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The DIY Detail Podcast

The DIY Detail Podcast

Do You REALLY Need Harsh Chemicals To Detail?

Sep 4, 2026 · 18 min · 10 segments

Send us Fan Mail Which chemicals are helpful, and which ones should you avoid? Do you really need harsh chemicals like a degreaser or wheel acid to…

Send us Fan Mail Which chemicals are helpful, and which ones should you avoid? Do you really need harsh chemicals like a degreaser or wheel acid to tackle dirty jobs? That's the subject of this week's podcast! \*Corded* 25MM DUAL ACTION POLISHER: https://bit.ly/25mmCorrectionProDA \*CORD FREE* 25MM DUAL ACTION POLISHER: https://bit.ly/CordFreeDualActionPolisher \*Corded* MAX GLOSS ROTARY POLISHER: https://bit.ly/DIYMaxGlossRotary \*CORD FREE* ROTARY POLISHER: https://bit.ly/CordFreeRotaryPolisher 1 YEAR SPRAY GRAPHENE COATING: https://bit.ly/1YearSprayCoating DIY DETAIL GIFT CARD: https://bit.ly/DIYDetailGiftCard ALL CLEAN: https://bit.ly/AllCleanDIYDetail BUSINESS IN A BOX: https://bit.ly/BusinessInABoxDIYDetail BUSINESS IN A BOX- Starter Set: https://bit.ly/BusinessInABoxStarterSet C6 APP (Adhesion Promoter Polish): https://bit.ly/AdhesionPromoterPolish C6 HYDRO LITE KIT: https://bit.ly/C6HydroLiteKit C6 HYDRO GLASS: https://bit.ly/C6HydroGlass C6 MIST: https://bit.ly/C6Mist COATING LEVELING TOWELS: https://bit.ly/CoatingLevelingTowels COTTON CANDY DREAM WASH MITT: https://bit.ly/DIYWashMitt CRYSTAL CLEAR GLASS CLEANER: https://bit.ly/CrystalClearGlassCleaner DRIP CATCHER 2 PACK: https://bit.ly/DripCatcherDIY DRYING BLANKET: https://bit.ly/TheDryingBlanket ENVIE CERAMIC SEALANT: https://bit.ly/EnvieCeramicSealant FLUFFY WASH MITT: https://bit.ly/FluffyWashMitt FREEBIRD 400 FLUFFY TOWELS: https://bit.ly/KoreanPlushBuffingTowelBlack GOLD STANDARD COMPOUND: https://bit.ly/GoldStandardCompound GOLD STANDARD POLISH: https://bit.ly/GoldStandardPolish GOLD STANDARD WAFFLE PAD: https://bit.ly/GoldStandardWafflePad GOLD STANDARD WOOL PAD: https://bit.ly/GoldStandardWoolPad GOLD STANDARD ROTARY CUTTING PAD: bit.ly/RotaryCuttingPad HYDR8 CERAMIC COATING: https://bit.ly/HYDR8CeramicCoating JEWELING PAD: https://bit.ly/RotaryJewelingPad INCREDIBLE WASH MITT: https://bit.ly/46kjKY6 INCREDIBLE SUDS: https://bit.ly/IncredibleSuds INTERIOR CERAMIC: https://bit.ly/DIYInteriorCeramic INTERIOR CLEAN & PROTECT: https://bit.ly/InteriorCleanProtect INTERIOR TOWEL: https://bit.ly/InteriorTowel IRON REMOVER: https://bit.ly/3GfY4iM JEWELING PAD: https://bit.ly/RotaryJewelingPad LEGACY SPONGE: https://bit.ly/LegacySponge LEVEL ONE TOWELS: https://bit.ly/LevelingTowelsDIY NICK’S FAVORITE GLASS TOWEL: https://bit.ly/NicksFavoriteGlassTowel PAD WASHER: https://bit.ly/PadWasher PANEL PREP: https://bit.ly/DIYPanelPrep PERFECTLY SAFE BRUSH: https://bit.ly/PerfectlySafeBrush PLUSH BUFFING TOWEL (FREEBIRD 400): https://bit.ly/PlushBuffingTowel QUAD FOLD “CLAY” TOWEL: https://bit.ly/FineGradeClayTowel QUICK BEADS: https://bit.ly/QuickBeads QUIVR FOAM CANNON: bit.ly/QUIVRFoamCannon RINSE LESS WASH: https://bit.ly/RinselessWash SHOW WINNING WAX: https://bit.ly/DIYDetailShowWinningWax Tire and Carpet Scrubbing Brush: https://bit.ly/TireAndCarpetScrubbingBrush TIRE DRESSING BRUSH: https://bit.ly/TireDressingBrush TIRE LOTION: https://bit.ly/TireLotion TRIM RESTORE & PROTECT: https://bit.ly/DIYRestoreAndProtect TREE SAP REMOVER: bit.ly/TreeSapRemover WATERLESS WASH: https://bit.ly/WaterlessWashDIY WATER SPOT REMOVER: https://bit.ly/WaterSpotRemoverDIY WHEEL AND BODY BRUSH: https://bit.ly/WheelAndBodyBrush WHEEL BARREL BRUSH: https://bit.ly/WheelBarrelBrush 1 YEAR SPRAY GRAPHENE COATING: https://bit.ly/1YearSprayCoating 3 YEAR COATING-TYPE 3: https://bit.ly/3YearCoatingType3 5 YEAR COATING-TYPE 3: https://bit.ly/5YearCoatingTYPE3 HYDR8 CERAMIC COATING: https://bit.ly/HYDR8CeramicCoating FOAM COATING APPLICATOR: https://bit.ly/CoatingApplicator C6 APP (Adhesion Promoter Polish): https://bit.ly/AdhesionPromoterPolish Website: https://diydetail.com/ Podcast:https://bit.ly/DIYDetailPodcast Join the DIY Detail Facebook Group!: https://bit.ly/DIYDetailFacebookGroup Find DIY Detail products worldwide: https://diydetail.com/pages/distributors #autodetailing #diydetail #yvanlacroix #carwash #claytowel #detailing #detalingtip #howtodetailacar #detailing101

Send us Fan Mail Which chemicals are helpful, and which ones should you avoid? Do you really need harsh chemicals like a degreaser or wheel acid to…

Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube Amazon Music Website

Speakers: Yvan LacroixHostNick McGurkHost

Top entities: Personal protective equipment×7 YouTube×3 Crocs Facebook pH×2

Show signals: SuitabilitySafeBiasNot politicalAudience≈209k followers

The Risks of Wheel Acid0:26 – 4:53

N

Nick McGurkHost

0:26

Let's talk about acid, wheel acid.

N

Nick McGurkHost

0:28

I don't know what the technical term is for it, but it's been used for decades.

N

Nick McGurkHost

0:31

It's still used by detailers and shops today.

N

Nick McGurkHost

0:34

I see a lot of guys doing no touch wheel cleaning.

N

Nick McGurkHost

0:36

They'll do like a degreaser.

N

Nick McGurkHost

0:38

They'll do the acid.

N

Nick McGurkHost

0:39

I don't even know what order it goes in.

N

Nick McGurkHost

0:42

I'm so intrigued by it, Ivan, because it seems like this is how they make money.

N

Nick McGurkHost

0:45

They're profitable.

N

Nick McGurkHost

0:46

So I'm acknowledging the fact that people still use acid.

N

Nick McGurkHost

0:48

I'd like to hear your thoughts on the subject.

Y

Yvan LacroixHost

0:51

So acid was originally developed to clean chrome and stainless steel wheels and wire wheels.

Y

Yvan LacroixHost

0:59

We don't deal with chrome wheels anymore.

Y

Yvan LacroixHost

1:01

There's the odd aftermarket wheel.

Y

Yvan LacroixHost

1:02

There might be the odd factory wheel, but they're very, very rare.

Y

Yvan LacroixHost

1:05

Stainless steel hubcaps have long since gone and wire wheels have long since gone.

Y

Yvan LacroixHost

1:11

And if you are dealing with one, it's probably not a daily driven car that's getting that dirty.

Y

Yvan LacroixHost

1:17

But that's what wheel acids were designed for.

Y

Yvan LacroixHost

1:19

They were not designed for clear coated wheels, which is the majority of the wheels that we have on the market now.

Y

Yvan LacroixHost

1:24

They weren't designed for the plastic covers that are on some wheels, et cetera, et cetera.

Y

Yvan LacroixHost

1:29

Wheel acids are extremely harsh.

Y

Yvan LacroixHost

1:30

Yes, they work.

Y

Yvan LacroixHost

1:31

But every time you're using a wheel acid, you're damaging your customers or your wheels.

Y

Yvan LacroixHost

1:36

Now, The detailers out there using wheel acid with, oh, I've never damaged a customer's car with it.

Y

Yvan LacroixHost

1:42

Great.

Personal protective equipmentEntityClothing
93%7 mentions
YouTubeWebsiteVideo sharing company
79%3 mentions
CrocsCompanyFootwear company
64%1 mention
FacebookSoftware ApplicationSocial networking service
50%1 mention
pHEntity
36%2 mentions
The Occupational Safety and Health AdministrationGovernment OrganizationGovernment agency
21%1 mention
Ray-BanBrand
7%1 mention

Cleaning ProductsBusiness > Automotive > Detailing
Wheel AcidBusiness > Automotive > Detailing > Cleaning Products
Chemical SafetyHealth > Safety > Personal Protective Equipment > Workplace Safety
Cleaning AgentsTechnology > Chemistry
SurfactantsTechnology > Chemistry > Cleaning Agents
pH LevelsTechnology > Chemistry > Cleaning Agents > Surfactants
Detailing PracticesSociety > Consumer Behavior
Industry StandardsSociety > Consumer Behavior > Detailing Practices
Professional TechniquesSociety > Consumer Behavior > Detailing Practices > Industry Standards
Detailing TechniquesEducation > Training
Modern PracticesEducation > Training > Detailing Techniques
Chemical KnowledgeEducation > Training > Detailing Techniques > Modern Practices
Society
Consumer BehaviorSociety
Workplace SafetyHealth > Safety > Personal Protective Equipment
ChemistryTechnology
TrainingEducation
DetailingBusiness > Automotive
Health
SafetyHealth
Education
Technology
Business
Personal Protective EquipmentHealth > Safety
AutomotiveBusiness

The Risks of Wheel Acid0:26 – 4:53

N

Nick McGurkHost

0:26

Let's talk about acid, wheel acid.

N

Nick McGurkHost

0:28

I don't know what the technical term is for it, but it's been used for decades.

N

Nick McGurkHost

0:31

It's still used by detailers and shops today.

N

Nick McGurkHost

0:34

I see a lot of guys doing no touch wheel cleaning.

N

Nick McGurkHost

0:36

They'll do like a degreaser.

N

Nick McGurkHost

0:38

They'll do the acid.

N

Nick McGurkHost

0:39

I don't even know what order it goes in.

N

Nick McGurkHost

0:42

I'm so intrigued by it, Ivan, because it seems like this is how they make money.

N

Nick McGurkHost

0:45

They're profitable.

N

Nick McGurkHost

0:46

So I'm acknowledging the fact that people still use acid.

N

Nick McGurkHost

0:48

I'd like to hear your thoughts on the subject.

Y

Yvan LacroixHost

0:51

So acid was originally developed to clean chrome and stainless steel wheels and wire wheels.

Y

Yvan LacroixHost

0:59

We don't deal with chrome wheels anymore.

Y

Yvan LacroixHost

1:01

There's the odd aftermarket wheel.

Y

Yvan LacroixHost

1:02

There might be the odd factory wheel, but they're very, very rare.

Y

Yvan LacroixHost

1:05

Stainless steel hubcaps have long since gone and wire wheels have long since gone.

Y

Yvan LacroixHost

1:11

And if you are dealing with one, it's probably not a daily driven car that's getting that dirty.

Y

Yvan LacroixHost

1:17

But that's what wheel acids were designed for.

Y

Yvan LacroixHost

1:19

They were not designed for clear coated wheels, which is the majority of the wheels that we have on the market now.

Y

Yvan LacroixHost

1:24

They weren't designed for the plastic covers that are on some wheels, et cetera, et cetera.

Y

Yvan LacroixHost

1:29

Wheel acids are extremely harsh.

Y

Yvan LacroixHost

1:30

Yes, they work.

Y

Yvan LacroixHost

1:31

But every time you're using a wheel acid, you're damaging your customers or your wheels.

Y

Yvan LacroixHost

1:36

Now, The detailers out there using wheel acid with, oh, I've never damaged a customer's car with it.

Y

Yvan LacroixHost

1:42

Great.

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