A Quick Guide on Iron Remover

What is an iron remover?

Iron ends up on your car’s paint via brake pads, brake discs, and industrial fallout. The iron itself doesn’t bind to your paintwork; however, it will rust with any moisture present - bonding it to the vehicle’s paint. This will cause staining and discoloration and, if left untouched, will rust and corrode your paint surfaces.

Enter iron remover. An iron remover will dissolve these rust bonds and enable the iron particles to be removed from the paint via rinsing and clay techniques.

A note on iron removers

As with any detailing product category, there are many choices when it comes to iron remover. The best ones offer high viscosity, so the product clings to the surface longer. Additionally, the formulation should be as close to pH neutral as possible, no more than a point either way, leaning towards a slight acidity. This makes the formulation more expensive, so it’s common for cheaper iron remover products to be way more acidic - any acidic product can damage your surfaces when not treated as an acidic product. A quality-crafted iron remover product will be very effective, safe, and easy to use - and it can be used all over your vehicle’s exterior. BONUS: Iron removers DO NOT have to stink.

Why do I need an iron remover?

• You may start seeing rust stains on your vehicle’s paintwork (especially on lighter colors), and when it happens on vinyl wraps, it may leave more permanent stains if not addressed promptly.

• It will reduce your paint or wrap’s lifespan when iron rust isn’t removed from the surface. These particles can cause pitting and eat deeper and deeper into your paint if left untouched.

• Iron particles are very jagged, unlike smoother sand grains. Particles that get dislodged can create micro-marring in the paintwork when no lubrication is present.

How do I use an iron remover?

1. Iron removers can be used on wet or dry surfaces - the latter is recommended so the product isn’t diluted.

2. Using the product on a cool surface out of direct sunlight offers the best results.

3. Spray the surfaces and let the product dwell. Most products contain a color-changing formula that gives you some visual feedback.

4. The product can be rinsed off for a chemical decontamination process.

5. (OPTIONAL) With added the lubrication of a foam wash or rinseless wash, a clay bar or clay mitt/towel can be used over the surface to pick up embedded iron particles. This constitutes a mechanical decontamination process. Make sure to rinse the products off fully when finished.

6. That’s it! Make sure to apply your favorite sealant after a full chemical and mechanical decon process to give your paint added protection until the next round. It’s recommended this process is done every 4-6 months, depending on how much the vehicle is driven.

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