Sliced Bread Car Shampoos and Coatings
Nov 6, 2025
Join Dr. Beatriz Mingo, a materials scientist and vehicle coatings researcher, alongside car enthusiast and TV presenter Tim Shaw, as they break down the science behind car care. They dive into the effectiveness of various car shampoos, the importance of pH for gentle cleaning, and whether washing-up liquid could suffice. Discover the real differences between polishes, waxes, and ceramic coatings—are they truly protective or just cosmetic? Tim shares practical car washing tips, while they critically assess the hype around products like snow foam and graphene coatings.
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Clean Often To Protect Clear Coat
- Clean your car regularly to prevent bigger particles from damaging the clear coat.
- Timely cleaning preserves the paint layers that protect metal from corrosion.
How Surfactants Clean Paint
- Surfactants remove oily grime by surrounding it with a water-loving tail and an oil-loving head.
- Blending anionic, non-ionic and amphoteric surfactants balances cleaning power and gentleness.
Choose pH According To Dirt Level
- Prefer pH-neutral shampoos for routine washes to avoid aggressive damage to the clear coat.
- Use stronger alkaline or acidic cleaners only briefly and rinse immediately for heavy stains.