How to Decontaminate Your Car’s Paint

When treating your vehicle with thorough car detailing, there will inevitably be toxic contaminants and particulate matter which you will want to take extra care to deal with. These contaminants are all accumulated through the normal lifecycle of any car and if they are not washed away safely at regular intervals, can build up and put you and your vehicle at risk.

Types Of Contaminants

When driving on the roads and off the beaten path, your vehicle will build up traces of contaminants that you will want to eradicate during car detailing. These contaminants include the following:

Dust and dirt: Picked up very commonly, dust and dirt may not present any serious issues but it does make your car look very unappealing and uncared for. 

Salt: Salt can accumulate on your car when it is used in wintery conditions to prevent ice build-up on the road network. This is a problem because salt has corrosive properties that can cause the underside of your car to rust and even eat away at vital components, leaving your vehicle unsafe to drive. 

Brake dust: Whenever the brake pads are engaged on your car or those of other road users, tiny metal particles are emitted. This can damage alloy wheels, affect braking performance and be detrimental to your health. 

Oils and fuels: Other faulty vehicles may be leaking oils and fuels onto the roads, which in turn are whipped up onto your car. This can lead to both discoloration and corrosion of the metallic elements of your chassis. 

There are many other contaminants that can be harmful to you, your car, and the environment. Next, we will outline the main steps for decontaminating your car through car detailing.

Step 1: Pre-Wash Your Car

Before jumping in and going straight for the standard wash, it is often important in car detailing to do a preparational wash to loosen any stubborn, thick contaminants that may be clinging to your vehicle. 

Using a suitable chemical cleaner, get full coverage of your car before moving on to a follow-up foam wash. Now, when you come to the next step, all of the unwanted material will slide right off.

Step 2: Contact Wash

Grab a bucket and a sponge and carry out a thorough contact wash. Take extra care to clean the roof, door panels, and lower parts of the front and back of your car. Now that you have cleaned off any of the chemical or foam products you used in step 1, you can move on to the third step. 

Step 3: Decontamination Of Metallic Contaminants

During this process, we will remove all of the metallic particle contaminants that may be hard to spot on your car. There are several products out there that are designed to remove iron contaminants from your car, so make sure to pick up one of those and apply it to your entire vehicle body.

Make sure only to apply these products if your car is cool and hasn’t been in use directly prior to the car detailing process. These products often highlight the metallic matter as red and as they drain away they produce an effect known as ‘bleeding’. 

After the product has reacted with the metal fragments and they have begun to bleed away, rinse your car again with water. In some extreme cases, you may wish you do a second pass to be 100% sure that you have removed all metallic contaminants from your car but in most instances, once should be enough. 

Step 4: Decontamination Of Oil And Glue Contaminants 

Now that the metal is out of the way, there is another difficult-to-remove category of contaminants to deal with. These are oils, tars, and glues which you will need to pick up specialty products for. 

Using these products, spray onto focussed sections of the car and wipe them down with a microfibre cloth. When you look at the cloth, you should see the residue of these contaminants and know they have been effectively removed from your car. 

Step 5: Claying

Nearing the end of the car detailing process, using a clay-based product will help to remove any deeply embedded contaminants that you may have otherwise missed. Using a clay product, spray it onto the surface of your car and use a piece of clay to clean the body with light pressure. 

Feel the car after this process and you will notice the difference. The bodywork will be smooth, clean, and free of embedded contamination. 

Step 6: Finishing

Despite the fact that you have removed any harmful contaminants, you will have also removed any protective layers applied from previous car detailing procedures. You should now apply a wax or sealant bonding or go one step further and give your car a full hand or machine polish. 

How Often Should You Decontaminate In Car Detailing?

This process may sound fairly rigorous, but it is not something you need to do regularly. Once or twice a year should suffice to remove any contaminants that have built up on your vehicle. 

Conclusion

As you drive your car, contaminants will inevitably build up and present a risk to your vehicle, your health, and the environment. By carefully and thoroughly decontaminating your car every now and then, you can help to stop these impacts and keep your car looking good in the process.

Neon 8Neon 8
18:55 05 Apr 24
We are extremely well satisfied with the work done by Darren on our two cars; an eleven year old Audi and an eleven year old Lexus. The cars look almost new. Darren showed up on time, did the work efficiently and thoroughly, and the price was very competitive. We will definitely use his service again.
Hugo ContrerasHugo Contreras
23:07 30 Mar 24
I enjoyed collaborating with Sumptuous detailing services! Definitely recommend to anyone looking for great detailing services!
Gareth EvansGareth Evans
16:01 21 Mar 24
Darren did a great job on my pickup truck I use for construction. I was surprised how clean he got it inside.
TJ EdwardsTJ Edwards
00:58 13 Mar 24
Tyrone came out today and detailed my dad’s Tesla model X for us. Let me tell you - that man is so incredibly positive. You just feel good talking to him. He spent a large amount of time detailing his car and it looks better than it did the day he bought it! We could not be more thrilled and will continue to use Tyrone every month to detail and keep it looking great! The pricing is extremely competitive and even on the lower end compared to other mobile retailers! We are extremely pleased all the way around!
Anne HucksAnne Hucks
00:30 13 Mar 24
It was a wonderful experience. My car has not been this clean since I bought it.
millenyn soaresmillenyn soares
01:46 10 Mar 24
If I could put 10000+ Stars I would. Words can't explain how satisfied, I am. Tyrone did a phenomenal job, he took his time and you can tell he loves what he does. My car looks brand new, the seats are so clean and when I opened my car the smell of brand new car hit me. If you are looking for someone to detail your car STOP LOOKING, Because you found them and the customer service is excellent! I highly strongly recommend them you will not be disappointed!
Gregory TrenaryGregory Trenary
02:21 09 Feb 24
02/08/24 We are not local to this area, visiting with our son. Three large cups of coffee were accidentally split in our vehicle this morning... What a mess! Found some one online who didn't do interior detailing, however recommended Darren. He made arrangements to clean our truck that day. His men were here at scheduled time, did a fantastic job! Highly recommend Sumptuous Mobile Detailing!
Pam McCloudPam McCloud
12:24 06 Oct 23
Amazing and meticulous! Darren did such a great job with my vehicle that his services were requested the very next day by my hubby. My vehicle is so clean that I’m afraid to get in and undo all of his hard work. Most importantly, he took his time and didn’t rush the job.
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Fundamental Detailing Package
  • Exterior wash
  • Towel dry
  • 25-60 day wax (beads water and dirt off the paint, offering superior protection compared to traditional wax)
  • Tire conditioning
  • Window cleaning
  • Detailed vacuuming
  • Detailed cleaning of all hard, plastic, leather, and vinyl surfaces
  • Pressure wash for hard floor mats
    For a deeper clean with added surface protection and attention to detail.
Full Decontamination Package
  • Includes all features of Fundamentals
  • Clay Bar Treatment: Removes embedded contaminants like tar and sap that washing alone can't eliminate.
  • Iron Remover: Dissolves bonded iron particles from brake dust, protecting the paint from long-term damage.
  • Steam cleaning or extraction for seats and carpets if needed
    Perfect for vehicles requiring a thorough clean and contamination removal. Interior only is available in this package & higher only.
OCD Package
  • Includes all features of Full Decontamination
  • Special Stain Removal Attention: Attempts to target and remove stains, though results are not guaranteed.
  • 1-step Paint Correction: Removes minor surface defects like swirl marks and light scratches to restore the car’s shine.
  • 6-12 month Ceramic Wax: Adds a durable layer of protection and shine, lasting longer than standard waxes.
    For clients who want every detail perfected and their paint protected.
    Highly recommended to add the 5-year ceramic coating for long-term protection.
The Exterior Wash, Clay, & Seal
  • Wash
  • Clay Bar Treatment
  • 6-12 month sealant/wax.
  • Exterior Only
The Express Wash (4+ Vehicles Required)
  • Exterior wash (exterior)
  • Vacuum
  • Dash cleaning

It is not very detail-oriented, but it is convenient for daily drivers that aren't particular.

Interior Only

Select full decontamination or OCD package, then specify interior only.

Add Ons
  • 6-12 month Wax: Upgrade for longer-lasting protection is available for Fundamentals and Decontamination packages.
  • Headliner Cleaning: Can be added to any package to remove dirt and stains from the ceiling fabric.
  • 5-year Ceramic Coating: A long-lasting, high-gloss protective layer that repels water, dirt, and UV rays, making maintenance easier.
  • Ozone Treatment: Eliminates odors, bacteria, and mold by oxidizing and destroying airborne contaminants for a fresher, cleaner interior environment.
  • Paint Correction: Restores the car’s original shine by removing surface defects like swirl marks, oxidation, and light scratches. This results in a deeper and more natural shine compared to the superficial gloss added by wax.
  • Headlight Restoration: Increases nighttime visibility, improves front-end aesthetics, and compliments shiny paint.
  • Clay Bar Treatment: Removing embedded contaminants from the paint, which the wash will not remove.
  • Pet Hair Removal: Extensive pet hair removal beyond vacuuming.
  • Leather Conditioning
  • Spot Stain Removal
  • Decal/Sticker Removal