Car Care & Auto Detailing Blog — Car Cleaning
The Role of pH-Balanced Cleaners in Car Detailing
Did you know that pH balance plays a role in car detailing? It’s true. Finding the right cleaners comes down to understanding the pH scale. Now, if that gives you flashbacks to high-school chemistry class, don’t worry; we aren’t giving a grade. Instead, we are breaking down the basics of the scale and how keeping your car products balanced provides the best possible detailing experience.
Understanding pH and Its Impact on Car Cleaning
What does pH even mean? It means ‘Potential of Hydrogen,’ in which the scale measures either the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. The scale ranges from 0 to 14. The most acidic is 0, which is a solution like sulfuric acid. However, a 14 is something like liquid drain cleaner.
The range we want to focus on is lucky number 7, which is the most neutral solution. This is typically pure water.
Knowing where your car's products can make the difference between a beautiful detailing job to your car’s exterior and interior looking like it came off the used car lot.
The pH of your vehicle detailing products can impact:
Protection for Vehicle Surfaces
Things like bird droppings, tree sap, and road salt can impact your car every time you hit the road. These substances can be acidic or alkaline, and when combined with similar detailing products, they may damage your vehicle’s surfaces, leading to issues like paint discoloration or upholstery damage. To protect your car, choose a pH-balanced cleaning product that keeps surfaces clean and safe.
Enhanced Cleaning Efficiency
For those irritating grime spots and other sticky debris, it may seem like a good idea to throw a powerful cleaner to clear it all off. Unfortunately, this may not work the way you want it to. If the pH scale is pushed too far to the left or right, it won’t be able to clean effectively and may even damage the exterior or interior that you are detailing. Utilizing balanced products effectively clears out irritating contaminants while preserving the more delicate surfaces.
Safe for All Detailing Needs
When detailing, you need to make sure you protect all vehicle components. Acidic or alkaline products contain too many harsh chemicals that can leave your vehicle's interior or exterior looking worse for wear. Choosing a neutral pH level product allows you chemicals that are gentle on your vehicle, keeping items like the paint in tack, and prevents problems like discoloration.
Benefits of pH-Balanced Products in Detailing
Prevention of Corrosion and Etching
Corrosion and etching occur when harsh chemicals react on your vehicle's surface. When detailing products linger too long on being too acidic or basic, the chemicals can damage the protective layers like the clear coat. By selecting a pH-neutral product, the chemicals are far less harsh, allowing for an exquisite clean while preventing further damage.
Longevity of Protective Coatings
Acidic or basic products can eat away at a car’s protective layers while washing due to the harsher chemicals. This results in your car being left vulnerable to the elements like UV rays. The balanced detailing products combine chemicals for a much more gentle wash, allowing contaminants to be cleared, but the vehicle remains protected.
Improved User Experience
Car detailing has a ton of factors to consider, from both the exterior and interior of the vehicle. Using a neutral pH product for the wash allows much versatility as the cleaners can go on everything from the car’s paint to metal, plastic, rubber, and even chrome.
Choosing the Right pH-balanced Cleaner
Most pH-neutral products are already at a scale of 7, while others may have a range between 5 and 9. The products that start with neutral scaling are called ‘Ready to Use’ products, or ‘RTUs,’ which can be used for general car cleaning and detailing.
For the products with differing ranges, there is no need to worry about the number being that perfect 7. These products, called Concentrated products, are designed with specific chemical ratios that, when mixed with pure water (7 on the pH scale), come much closer to that perfect neutral balance.
If you are considering having a professional perform your auto detailing and cleaning, you won’t have to worry. Auto professionals perform their detailing utilizing ph natural products that efficiently clean and maintain your vehicle’s interior and exterior.
Give Your Vehicle the Detailing It Deserves
If it's time to give your vehicle the detailing and cleaning it needs, keep your cleaners pH-balanced. Selecting a neutral product not only delivers an immaculate, clean look for your vehicle but also maintains the car’s essential coatings. Making the informed decision results in the vehicle that keeps its looks for years to come.
Remember to dry your pH-balanced cleaners with The Absorber by CleanTools. Made with the unique material PVA, standing for Poly Vinyl Alcohol, this towel comes with a sponge-like design that quickly captures and dries moisture on car surfaces with ease. Designed with resistance against most chemicals, The Absorber is the perfect partner to your detailing products.