For some car-owners, taking their vehicle to be detailed is a nerve-racking experience. They don’t know any of the jargon and they’re terrified the detailers will take advantage of their ignorance. Mobile detailing shouldn’t be a stressful experience. Mobile Detailing Pros has broken down the jargon for you so you can get mobile detailing services with confidence.
AIO
This acronym stands for “all-in-one.” It refers to products that clean, protect, and polish, all in one cleaner.
AMPs
This stands for amperage, which is a unit of measurement to determine the total amount of electricity being consumed.
Baked Dry
This term refers to the process of using heat to quicken the drying and curing process, extensively used in conjunction with films, paints, clear coats, and other chemicals.
Body Shop Safe
This is a qualification given to chemicals used in a body shop. It simply means that the chemical won’t interfere with the paint by causing undesirable effects like adhesion problems or fish eyes.
Carnauba
This is a Brazilian-sourced, premium quality wax used as the final protective step in vehicle detailing.
Cutting Pad
This is a pad attached to the buffer that is aggressive enough to help with the removal of noticeable surface imperfections. It’s most commonly used to even out the paint and clear coat on vehicles’ surfaces.
Degreaser
This solvent removes unwanted grease and oil from the surface by emulsifying them and washing them away.
Dwell Time
This refers to the maximum time a product or chemical is allowed to sit on the surface of a vehicle.
Enamel Paint
This refers to paint with a resin-type finish which gives the vehicle a hard, glossy appearance when it dries. There are two options for this paint: pigmented and clear.
Gel Coat
This refers to an epoxy coating that helps to achieve a desirable and appealing smooth surface.
Glaze
This is a unique and effective mixture of solids and oils designed to cover the defects on the surface of the vehicle to create a highly glossy finish.
Industrial Fallout
This refers to what is also commonly called rail dust, iron particles that end up embedded within the paint surface.
Layering
This refers to the process of applying multiple layers of wax, paint, sealant, or clear-coat over the vehicle’s surface in order to obtain a “film build.”
LSP
“Last step protection,” or LSP, refers to the final step of ensuring the protection of the painted surface.
Original Finish
This refers to the first initial finish applied to your vehicle at the factory, as opposed to any additional finishes later applied by a body shop.
Quick Detailer
This product helps to remove dust and oil from a vehicle’s surface without risking damaging the painted surface. It’s a liquid used during the cleaning process to help lubricate the towel and surface to prevent damages.
RIDS
This acronym stands for “random isolated deep scratches.”
Sheeting Method
This refers to a drying technique wherein a cascading effect is generated by flowing water from a higher surface using an open-ended hosed at low pressure, quickly removing more than 80% of the water from the surface.
Three Steps
A process of sanding, compounding, and polishing to correct paint defects.
Two Steps
A process of compounding and polishing to correct paint defects.
Wash Media
The tool used to wash the vehicle’s exterior.
Waterless Wash
A product made up of suitable polymers designed to minimize water use by using the polymers to emulsify and encapsulate grime for easier removal.
Wet Sanding
This refers to the process of using water while sanding, which helps constantly remove the gunk unearthed by the sandpaper, keeping the area clean and preventing loading up the sandpaper with dirt and grime.
Now you can get vehicle detailing services with confidence because you know the terminology they’re using.
