DIRT, GREASE & GRIME
For heavier dirt, grease, grime and buildup that needs more cleaning power.
Use Ready to Use for convenient cleaning, or Concentrate when you need dilution flexibility for the job.
Prepare
The Americana Global Step 1 Category of prep detailing products allows professionals and DIY enthusiasts to accomplish this phase quicker, faster, and more cost-effective.
STEP 1 — PREPARE
START WITH A CLEAN, DECONTAMINATED SURFACE
Good paint correction and protection start with proper prep. Remove the dirt, grease, brake dust, bonded iron and leftover residue first. Inspect what is on the surface, then use the cleaner or decontamination product the job actually needs.
WHEELS & TIRES
Brake dust, road grime and old tire dressing can build up quickly around wheels and tires.
Clean wheels and tires thoroughly before moving into the finishing or dressing stage.
IRON & BONDED CONTAMINATION
Washing removes loose contamination, but some particles remain bonded to the surface.
Use chemical decontamination when ferrous contamination such as embedded iron, brake dust or industrial fallout is present.
OILS, WAX & POLISHING RESIDUE
A clean-looking surface can still have oils, waxes or polishing residue left behind.
Remove leftover residue when the surface needs to be properly inspected or prepared for the next correction or protection step.
THE PREP PROCESS
CLEAN → DECONTAMINATE → INSPECT
Start with cleaning. Address bonded contamination when needed, then inspect the surface. From there, decide whether the paint needs correction or is ready for the appropriate protection step.
Not every vehicle needs every product. Let the condition of the surface determine the process.
THE PREP WORKFLOW
PREP THE SURFACE IN THE RIGHT ORDER
Good prep is a process, not one product. Work from general cleaning to more specific decontamination, then inspect the surface before deciding what comes next.
CLEAN
Remove loose dirt, road grime, grease and buildup first.
Start with the appropriate wash and cleaning process so you're not working heavier contamination into a dirty surface.
DECONTAMINATE
Check for contamination that washing didn't remove.
Use chemical decontamination when iron and fallout are present. If bonded contamination remains, determine whether additional decontamination is needed before correction.
INSPECT & PREP
Once the surface is clean, inspect the paint under proper lighting.
Remove oils, waxes or polishing residue when needed so you can evaluate the actual condition of the surface.
DECIDE WHAT'S NEXT
Let the paint determine the next step.
If defects need to be removed, correct. If the surface is properly prepared and ready for protection, protect.
SURFACE DECONTAMINATION
WHEN WASHING ISN'T ENOUGH
A proper wash removes loose dirt and grime, but contamination can still remain bonded to the paint. Before reaching for a polisher, inspect the surface and deal with what's still there.
LOOSE CONTAMINATION
Examples
Dirt
Road grime
Grease
General buildup
START WITH CLEANING
Remove loose contamination first. This gives you a clean surface to inspect and keeps unnecessary dirt out of the correction process.
BONDED CONTAMINATION
Examples
Embedded iron
Brake dust
Industrial fallout
Other contamination bonded to the surface
THEN DECONTAMINATE
If contamination remains after washing, use the appropriate decontamination process. Iron & Fallout Remover targets ferrous contamination before additional decontamination, correction or protection when needed.
WASHED DOESN'T ALWAYS MEAN READY.
After cleaning and chemical decontamination, inspect the surface again. If bonded contamination remains, determine whether additional mechanical decontamination is appropriate before moving into paint correction.
CLEAN
Remove loose contamination.
DECONTAMINATE
Address contamination that remains bonded to the surface.
INSPECT
Confirm the surface is ready before moving forward.
PREP QUESTIONS
DETAILING PREP FAQs
Good prep starts with knowing what's on the surface and what actually needs to come off. These are the basics to know before moving into correction or protection.
Car decontamination removes contamination that remains on or bonded to the surface after normal cleaning. Depending on the vehicle, that can include iron particles, brake dust, industrial fallout and other bonded contamination.
Inspect the paint after washing. If bonded contamination is present, address it before polishing. Starting with a properly cleaned and prepared surface helps keep contamination out of the correction process.
Use an iron remover when ferrous contamination such as embedded iron particles, brake dust or industrial fallout is present. It is a chemical decontamination step and should be used when the condition of the surface calls for it.
Surface Prep Spray helps remove oils, waxes and polishing residue so the actual condition of the surface can be evaluated and prepared for the appropriate next step.
Cleaning removes dirt, grime and other general buildup. Decontamination targets contamination that remains bonded to the surface after normal cleaning.
No. Inspect the vehicle first. Some surfaces may only need thorough cleaning, while others may require additional chemical or mechanical decontamination. Let the condition of the surface determine the process.
Yes. Protection should be applied to a properly cleaned and prepared surface according to the requirements of the protection product being used. Remove contamination and unwanted residue before application.
Inspect the paint. If defects need to be removed, move into paint correction. If the surface is properly prepared and does not require correction, move into the appropriate protection process.