Is washing & surface prep the same?

Washing is the process of removing loose dirt and grime from a car's paint. Surface prep is a separate process designed to safely remove dead, oxidized paint, as well as stubborn surface contamination that will not come off during the washing process (i.e. acid rain, stains, tree, sap).

Paint that has been neglected or that has undergone severe environmental contamination should first be washed, then deep surface prepped with ScratchX or Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner -- mild abrasive products that are safe to applied by hand on all paint finishes. Once the surface has been surface prepped it should then be protected with an application of a quality wax. Those with dark colours should also consider applying a pure polish before waxing to create incredible gloss.

We make several types of deep cleaners and always recommend that you start with the least abrasive surface prep first and only move to more aggressive cleaners when tests on the surface clearly indicate you need more "cutting" action. We do not recommend applying abrasive cleaners by hand application. They may actually mar your finish. If you have serious surface prep problems, it is usually best to have a professional detailer do the job.

For more information call our Customer Care Center at 1800 347 570, and talk with a surface care specialist. Or, use the convenience of
e-mail.