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In most cases, you can clean and protect your vehicle with just a few basic car cleaning products. In this article you will learn about some of the science behind auto detailing supplies so that you can clean your car the right way.
Soil can be organic, inorganic or petroleum. This is important to know. If you can identify the soil you’re dealing with, you can use the right cleaner. Most stains come off easily when you use the right cleaner.
Take organic soil, for example. Organic basically means that it contains carbon. Stains in this group include proteins, animal fats, body oils, mold, yeast, insects, bacteria, and excrement. The classic example is your three-year-old’s batch of hot french fries spilled on the back seat. It is an organic soil stain.
Inorganic soil does not contain carbon molecules. Often we get to see these stains on the exterior of the car. A good example that frustrates most of us from time to time is water stains from minerals. Acid rain spots also fall in this category.
In the end we get petroleum. These soils come from materials that do not contain water or cannot be mixed with water. Motor oil, grease and road tar are the most common petroleum soils. Note that chewing gum is also a petroleum clay.
Now that you know about the three types of stains, we can start discussing cleaners. Let me tell you, there are a lot of them. Unfortunately, no one has invented a true all-purpose automotive cleaner. Because of the many different surfaces and soils, automotive cleaners tend to be complex mixtures of chemicals tailored for a particular type of surface or soil. The most common chemicals used include surfactants, solvents, wetting agents, saponifiers, and chelators.
Soaps and detergents are made using a surfactant. It is an agent consisting of two compounds. One molecule is attracted to the soil itself, while the other loves water. The compound which is attracted to water is a hydrophilic. Its job is to enclose the soil. The agent that attracts the soil is hydrophobic. The purpose of this is to break up the soil so that the watercress can reach it and float it away.
All cleaners require one type of solvent or another to dissolve dirt and carry it away. Some solvents, including mineral spirits, work on petroleum soils and may be necessary on water-damaged surfaces. Did you know that the most common solvent used in cleaners is water?
Speaking of water, any solution that has a water base or mixes with water has a pH level. The term pH is simply a measure of the affinity between hydrogen ions and hydroxyl ions. When you have more hydrogen ions than hydroxyl ions, it is an acid. Similarly, if you have more hydroxyl ions than hydrogen ions then it is a base. This is important to know because any cleaner that falls on either end of the pH scale can cause serious damage.
The pH scale runs from 0 to 14. The lower half of the scale represents an acid and the upper half represents a base. As you might have guessed, water is neutral and has a pH of 7.0.
If you know the pH of a cleaner, you’ll know where to use it. Carpet shampoo should have a pH around 8 or 9, while all-purpose wheel cleaner should have a pH between 12 and 14. Try using a cleaner made for wheels on your car’s fabric and carpet, it will get very dirty.
Now that you know the basics, you can better understand why there are so many car cleaning products and auto detailing supplies out there. Your vehicle has many different surfaces and they have different cleaning requirements. You can avoid using harsh cleaners by using basic protection. Wax the exterior several times each year and protect the interior with the appropriate products. For ultimate protection, use an exterior car cover or a waterproof car cover when you park outside.
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