Why does my paint feel rough to the touch?

There you are, having washed your car to perfection. It’s shiny, it’s clean, it's sparkling under the sun. The wheels are glossy, the windows are see-through. Everything feels just right… or so you thought! You run your hand along the surface of your car, and it feels like sandpaper! “What is that all about?” you ask. That gritty, sandpapery feel to the car is what we in the auto detailing world call embedded contaminants. In short, the surface layer of your car's paint (also called clear coat) is actually a porous material. This means that certain substances like iron particulates, industrial fallout, rail dust, and brake dust can get stuck in your clear coat. Through normal, daily driving, these substances can come at you in any number of ways: kicked up from freeway driving, living close to a rail yard, or brake dust from your own vehicle! It’s important to get rid of these embedded contaminants and not let them sit too long on your vehicle. Over time, these contaminants can cause damage to your clear coat and jeopardize the integrity of your paint. Additionally, these particulates prevent a good wax or sealant from properly bonding to the surface of your car, thus inhibiting and ultimately diminishing their protective properties.

So, how does one go about removing these nasty embedded contaminants? After a good wash, using proper washing techniques, treat your car with a quality iron remover product (any of the reputable brands will do). The iron remover will start melting away all of the rust and industrial fallout material. The product is working when you see it change to a purple color (more pronounced on white and light-colored vehicles). After the iron remover does its job, it’s time to exfoliate the paint with a traditional clay bar or a synthetic clay bar. Either of these will do, although the synthetic clay bars (clay mitts, clay towels, clay sponges) are much more efficient. Using a quality clay lubricant (again, any of the major brands will do), spray down the vehicle, panel by panel, and massage your clay media over the area in short, back-and-forth strokes. You will start to notice the sandpapery feel of your paint start to slowly fade away—you can also hear the difference too! This process (iron remover + clay treatment) is called “paint decontamination.” You will immediately notice a smooth, glassy feel to your car. Now you are ready to apply your favorite wax or sealant for gloss, shine, and slickness! For the best care of your car, be sure to perform the decontamination process every 4-6 months depending on your driving habits.