What Is Traffic Film Remover?

By Author: reiko pena
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Traffic film is a term given to contaminants that stick onto cars and lorries, such as oil, brake dust, fuel additives, grease, tar and cement dust. These contaminants are extremely hard to remove with just standard car cleaning products alone. A traffic film remover (TFR), refers to a specialist cleaning product, which is designed to remove these contaminants. This article takes a look at why traffic film is so hard to remove, how TFRs work, and the current options available on the market.

Traffic film is unlike normal dirt, mud and dust. Because the exterior of the car will spend a lot of time travelling in sunlight, the UV light can ‘bake’ the contaminants onto the surface of the car, making it extremely difficult to remove. These particles are not water soluble, so you can’t just use a pressure washer without the correct cleaning product to remove them. Traffic film also is magnetically attracted to the negative charge that occurs on most vehicles, making them even harder to remove.

TFRs work by using a chemical to break down small metallic particles from the exterior of the vehicle. These particles ...
... are what hold together the traffic film, so once these start to break down, the traffic film can be easily removed with a pressure washer. A high quality TFR will also contain water softeners, emulsifiers, alkaline components and corrosion inhibitors.

TFRs come in liquid form. It is used neat, to break down that stubborn layer of traffic film. It is both phosphate and silicate free, which means that your car will not be left with any nasty streaks. You will need to use the correct gloves and cleaning sponges to apply the TFR safely. Always follow the instructions on the bottle, and be sure to store your TRF out of reach of children, and out of direct sunlight.

After applying the TRF, you will need to use a pressure washer to remove the remaining traffic film. You can use a pressure washer at a local petrol station, supermarket or garage. These will often be coin operated, and you will have a set amount of time to clean your car.