Using Detailing products

Before using detailing products check the following-

Car care chemicals are the most misunderstood component auto detailing, they should work on their real merits, not ‘smoke and mirrors'. Proceed with this in mind; the products you use constitute a very small factor in the equation. It is my opinion that when it comes to car care products its best to understand the scientific process to enable the best result possible.

Most companies won’t release ingredients other than what's on the MSDS sheet. Patenting chemicals is pretty risky since if you change a couple of ingredients by a few percentages it's technically a different product. When it comes to technical specifications and chemical formulations, it is important to realize that all companies must keep secure their proprietary information and agreements. Without this, no business would have the incentive to develop new products, expand their market, stay competitive, and ultimately - exist.

A product that shows great results in the controlled environment of a laboratory may not produce the same results in the real world, this is the reality of field testing, which throws up masses of variables which lab testing just cannot replicate i.e. resistance of paint coatings against ultra violet (UV) damage, bird droppings, acid rain, alkaline sprinklers, scratching (regardless of hardness factors) gloss, dirt and surface stain repellence and temperature resistance.

Detailing relies on the correct preparation procedures and the correct methodology to obtain pristine results. Methodology and technique constitute 95%; the reasoning behind the choice of quality products is to eliminate any limiting factors, thus enabling you to place emphasis on technique used.

What is pH and what does it mean?

Any solution with a water base has a pH measurement. Simply put the potential of hydrogen (pH) scale is a set of numbers between 0 and 14 where 0 is the most acidic and 14 is the most alkaline (caustic) with 7 in the middle, being neutral. Conceptually, since most people in our industry are interested in the acid side of the system, the smaller the number, and the more acidic the system. Conversely a strong alkaline can be as corrosive as an acid

Unfortunately, the scale is logarithmic, for every integer that the scale decreases the material is 10 times stronger. Those of us in earthquake country know all too well the consequences of a change of from 6 to 7 on the logarithmic, Richter scale. The difference in the pH scale is just as dramatic and therefore just as misleading.

The main priority is to ascertain the material you are trying to clean and then select a chemical that is compatible to clean it with Providing the cleaning product selected is suitable, apply product to an applicator not the area to be cleaned (the only exception to this is glass surface cleaning) apply several drops of the selected cleaning solution in an inconspicuous area and rub gently with a clean, white micro fibre towel. Do not over wet. Use small amounts of the product and blot frequently, do not rub or use too much pressure. 

The biggest problems encountered with product application; surface identification and failing to check if its pH is suitable, applying too much product, insufficient dwell time or when applying surface protection, not properly cleaning the surface prior to application.

Do not use the product if it adversely changes the material’s colour or texture.

Allow chemicals sufficient (dwell) time to react and do their work. Chemicals that react immediately are ‘hot’ and are probably not good for your vehicles finishes or you

Product Dilution

Potable water usually contains a number of microscopic contaminants, along with dissolved minerals such as calcium and iron. Distilled water should ideally be nothing but hydrogen and oxygen molecules and has virtually all of its impurities removed through distillation, which involves boiling the water and re-condensing the steam into a clean container (pH 6.0 – 7.5) any dissolved solids such as salt, bacteria, calcium or iron remain solid while the pure water converts to a much lighter steam and is drawn out for condensation, leaving most if not all solid contaminants behind. 

Distilled water is preferred for dilution as it’s a ‘known’ quantity, unlike domestic potable water. In larger chemical and biological laboratories, as well as industry, cheaper alternatives such as deionized water are preferred over distilled water.

Dilution of Cleaning Chemicals

·         Mix water-based chemicals with distilled water to make ready-to-use product solution.

·         Safer for workers

·         Save money buying concentrates

·         Ratios pre-set to match the job

·         Better for the environment

Dilution example - 1:3 or one-to-three = 1-part concentrate + 3- parts water = 4 gallons of useable product

a) Under-dilution – a chemical solution that is too aggressive can damage carpets, upholstery, wheels, etc. It costs more in actual product cost and additional labour to correct any problems that occur due to improper dilution. 

b) Over-dilution - a weak chemical solution can cause inadequate cleaning performance, which means you will have to re-clean the same areas. With carpet and fabric upholstery, this can lead to over-wetting, resulting in such things as mould, mildew, shrinkage, etc.

c) Spot testing to ensure chemical will not stain or damage material is also very important

Be cognizant that a chemical may be aggressive but its strength may be diluted with a solvent or a chemical buffer; its aggressiveness is also dependent upon the percentage of that chemical in the product formulation

Important Notice: all warnings, cautions and recommendations listed by the manufacturers/OSHA should be complied with when working with chemicals.

Pre-test Spot Procedures

Read the product labels and manufacturers safety data sheets (MSDS) to obtain a basic idea of contents, pH levels etc.

Depending on the pH of the product you use you should return the surface to neutral (pH 7.0) before you apply any dressing or protective products. The correct philosophy regarding chemical use is this: “only use chemicals for what they were formulated for”.

Always select a chemical / cleaner that are biodegradable, environmentally friendly and safe to use by observing any precautions recommended so that they won’t harm you, your vehicle or the environment. Read the product labels and manufacturers safety data sheets (MSDS) to obtain a basic idea of contents, pH levels etc.

The main priority is to ascertain the material you are trying to clean and then select a chemical that is compatible to clean it with Providing the cleaning product selected is suitable, apply product to an applicator not the area to be cleaned (the only exception to this is glass surface cleaning) apply several drops of the selected cleaning solution in an inconspicuous area and rub gently with a clean, white micro fibre towel. Do not over wet. Use small amounts of the product and blot frequently, do not rub or use too much pressure. 

The biggest problems encountered with product application; surface identification and failing to check if its pH is suitable, applying too much product, insufficient dwell time or when applying surface protection, not properly cleaning the surface prior to application.

Do not use the product if it adversely changes the material’s colour or texture.

Allow chemicals sufficient (dwell) time to react and do their work. Chemicals that react immediately are ‘hot’ and are probably not good for your vehicles finishes or you

Acids, Bases, and pH

There are several ways to define acids and bases, but pH only refers to hydrogen ion concentration and is only meaningful when applied to aqueous (water-based) solutions. When water dissociates it yields a hydrogen ion and a hydroxide.

Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at 25. °C (77. °F) Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are said to be basic or alkaline.

Material data sheets (MSDS)

Be aware of dangerous ingredients and request Materials Safety and Data Sheets (MSDS) from the manufacturer if there is any question or you have doubts

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is required under the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard. The MSDS is a detailed informational document prepared by the manufacturer or importer of a hazardous chemical.  It describes the physical and chemical properties of any of the product hazardous chemicals. MSDS’s contain useful information such as flash point, toxicity, procedures for spills and leaks, and storage guidelines.

Information included in a Material Safety Data Sheet aids in the selection of safe products, helps you understand the potential health and physical hazards of a chemical and describes how to respond effectively to exposure situations. Although there is an effort currently underway to standardize MSDS’s the quality of individual MSDS’s vary. A MSDS may be useful but it cannot substitute for prudent practices and comprehensive risk management.

An MSDS should be available for every chemical you use. Read these and follow the recommendations for safe use and disposal of the material. The target audience for information in a MSDS is the occupation worker who may be exposed to chemicals at work. However, much of the information is also relevant to consumers.

Read the manufacturers application instructions and then obtain and read the MSDS sheet to ascertain the chemicals used. Although it should be said that an MSDS is a document that contains details of the hazards associated with a particular chemical and provides information regarding its safe use. The MSDS is required to state the chemical's risks, safety and impact on the environment.

An MSDS is a fact sheet developed by manufacturers describing the chemical properties of a product. Material Safety Data Sheets include brand-specific information such as physical data (solid, liquid, colour, melting point, flash point, etc.), health effects, first aid, reactivity, storage, handling, disposal, personal protection and spill/leak procedures.

Current Information

To be of real practical use, a subject like automotive detailing requires a great deal of research, and updating as new products become available. The advent of materials like detailing clay, micro fibre technologies and finely milled micro diminishing abrasives, suitable for ceramic nanotechnology paints are examples of why it’s so important to monitor the industries new products, chemical technologies and ideas that are constantly being introduced, as are the techniques for applying them, hence all of the in-depth articles will be up-dated and revised on a regular basis

Always be willing to learn; because the more you learn, the more you’ll realize what you don’t know. You should never stop learning, and your quest for information should be part of your everyday process. It is said that knowledge is power, with the caveat that it includes access to a reliable information sources. I would like to think that these articles become an asset to anyone who is new to detailing and to professional’s alike, as well as industry experts who seek to advance their knowledge.

I detailed my first vehicle at the age of fourteen forty plus years later I started to write detailing articles to share my experiences. For about fifteen years or so I started to contribute to various detailing forums answering questions posted by neophyte’s, enthusiasts and professionals alike. My mantra has always been Experience Unshared Knowledge Wasted.

About the author - http://togwt1980.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/about-author.html

This is not a product vendor’s catalogue, nor am I a vendor pretending to be an educator, as there are a lot of companies that are now sponsoring detailing forums, giving advice and preaching that only the product they sell or manufacture are suitable. In reality they are just advertisements, with the appearance of educators, mere salesman. 

Those who have something to sell can be very persuasive, often using marketing pseudo-science (i.e. blurring the distinction between science and fiction) to make a great case while completely ignoring meaningful facts, like their product adds nothing of real value.

I purchase all the products I use, so the endorsement is entirely personal and commercially unbiased, the product recommendation is based on "Does exactly what it says on the box" and it suits my detailing goals. 

The products mentioned have been personally subjected to extensive laboratory (using state of the art instruments and methodologies in some of the world's most prestigious labs) as well as field testing, and I have found that they will perform the task more than adequately, hence the personal recommendation, using the methodology and tools cited, which may or may not be the same as those recommended by the manufacturer.

I hope these articles are informative. They are based on the current status of technical development as well as my experience with the products.

By having some understanding of the ‘What’ and ‘Why’ as well as the ‘How’ along with a little science to help you understand how the chemicals we use react, you can achieve the results you desire.

I would appreciate it if you would share these articles as it helps other detailers further their knowledge.

As always if you have questions, I’ll do my best to answer; bear in mind the only stupid questions is the one that was unasked. Questions and/ or constructive comments are always appreciated

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