Chemical decontamination is a quick and easy step that will help to save you time and effort during the mechanical decontamination process.
On vehicles that are heavily contaminated, there is usually no doubt that part of the contaminates on the surface are iron. This comes from industrial fallout, brake dust, etc etc etc that is present in the air. These particles land on your paint and some particles bond, meaning they are not simply washed away. These particles must be removed to restore a perfectly clean surface.
This can be achieved simply with a clay bar, though it can be a lengthy process on a heavily contaminated vehicle, therefore a chemical process before the mechanical step will help to remove some of the particles and therefore shorten the amount of time you have to spend with the detailing clay.
Explaining the Decontamination Process (Part 1) by Zach McGovern
Explaining the Decontamination Process (Part 2) by Zach McGovern
There are several products on the market that will work to dissolve iron particles. Products such as
CarPro IronX,
Optimum Ferrex, and
Sonax Fallout Cleaner are among the most popular choices.
The chemical decontamination process is very simple. Just spray a liberal amount (<- that is key, you must cover the paint) of product onto a clean vehicle after the wash process. Always use this out of direct sunlight and ensure the panels are completely cool to the touch. Allow the product to dwell on the surface for several minutes, but not long enough that it begins to dry.
These products turn purple as they start to react with iron.
Next, take a wet wash mitt or clean plush towel and gently wipe the surface to aid in the removal of the of the contamination. Once the car has been wiped, rinse the entire vehicle very thoroughly. On heavily contaminated vehicles, you will likely see a river of purple running off of the vehicle.
note: just because you cannot see the color change on darker vehicles, it does not mean the product is not working. This visible chemical reaction is more easily seen on lighter colors, however the product is effective on every vehicle that has iron contamination.
Hope this helps
Let me know if you've got any further questions.
Zach McGovern
Detailed Image Ask-A-Pro Blog Author
www.AttentiontoDetailingPeoria.com