What Is Paint Decontamination?

A Life-Saving Miracle Is What It Is

Paint decontamination eliminates those stubborn contaminants that won't come off with a simple contact wash. Things like tree sap, industrial fallout and microscopic iron particles from your brake dust, all accumulate overtime, embedding themselves in your paint's clear coat. A decontamination bids these elements farewell, leaving you with a perfectly smooth, extremely shiny car.

This is an important step in the paint correction and ceramic coating process, as it reduces the risk of any leftover contaminants scratching or marring your vehicle while polishing.

Iron removers are specially formulated to break down iron particles on paint, as well as wheels, glass and chrome or plastic trim. It works for the whole car!

Iron Remover used before ceramic coating

How Does It Work?

Step 1: Chemical Decontamination

The first step (after an exterior detail) is to apply an Iron Remover, a chemical solution that dissolves and breaks down the bonds between the iron particles and the clear coat as it dwells on the car.

Step 2: Mechanical Decontamination

A clay bar or clay towel is then used as an abrasive tool to disperse the solution and lift the contaminants up and off the car, leaving your paint as smooth as can be.

To minimise friction and therefore the risk of scratching, the towel is dampened with rinseless wash, allowing it to safely glide over the vehicle's surface while still eliminating the contaminants.

When Do I Use It?

Every few months.

Obviously, there will be outliers; some people live or park near factories or railroads where there is an abundance of industrial fallout, some people live in the wilderness and park under trees 24/7, exposing their vehicles to tree sap and many, many bird droppings. So it just depends. It's also a free country, you can clean it whenever the hell you like.

There's no set time period, it's usually every few months, or a few times a year, more frequently if you're vehicle is exposed often as mentioned above.

If there's a heavy accumulation of iron, you'll see the orange tinge from the rust from up close, you might even be able to feel it. Assuming your paint is old, untreated and needs a decontamination, to double check you can glide a small piece of paper over the surface. You'll feel the irregularities and hear the roughness, compared to a completely smooth surface (where the paper simply glides across without any noise).

Intrigued by the possibility of silky smooth paint? Book in a Paint Correction Package today!