Meguiar’s Wash Plus Shampoo Tested And Reviewed
I bought and tested Meguiar’s Wash Plus Shampoo in real-world conditions to write the following review.
Meguiar’s Wash Plus Shampoo tops the market in terms of cleaning ability. Not only can it remove the usual dirt found on a car with ease, but it can also strip oils, waxes, sap and even tar from paint.
It is not suitable for regular washing, as wax would need to be reapplied after every wash, but for neglected vehicles that need a bit more elbow grease, this is my go-to shampoo every time.
Meguiar’s Wash Plus Shampoo scored an excellent 8.8 on my tests. Read on to see how it performed in each of the test areas.
Prepmycar Rating: 8.8 / 10
Meguiar’s Car Wash Plus+ Heavy Duty Car Shampoo
- 9.5 Cleaning Power
- 8.5 Foam Levels
- 8.5 Ease of Use
- 8.5 Cost per Application
- 9 Concentration Levels
- 8.8/10 FINAL TEST SCORE
Pros
Cons
Meguiar’s Wash Plus Shampoo Testing Process
Meguiar’s Wash Plus is a product I am very familiar with, having used it on cars, pickups and even tractors. I use it with either a chenille or microfibre wash mitt, but my go-to mitt with this product is the Gtechniq WM2 microfibre wash mitt.
I always carry out a pre-wash before using a shampoo for a contact wash in order to remove as much dirt as possible. Wash Plus works a bit differently from other shampoos, as you do not need to add it to a bucket, as you normally would do. Instead, you apply the product from the bottle directly onto the wash mitt and then wash the car.
I first soak the mitt in clean water and then add roughly the amount shown below to the mitt. I then run the mitt along the paint using long even passes, after each panel I rinse the mitt to remove any dirt and add a small drop of extra shampoo to the mitt and repeat the process.
Cleaning Power (9.5/10)
In terms of cleaning power, no shampoo comes close to Meguiar’s Wash Plus. Of course, this is a double-edged sword as waxes will also be removed from the paint, but this will allow a fresh coat of wax to be applied.
Wash Plus is the shampoo I reach for when a vehicle has not been regularly washed and there are bird droppings, sap, tar, and other contaminants on the paintwork. For cars in this condition, any wax that was on the car is more than likely worn away anyway, and I always apply a wax after washing anyway, so there is no concern there.
With Wash Plus, ‘scrubbing’ the paint with a wash mitt is much easier. As the shampoo is in the fibres of the mitt it gives much better cleaning power and lubrication than many other shampoos available. Wash Plus contains micro-polishing particles which is what enables it to clean so effectively.
Foam Levels (8.5/10)
When agitated with the wash mitt, Wash Plus creates good suds that help the mitt to glide along the paint and reduce the possibility of marring being induced. I always add a small drop into the mitt after rinsing it out and moving on to the next panel, which is enough to keep the foam in the mitt.
Ease of Use (8.5/10)
Wash Plus is easy to use, users do not need to calculate dilution ratios but instead add the shampoo to the mitt. There is no need to worry about getting the ‘right’ amount of product, a few lines of shampoo are sufficient. The other advantage of this shampoo is that there is no need to fill two buckets when using it, only a rinse bucket is needed. Alternatively, no buckets could be used and running water could be used to clean the mitt before reapplying shampoo. This is my preferred method, as I never have to dunk the mitt in dirty water.
The shampoo itself is very easy to apply to a wash mitt, it has a very thick consistency so won’t run off when applied.
Cost per Application (8.5/10)
Wash Plus is extremely concentrated and a bottle will last a long time. As I mentioned I use more product before the first pass in order to ‘prime’ the mitt, then reapply a small amount after rinsing the mitt. A 709 ml bottle costs around £17.00, which is quite expensive, but I estimate I only use around 20 ml of product per wash due to the high concentration of the product, just 46p per wash.
Concentration Levels – High
As mentioned, Wash Plus is a highly concentrated shampoo, with the wash mitt retailing excellent suds between panels. After rinsing out dirt from the pad with water, I usually only need to add one or two extra dots per panel.
Specialist Features
This shampoo contains micro-polishing agents that make the removal of dirt considerably easier than using a normal shampoo. The shampoo can remove tar and sap, and also scuff marks in some circumstances. It can’t ‘remove’ swirl marks, as that would involve removing the clear coat, but nonetheless, it is an excellent cleaner.
The most useful feature of this shampoo is its ability to remove waxes and sealants. This comes in especially handy when I want to try a different wax on my car, I want to ensure all of the old wax is removed in order to allow the new wax to bond to the paint and this is the shampoo I reach for in this case.
About Meguiar’s
Meguiar’s are one of the most recognisable brands in car care, founded in the USA in 1901, the first product was in fact a furniture polish. As automobile use increased worldwide, the Meguiar’s range expanded to meet demand, the Mirror Bright range emerged in the 1960s and is still popular today. Meguiar’s now make products to meet almost every detailing need, from interior products, buckets, and machine polishers.
FAQs
How do you use Meguiar’s Wash Plus?
Wash Plus is different from other shampoos in that it does not need added to a bucket, instead it is applied directly to a wet wash mitt before washing the paint.
Does Meguiar’s Wash Plus remove wax?
Yes, it will remove waxes from the surface of paint so it should only be used when you want to remove wax. It should not be used on cars with ceramic coats, as it may cause premature wear on the coating.
What sort of wash mitt should I use with Wash Plus?
A microfibre or lambswool wash mitt is the safest way to wash paint, I like to use a microfibre wash mitt which gives me great cleaning power, but also the ability to get into nooks and crannies on the car.
Meguiar’s Wash Plus Shampoo Final Thoughts
Meguiar’s Wash Plus Shampoo is a reliable performer that is incredibly cost-effective. I always keep a bottle in my detailing toolkit, I nearly always use it when cleaning cars that are neglected and have not been washed in a while. The extra cleaning power from the polishing particles makes it ideal for neglected cars and gives a cleaner surface for wax to adhere to.
I would recommend it to people who like to experiment with different waxes, as this will allow them to be more effectively removed. For professionals, this product is handy to have and also represents very economical washing.
- It’s a car wash PLUS a whole lot more!
- Cleans tough dirt & grime
- Removes bugs & tar and removes light stains in your paint
