Auto Detailing Glossary
The language of professional detailers.
- Clay Bar
- An engineered resin compound used to remove contaminants from the surface of your car's paint, glass, fiberglass, and metal.
- Ceramic Coating
- A liquid polymer that is applied by hand to the exterior of a vehicle. The coating chemically bonds with the vehicle's factory paint, creating a layer of protection.
- Paint Correction
- The process of restoring and rejuvenating the paintwork of a vehicle, mostly through the elimination of surface imperfections that dull, oxidize, or haze the surface by reflecting light in various directions.
- Two-Bucket Method
- A car washing technique that involving two buckets: one for the wash solution and one for rinsing the wash mitt, to prevent scratching the paint.
- Iron Decontamination
- Chemical removal of iron particles (brake dust, rail dust) embedded in paint, usually indicated by purple bleeding when the chemical reacts.
- Ozone Treatment
- Use of an ozone generator to kill bacteria and remove odors (like smoke or mold) from a vehicle's interior.
- PPF (Paint Protection Film)
- A clear thermoplastic urethane film applied to painted surfaces of a new or used car in order to protect the paint from stone chips, bug splatters, and minor abrasions.