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As in the thread title, my friend got told by someone at our FLGS to add some dish-washing liquid to his wash, for a better or different effect, I'm not sure. Anyway he did it, but either he did it wrong, or that person was making fun of him, because now the wash is nearly useless. So, he searched a bit on Google for something like that, but couldn't find anything. Now a question: is there really something like that? Mixing a bit of dish washing liquids in with a wash? Because he's too lazy to make a thread himself, even though he's already got an account on Dakka

Not that I know of. Define 'useless'. What was wrong with the wash? Got any pictures?

Perhaps he added too much. Hard to say without pics.

I have never heard of this being done, but I have heard of using surfactants in paints to get different kinds of effects. A surfactant is, among other things, a foaming agent, and most all soaps contain them. However, exactly what kinds of soaps and what kinds of paints interacting to create these effects, I do not know, much less the proportions. But, my advice would be that if you are given some advice from someone, try working in small doses, before you put a squirt of soap in your paint pots.

I have this same problem. I had problem with wash, so i added some dish-washing liquid (called "Ludwik" or something like that). Now, my wash it isn't in, particular good condtion (nearly useless). I dont know, how I can explain that. My wash now, looked like....soap.

I have done this several times before, particularly when washing large areas on vehicles it works well, be advised that a little goes a LOOOOOONG way. When I have used it in the past is would be in a 1:10 or even as much as 1:20 ratio, and that is one DROP of soap, not one part.

Otherwise you can achieve some really nice effects with it.

Ashton

You can make your own wash from GW paint and it involves soap.

dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/243509.page

It's not as good, but it works in a pinch. Not sure about adding soap to a wash though.

Jet Dry

It breaks the surface tension of liquids.

Like 2 drops to an entire bottle of wash!

Dishwashing soap is added in small quantities to help break surface tension and let a home made wash flow and pool properly. You sure your friend didn't get some wires crossed, somewhere? Normally, you add it when making washes, not to ready-made washes. Could be bad advice, could be misinterpretation, or it could be a super awesome technique that no one here has apparently ever heard of. My money is on one of the first two options.

I use Didi's Magic Wash/Ink which I believe was formerly Les's Magic Wash/Ink from the Warstore. Whatever it is, it works like a charm. Judging by the smell, however, I STRONGLY suspect soap is a part of the recipe. Makes sense, thinking about how it will break the surface tension of water and allow it to flow more easily....

I have some Didi's Magic Ink. I loves it!

As stated above (somewhere), this was an old trick that was necessary for GW INKS - the drop or two of detergent broke down the ink to let it flow properly into cracks and crevices.

The new Washes do not (from my experience) need this detergent.

As has been stated above, soap or jet dry added is for making your own washes, not when using pre-made washes which should already have ingredients to break the surface tension.

The use of soap in reducing surface tension is called "wet water". It's an older technique and requires very little soap. I've seen recommendations ranging from one drop of soap per liter to a maximum of 2 drops per cup.

I use 2 drops per 8 oz and keep a squeeze bottle of wet water at my desk. I have some petri dishes for quick mixing of wet water and paint to make washes as needed.