PD-0090: Initial Cleaning

Proper cleaning of the vehicle is the first step for any repair. This standard operating procedure (SOP) covers preparing the surface and removing dust and contaminants from the vehicle to ensure a defect-free finish.

Follow along with the outlined process below for the first steps in achieving a flawless finish.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Thoroughly wash the entire vehicle with, car wash specific soap and water or “pressure wash” if possible. Rinse thoroughly.
2. After the vehicle has dried completely, use compressed air to remove loose particles before entering the paint department. Concentrate efforts on body panel joints, seams, and wheel arches.
   • Apply a generous amount of the appropriate local regulated VOC- approved surface cleaner with a clean cloth or a hand-held spray bottle and wipe in one direction only. This initial step floats the contaminants to the surface.
   • To avoid contaminants drying on the surface, apply the surface cleaner to a 24”x24” area.
3. While the surface is still wet, wipe dry using a second clean cloth to remove contaminants. For maximum results, wipe in one direction to eliminate smearing of contaminants.
4. It is critical that the surface cleaner does not dry on the surface. Allowing a surface cleaner to evaporate on its own or performing an incomplete drying process may cause wipe marks and imperfections in the refinishing paint process

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