---
title: 1 Vs 2 Step Economic Vehicle Cleaner | Hydro-Chem Systems, Inc.
description: The Removal of “Road Film” is what distinguishes vehicle cleaning from other forms of industrial/commercial cleaning.
---

[Our Blog](https://blog.hydrochemsystems.com)

# [1 Vs 2 Step Economic Vehicle Cleaner | Hydro-Chem Systems, Inc.](https://blog.hydrochemsystems.com/fleet-washing-tips/the-merits-of-one-step-versus-two-step-as-an-effective-and-economic-vehicle-cleaner)

 Written by [Hydro-Chem Systems Team](https://blog.hydrochemsystems.com/author/hydro-chem-sales) | Oct 15, 2017, 4:41:00 PM

### Commonalties for Effective Cleaning of Any Surface

- Character of the Soap Applied
- Dilution Ration of the Chemicals to Emulsify, Saponify, Suspend, etc.
- Soft vs. Hard Water
- Cold Water vs. Hot Water
- Need for Pressure, or Friction, Applied to the Dirty Surface
- Degree of Soap Agitation or Release

The Removal of “Road Film” is what distinguishes vehicle cleaning from other forms of industrial/commercial cleaning.

“Road Film” = A thin layer of dirt and pollutants held to the surface by an Electrostatic Bond. It is distinguished from the dirt film on ordinary stationary objects in the following manner:

### Causes of “Road Film”:

- “Road Film” results from the build-up of road dirt, diesel smoke, and other foreign contaminants emitted from the vehicle engine or picked up in the atmosphere.
- “Road Film” is created as a high speed moving vehicle generates air friction and static electricity forming an electrostatic bond to the pollutants.
- “Road Film” consists of pollutants which freeze on the vehicle surface like steel shavings to a magnet.

### How can such Vehicle Pollutants be Removed? Two Ways:

- Either physically pull or brush the shavings from the magnet, or …
- Neutralize the magnetic bond and let the shavings (i.e. Dirt) fall off!

### 1-step Vehicle Cleaning Methodology:

- A single soap is sprayed onto the vehicle surface.
- This is followed by a spray rinse, relying on the water pressure to perform the agitation without brushes and manual assistance.
- May apply greater pressure or hotter temperatures, both of which risk damaging the vehicle surface if used in excess.
- May apply a stronger soap, risking damage to the vehicle surface if it’s strong enough to remove the vehicle surface dirt.
- Must be customized to individual vehicle dirt and weather conditions.
- What’s the 1-step vehicle upshot?
- Must rely on pulling or brushing the dirt off rather than neutralizing the magnetic “road film” bond chemically.
- Such agitation requires extra labor or additional equipment to remove the “road film” surface.
- Risks damage to vehicle surface by applying overly stringent soaps, excessive pressure or extreme temperatures.
- Cannot clean unpainted aluminum surfaces.
- Cannot clean inside of wheels (Needs mit).

## 2-Step Vehicle Cleaning Methodology

- A positively charged first step detergent is quickly applied to saturate the dirt molecules.
- A negatively charged second step is quickly applied to re-saturate the positively charged surfaces.
- After a short dwell, the vehicle is neutral ready for a low labor rinse.
- Vehicle is rinse free of dirt and “road film”.

### 2-Step Vehicle Cleaning Relies Less on Surface Agitation than on Neutralizing the Magnetic Attraction

What are the merits of 2-step vehicle cleaning?

- It requires less physical agitation (labor/equipment).
- It’s more cost effective than any other vehicle cleaning system.
- It results in a cleaner vehicle surface.
- It’s environmentally friendly. Resultant run-off is a near neutral fluoride salt. Less need for solvents, or high phosphates.
- Broad spectrum vehicle cleaning and weather conditions, giving 2-step a more universal application on a national basis, with more predictable results.
- Cleans vehicle areas that generic soaps can’t clean without brushes and hand labor, such as wheel hubs and frames.
- Cleans irregular surfaces such as tankers, livestock haulers, gravel trains, and the huge trash hauling vehicle wash market.

[View full post](https://blog.hydrochemsystems.com/fleet-washing-tips/the-merits-of-one-step-versus-two-step-as-an-effective-and-economic-vehicle-cleaner)

```json
{
  "@context" : "http://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Hydro-Chem Systems Team"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2022-03-04T16:34:04.174Z",
  "datePublished" : "2017-10-15T16:41:00Z",
  "headline" : "The Merits Of One-Step Versus Two-Step As An Effective And Economic Vehicle Cleaner",
  "image" : {
    "@type" : "ImageObject",
    "height" : 60,
    "url" : "/hs/hsstatic/content_shared_assets/static-1.4092/img/default-amp-logo.png",
    "width" : 60
  },
  "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://blog.hydrochemsystems.com/fleet-washing-tips/the-merits-of-one-step-versus-two-step-as-an-effective-and-economic-vehicle-cleaner",
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "height" : 60,
      "url" : "/hs/hsstatic/content_shared_assets/static-1.4092/img/default-amp-logo.png",
      "width" : 60
    },
    "name" : "Our Blog"
  }
}
```