand the nitty gritty details of these shampoos and their rightful applications and the deal is done.

Car owners, especially the personal (private) types, are so attached to their pricy machines and most of them, especially women, would spend any amount of money when it comes to grooming them. It is a place where they spend hours on traffic jams, a place where relatives and friends aboard while hiking a lift, and so on. Owners of SUVs, fuel guzzlers and more fashionable cars would spare nothing when it comes to appearance of their pricy possessions.

After all, if they can afford to fuel them daily to and from work, why not give them a special weekly treat?  

Profitability of Carwash Shampoo

A quick search online reveals that professional carwash shampoos are priced way more than ordinary hair shampoos and general liquid detergents. In fact, some well branded shampoos fetch Ksh. 900 a Litre. While the most expensive carwash shampoo brands selling in Kenya retail anything like 1,500 per 500Ml, locally made professional carwash shampoo brands retail an average of 500 a Litre. This is quite motivational for manufacturers aiming to try their hand on this alternative market for detergents. But it is how you do it, and not what you make, that dictates how your earnings will be like. Formulating the car shampoo can be tricky if someone is not well versed with dirt chemistry and special detergent formulation knowledge. It will take years of online research, trials and errors, and probably ages before one competes at the same playground level with the more seriously formulated and branded carwash shampoos from Dubai, Turley and south Africa.  

Tips on formulating A Professional Carwash Shampoos

Avoid formulating carwash shampoo the usual multipurpose way. This is because the latter causes clear coat oxidation ruin the PPF. It also degreases natural waxes and synthetic sealers within no time.

Incorporate both Anionic, Amphoteric and cationic surfactants in your formulation. The Amphoterics boost foam generation and can be utilised a very well in Prewash Foaming Shampoos

If Possible avoid Salt because it promotes rust, especially where water does not penetrate well during rinsing. Use alternative ionic thickeners such as Sodium Metasilicate which, coincidentally possesses anti-rust properties. Remember, salt and other like-elements initiate the gelation of SLES, thus voluminize and thickening detergent systems, a feature considered aesthetical for consumers.

Include some VOCs in your carwash cleansing shampoo. They help remove residual waxes and other protective coatings containing greasy compounds such as glazes, sealants.

Adopt the use of non-ionic surfactants (alongside Anionic surfactants), preferably at the usage rate of 5%. They are powerful emulsifiers, meaning they will remove the greasy dirt more efficiently. Having superior wettability that favours stubborn stain removal, Non-ionic surfactants also adapt very well on hard water, despite them having poor foam generation which is provided by the anionic surfactants.

Manage the pH of your carwash shampoo. pH neutral formulas, that contain a synthetic wax or sealant that helps to protect the film or vinyl from sun exposure.

Branding: Branding is defined as giving your product visual Identity. A well thought-out, complex clear-detailed graphics will do the magic. One thing I have come to learn is that Kenyan consumers have a passion for foreign-made things. Just like High-end Salons and Barber Shops whose charges are a wonder to ordinary Kenyans, the carwash booths in leafy suburbs, near night clubs and Saturday outing Barbeque Joints will not bargain when it comes to purchasing car grooming accessories. And as motorists become more and more aware of the importance of grooming their motorcars, the demands for professional carwash shampoo keep on soaring. Shall we forever keep importing the detergents from Uruguay and Turkey for this insatiable market?

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Written by Cosmetics Kenya Posted in Uncategorized