THE WORKSHOP / Read the label
Product label decoder
Understand pH-neutral, SiO₂, 9H and the other claims you see on detailing bottles.
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THE WORKSHOP / Read the label
Understand pH-neutral, SiO₂, 9H and the other claims you see on detailing bottles.
Try a sample
READING A LABEL
The decoder recognises the common claims on detailing bottles — pH-neutral, SiO₂ or ceramic, 9H, carnauba, APC, microfibre and GSM, compound and sealant — and explains what each one does and doesn't mean. It reads words, not chemistry, so it can't tell you how good a product is. These are the things worth checking on any label.
A ratio such as 1:400 means one part product to 400 parts water — about 25 ml in a 10-litre bucket. It is the fairest way to compare value: a ₹600 shampoo used at 1:400 can cost less per wash than a ₹300 one used at 1:100. Follow the ratio for the job; more product doesn't clean better and often just leaves residue.
pH-neutral shampoos (around pH 7) are gentle on wax, sealants and coatings. Alkaline products — degreasers, traffic film removers and many all-purpose cleaners — clean harder but strip protection, so keep them for wheels, engine bays and decontamination washes. "Coating-safe" or "ceramic-safe" is a manufacturer's claim, usually meaning the product is pH-neutral and free of waxes or fillers that would mask a coating.
"9H" refers to a pencil-hardness test, not to scratch resistance in real use, and no coating is scratch-proof. Durability figures such as "5 years" usually assume mild climates and ideal maintenance; in Indian heat, sun and dust, expect less. SiO₂ percentages are rarely published in a way you can verify, so treat them as marketing unless the product's data sheet backs them up.
GSM (grams per square metre) tells you how dense a microfibre towel is — roughly 300–400 for general wiping and buffing, 600 and up for drying — but the edge finish and weave matter just as much. Pads and polishes are usually colour-coded by how aggressive they are, and the colours aren't standard between brands, so always check the brand's own chart.
Packaged products sold in India must carry the manufacturer's or importer's name and address, the net quantity, the MRP, the month and year of manufacture and consumer-care contact details. A bottle without them — not unusual for unbranded "ceramic" products sold online — is a reason for caution. Read the hazard symbols and safety directions on solvents and acids too, and store them away from children and heat.
Read next: choosing a car shampoo, microfibre explained and the product specification guide.