<title><value>Consumers risk paintwork damage costing £1,000s by using harmful household products on their cars</value></title>

A recent study has revealed that car owners are mistakenly using inappropriate household and personal hygiene items to clean their vehicles, potentially causing severe damage that could lead to expensive repairs. The research, conducted by Autoglym, the leading vehicle care brand in the UK, indicates a trend where consumers use products like scouring pads, scrubbing brushes, caffeine shampoo, laundry detergent and floor cleaner on their cars.nnThe most common product misused is washing-up liquid; nearly half of the car owners surveyed admitted to using it on their car’s paintwork. This practice is particularly prevalent among those aged 55-64. Washing-up liquid is designed for tough kitchen cleaning tasks and can strip away protective coatings from a vehicle’s exterior. Other damaging items used include scrubbing brushes (12%) and scouring pads (6%), which can scratch the surface of the paint.nnThe cost of repairing such damage isn’t cheap; respraying an average family car can range from £2,000 to £5,000. Even everyday dishcloths have been found to cause minor scratches due to their abrasive fibers.nnLaura Fippen from Autoglym advises against these practices as none of these household products are formulated for car cleaning purposes and may result in lasting harm. She suggests rebuilding protection layers with specialized automotive products instead.nnDespite many finding it challenging to remove stubborn dirt like bugs or tar during washes—29% expressed dislike for this part—the survey shows preventive measures like specialist shampoos or waxes make future cleaning easier.nnFor those who’ve previously used unsuitable products resulting in minor scuffs or swirls on paintwork, solutions exist within Autoglym’s product line such as Ceramic Wash & Protect—a triple-action ceramic shampoo—and Super Resin Polish for removing imperfections.nnAutoglym offers a wide range of over 60 user-friendly high-quality care products available at various retailers including Halfords or online platforms like Amazon.co.uk/Autoglym. For more information about Autoglym’s offerings visit www.autoglym.com.