Pre-Wash Products

What Is Traffic Film Remover?

Traffic film remover is a spray-on-and-rinse-off product. There is no scrubbing needed. Active ingredients break down oils, grease, diesel residue, and road salt. It has a pH of 11 up to 13 which means the product is highly alkaline. It cuts through heavy contamination but it is safe on paint, glass, plastic trim, and rubber. It should not have potassium, sodium, and other dangerous or corrosive hydroxides. Sometimes it has a nice smell like pink grapefruit.

TFR comes in two forms: a ready-to-use spray bottle or a concentrate that you must dilute. If you use the second one, mix it with water. The ratios should depend on how dirty the car is: 

• For foam cannon: 1:2 to 1:20 (500ml to 50ml per 1 L water)
• For hand foam sprayer: 1:10 to 1:200 (100ml per 1 L water)
• For hand sprayer: 1:10 to 1:200 (100ml per 1 L water)

Do not mistake a bottle of traffic film remover for a car shampoo because it is more of a pre-wash. You do not use it with a mitt. Use TFR first, rinse completely, then wash with a proper shampoo.

Traffic Film vs Regular Dirt

Regular dirt is dust, mud, or loose grime. It sits on the surface, washes off easily, and the car looks clean after treating it with water. To get rid of it, it is enough to use a car shampoo. Traffic film is different because it is a bonded contamination: a mix of diesel particulates, engine oil mist, exhaust residue, road salt, and industrial pollution. It is oily and sticky. 

Traffic film washes off partially in a regular washing. The car looks better but still dull. The paint does not shine because there is a sticky film still bonded to the surface. To remove it, you need a traffic film remover.