The science — how it actually works
pH-neutral means pH ~7 — chemically balanced, neither acidic nor alkaline. It matters because alkaline (high-pH) shampoos clean aggressively by saponifying oils, and your wax or sealant is an oil-based protective layer. Strong shampoo strips the protection you paid for.
How dirt actually leaves the panel: surfactants form micelles — tiny spheres that surround a dirt particle, oily tail inward gripping the grime, water-loving head outward. The particle gets lifted into suspension and rinsed away rather than smeared around.
Lubricity is the safety feature. The slip you feel is polymers and surfactants forming a slick boundary layer between your mitt and the clear coat. That layer is the difference between grit gliding off and grit being ground in. Swirl marks are simply the record of every wash that lacked it.