Paint decontamination

Paint that looks clean to the eye can be full of embedded contaminants that you can feel as a rough texture when running your palm over it. Decontamination dissolves these contaminants before you grind them in with polishing or seal them under a layer of wax.

Iron fallout

These are metallic particles from brake dust and road traffic that settle on the paint and oxidize over time. Iron removerdissolves them through a chemical reaction – most products change color from purple to red upon contact with rust, so you can see exactly where the contamination is heaviest. You can find a detailed procedure and recommended products in the article Paint decontamination: how and why to do it before waxing or polishing.

Asphalt and tar

Stains from fresh asphalt on the highway cannot be removed with a regular shampoo – you need a tar remover, which dissolves the sticky structure of the stain without damaging the paint or the plastics under the bumper.

Mineral deposits

Water spots left behind after droplets dry in the sun are made up of minerals from the water. A mineral deposit remover gently dissolves them without you having to grind or polish the paint.

Why perform decontamination before waxing or polishing

Chemicals remove most of the embedded contaminants, and the rest is swept away by a clay mitt or clay bar. Only on such a prepared, smooth surface will wax, sealant, or ceramic coating hold evenly and for a long time.