WASHING THE CAR - SIMPLE BASICS
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Unfortunately many of us do not take proper care of our vehicles.
The paint finish on the vehicle is sadly ignored, to the point that we
sometimes have to turn to the wrong type of cleaners to rejuvenate the
car. Ignoring your car by not keeping it routinely washed will only
contribute in laying a foundation for premature paint oxidation and poor
protection from the Earth's harmful elements.
How do you know which cleaners or soaps are best for your automobile? Many retail detergents and soaps are very high in alkalinity. These products can actually corrode and pit the paint. What's a definition of an acid and an alkali? An acid is a compound which when mixed with water creates an excess of positively charged hydrogen ions. The stronger the acid, the stronger the charge. An alkali on the other hand, increases the concentration of negatively charged hydroxide ions. A pH scale is used to determine the measure of positive and negative ions in acids and alkalis. A product is said to be "pH Balanced" when the concentrations of hydorgen ions and hydorxides are equal. A solution loaded with an excess of hydroxide ions is called "basic." A solution containing an excess of hydrogen ions is called "acidic." The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14 with 7 denoting the "neutral" or "balanced" point. |
To avoid paint damage use properly pH balanced washing products.
Household detergents and soaps generally are not pH balanced. A good pH balanced soap must have a near neutral pH Formula. It is equally as important that it contain no harsh abrasive. Even mild detergents, like household "Joy"® and other commercial products, can deplete the natural oil content and accelerate the starvation or drying of the painted surface. A good car wash solution should contain a small amount of essential oils. It should also contain a blend of surfactants. Oils or carnauba waxes found in good car wash solutions dissolve into micron size droplets and fill the paint pores on the surface for optimum protection. A good car wash solution also contains some water softening agents which help counteract the harsh chemicals normally found in water. The softening agents also cause a sheeting reaction which helps the rinse water to bead and roll off the automobile surface, thus reducing potential water spotting problems. This is why it is so important to use the right type of car wash solution to create a sheeting reaction to prevent water spotting and chemical compounds from sticking to the vehicles's surface. THE END |