Forum

[Bullet Whisperer]

I think that was on Top Gear a few years back.

[papasmurf]

DennisC, I still don't know what washing up liquid you are using but as someone who always checks the ingredient list on products I buy I have never seen sodium chloride listed in any washing up liquid I use. For one thing it would inhibit the efficiency of the product.

[Frank]

I'm not a washing up liquid expert but I was always told not to use it as a tyre lubricant due to it's salt content and for similar reasons not to use it to wash a car or in the washer bottle. Salt softens water and so it lathers better so it doesn't inhibit it's purpose. The best stuff I've used is our host's tyre lubricant. As slippery as anything, but perhaps too slippery for the tyre levers to gain grip.

[papasmurf]

What salt content? (Salt in washing up liquid seem to be a myth with nothing to back it up at all.)

[Dennis C]

If it works just one of dozens of web sites giving info on washing up liquid ingredients

http://www.theecologist.org/green_green ... iquid.html

[PeteF]

Papa, any web search will confirm that washing up detergents do contain salt. OK, I don't believe all I read either but a friend of mine who spent a lifetime as a chemist at Reckitts once told me that salt is used to thicken all sorts of detergents (including shampoo) In fact, he said that the only difference in the thicker, more expensive detergents is that they contain more salt.
For tyre fitting, I use just ordinary hand soap - smells nice too!

[PeteF]

Apparently, there are loopholes in the "listed ingrediants" regulations. Look here

[papasmurf]

Pete F there is NO sodium chloride in the list of ingredients. Plus as previously stated salt would inhibit the effectiveness of the product.
I have been using washing up liquid for various vehicle/motorcycle related and other reasons for a very long time and never had a problem with it. About the only caveat I know of is if you use it as a plasticiser in mortar when laying bricks or blocks use it sparingly or it will cause problems later on.)
Currently I am using an industrial strength washing up liquid that needs diluting about 80 to 1 before you use is as normal washing up liquid, there is no sodium chloride in that either.

[Dennis C]

As my mother used to say, "There are non so blind as those who will not see".

[scotty]

I worked a few years ago for a bloke who made shampoo and conditioners if the viscosity was down too thin we would belt salt into the mix, nobody wants a thin runny shampoo.