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DETAIL DOCTOR Do the Safety Checks! Make sure you’re taking all of the necessary precautions when it comes to chemicals Bud Abraham is Founder and President Emeritus of DETAIL PLUS Car Appearance Systems, with more than 40 years of experience in the car care industry as a manufacturer, operator, distributor and consultant. He writes articles and gives seminars on the subject of auto detailing throughout the automotive industry. He can be reached at buda@detailplus.com. By Bud Abraham, The Detail Doctor buda@detailplus.com This article will deal with safety tips that are often overlooked or ignored by detailers that can protect you, your workers and reduce risks in the detail business. When working with cleaning chemicals, it’s the little things that trip you up, the big things are obvious, such as reading product instructions and making sure products are properly labeled. It’s the little things, such as using the proper dilution, that are sometimes not so obvious and can cause problems for detailers. Read the SDS and the Instructions Label Let’s start with the more obvious tips. Just because these best practices seem like no-brainers, it doesn’t mean everyone follows them. It seems that once a detail business owner has been at it a while, or the detailers have been on the job a few months, many mistakenly think they no longer need to read product instructions. No matter how long you’ve been at it, you need to read the labels. As a business owner, do it in front of your employees and then quiz them on the safety and product instructions. Always start a cleaning job by reading the product instructions, then follow up by following the instructions. Always Avoid Mixing Chemicals Jokingly, many in the industry call detailers “mixologists.” That is, without a degree in chemistry they believe they know more than a degreed chemist when it comes to making chemicals. But this is a very serious mistake that can cause both physical harm and damage to vehicles. Mixing incompatible chemicals is a big no-no. Did you know that mixing chlorine bleach with ammonia or an acidic cleaner will inadvertently create a poisonous gas that should not be inhaled? Detailers are famous for mixing up their own cleaning concoctions, but if you mix the wrong products, you can create some toxic gasses. Detailers will often mix the degreaser with the disinfectant and a little bleach to make what they are cleaning even cleaner. As a business owner you must train your employees not to do that, even though it’s an ongoing struggle. This lack of label-reading and misguided mixing are the two most common cleaning chemical mistakes committed by far too many in the detailing industry. Continue reading for more information on mistakes that can make a big difference in both safety and cleaning effectiveness. Measure Carefully REMEMBER: Chemical dilution instructions are not suggestions, they are instructions to ensure a product works as intended. Measure out the exact amount of product and water specified on the label rather than following the glug-glug technique of freehand pouring. Far too many in the industry think, “just a little bit more will do wonders.” The reality is that using a bit more doesn’t help. For example, put too much dishwashing soap in a bowl of water and then put your hands in the solution. You will immediately feel how sticky it is and find you’re having a difficult time getting it off your hands without several rinsings. This exercise will help you realize that using a solution with too much cleaning product will add a film to surfaces that will be difficult to remove and will leave a sticky film that attracts more soil. Not only is using the wrong dilution inefficient and expensive, it also can be harmful to health. Chemicals are manufactured so they rinse freely. If you use them at two times their recommended strength, the film they leave can attract dirt or pathogens. If you use a dilution that is too weak, it won’t clean the surface or eliminate any pathogens it was created to kill. You should have a measuring cup or spray bottle with measuring increments readily available for you and your workers to use. Better yet, purchase a dilution station that automatically dispenses chemicals at the correct dilution. If you purchase enough chemicals from a supplier they may provide one at no cost. In any case they will pay for themselves in the long run. Temperature is Important Few detailers realize that the water temperature, when diluting cleaning chemicals is important. It is estimated that warm water can increase the cleaning capability of a chemical by 10% to 15%. While this is true for most chemicals, many products do require mixing them with cold water in the chemical bonded to the solution. Using the Correct Product Another overlooked process, that far too many in the detail business overlook, is choosing the right chemical for the job. To save money or from plain ignorance some detailers use some chemicals to do a job they’re not made for. For example using your engine degreaser as the go-to product for engines, wheels, tires, carpets, vinyl/leather, etc. Of course, an aggressive product like an engine degreaser will work as most contain ‘sodium hydroxide, which is an aggressive caustic that is formulated to ‘burn soil’ off of a surface. That might work for an engine, but imagine what it can do to wheels, carpets, leather, etc? On the other hand, when using too weak a product the detailer will have to scrub too aggressively, which can damage the surface, not to mention exhausting the arms and muscles. Choosing the right chemical often means choosing more than one. While it may be ok to use pH-neutral products for any number of reasons, in many cases a stronger product will be necessary to clean the particular surface. In short, using neutral pH solutions all the time will not remove stains and soils. Plus, these products tempt staff to scrub too hard or use steel wool scrub brushes, which can damage surfaces. Clean Equipment After Every Use Do you empty your extractor regularly, flushing out dirt and grime? Do you clean brushes and especially your buffing pads? Many a paint finish gets swirled or marred from dirty buffing pads. 8 | AUTO DETAILING NEWS | VOL. 8, NO. 2 • SUMMER <strong>2023</strong>
To give you an idea of how awful the solution in an extractor can be, take a look at the mop bucket in a supermarket that is used to clean up spills. The solution looks like chocolate milk and probably contains all kinds of harmful bacteria. A dirty cleaning solution that is allowed to sit can breed pathogens. Therefore, empty all buckets and equipment recovery tanks and rinse them out after each use, no matter how small the cleaning job. Otherwise, the next time you use the bucket or extractor you’ll be spreading biofilm full of germs. All of this information is being shared to protect you and If I can help you answer any questions or concerns, feel free to reach me at: buda1940@outlook.com or (503)-816-7304. DON’T MIX THIS According to a report by the Environmental Working Group, back in November 2018, a manager of a Buffalo Wild Wings in Massachusetts died after he inhaled a mix of cleaners that contained acid and bleach. The deadly fumes were created after two products, Scale Kleen and Super 8, were combined while he was cleaning a kitchen floor. The mixture, according to the report, quickly turned green, started to bubble and the fumes overpowered the worker as he attempted to dispose of the noxious liquid outside into a drain. Ten other workers and patrons were sickened as a result of the fumes. “Workers that clean for a living or clean as part of their job duties are disproportionately exposed to hazardous chemicals because they handle these cleaning products more frequently – often constantly throughout the day. As a result, they suffer elevated rates of debilitating injuries and illnesses. Scientific literature and clinical data show a link between exposure to conventional cleaning products and exacerbating or causing costly health conditions requiring medical evaluation and treatment – like chronic skin rashes or asthma,” the report stated. QUICK TM CARD Hazard Communication Safety Data Sheets The Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) requires chemical manufacturers, distributors, or importers to provide Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) (formerly known as Material Safety Data Sheets or MSDSs) to communicate the hazards of hazardous chemical products. The HCS requires new SDSs to be in a uniform format, and include the section numbers, the headings, and associated information under the headings below: Section 1, Identification includes product identifier; manufacturer or distributor name, address, phone number; emergency phone number; recommended use; restrictions on use. Section 2, Hazard(s) identification includes all hazards regarding the chemical; required label elements. Section 3, Composition/information on ingredients includes information on chemical ingredients; trade secret claims. Section 4, First-aid measures includes important symptoms/effects, acute, delayed; required treatment. Section 5, Fire-fighting measures lists suitable extinguishing techniques, equipment; chemical hazards from fire. Section 6, Accidental release measures lists emergency procedures; protective equipment; proper methods of containment and cleanup. Section 7, Handling and storage lists precautions for safe handling and storage, including incompatibilities. (Continued on other side) For more information: www.osha.gov (800) 321-OSHA (6742) OSHA 3493-01R 2016 QUICK TM CARD Hazard Communication Safety Data Sheets Section 8, Exposure controls/personal protection lists OSHA’s Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs); ACGIH Threshold Limit Values (TLVs); and any other exposure limit used or recommended by the chemical manufacturer, importer, or employer preparing the SDS where available as well as appropriate engineering controls; personal protective equipment (PPE). Section 9, Physical and chemical properties lists the chemical’s characteristics. Section 10, Stability and reactivity lists chemical stability and possibility of hazardous reactions. Section 11, Toxicological information includes routes of exposure; related symptoms, acute and chronic effects; numerical measures of toxicity. Section 12, Ecological information* Section 13, Disposal considerations* Section 14, Transport information* Section 15, Regulatory information* Section 16, Other information, includes the date of preparation or last revision. *Note: Since other Agencies regulate this information, OSHA will not be enforcing Sections 12 through 15 (29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(2)). Employers must ensure that SDSs are readily accessible to employees. See Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.1200 for a detailed description of SDS contents. For more information: www.osha.gov (800) 321-OSHA (6742) One System, Two Great Coating Options The EPIC® PRO Ceramic Coating System offers a superior high-gloss, hydrophobic finish, abrasion resistance, and enhanced UV protection. Now available in two coating options. EPIC® PRO+ Ceramic Coating with Graphene offers a 4 year / 48,000 mile warranty, and EPIC® PRO Ceramic Coating offers a 3 year / 36,000 mile warranty. • Easy-to-apply coatings • Bonds with the clear coat for outstanding depth of gloss • Produces the ultimate “wet” look • Excellent hydrophobic properties allow water and dirt to slide off Visit MalcoAutomotive.com or contact your distributor today, to purchase EPIC PRO+ Ceramic Coating with Graphene or EPIC PRO Cereamic Coating. SURFACE CORRECTION | SURFACE PROTECTION | DRESSINGS | INTERIOR CLEANING | EXTERIOR CLEANING @Malcoautomotive @Malcoautomotive Malcoautomotive www.malcoautomotive.com VOL. 8, NO.2 • SUMMER <strong>2023</strong> | AUTO DETAILING NEWS | 9
Page 1 and 2: VOL. 8, NO. 2 SUMMER 2023 Now Let
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Page 10 and 11: INDUSTRY NEWS All the news and dirt
Page 12 and 13: INDUSTRY NEWS WIN $100 Kleen-Rite s
Page 14 and 15: INDUSTRY NEWS How to pay back the S
Page 16 and 17: Honoring his Legacy The following i
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