If your paint looks dull, water spots keep showing after a wash, or your ceramic coating no longer beads water the way it used to, mineral buildup may be part of the problem. Hard-water residue, road salt, and other contamination can collect on the surface and mask the finish underneath.
Our mineral reset system gives you two ways to address that buildup: DETOX Acidic Shampoo for the wash stage and REGEN Acidic Cleaner for more concentrated, targeted cleaning. In the video below, Bradley explains what each product does, how they work together, and where they fit into coating maintenance.
Watch Bradley's complete DETOX and REGEN explanation on YouTube.
In this guide: Choose your product · Use DETOX · Use REGEN · Plan a two-pH wash · FAQs
Why mineral contamination needs its own cleaning approach
Different contaminants respond to different cleaning methods. Oils, bugs, and traffic grime are common reasons to reach for an alkaline cleaner or shampoo. Mineral deposits from hard water and other sources call for an acidic cleaning step.
A car can look washed while still carrying a thin mineral film. On a coated vehicle, that film may reduce clarity and interfere with water behavior. Adding another topper might change how the surface feels, but it does not establish whether the underlying mineral contamination has been removed.
DETOX vs. REGEN: which should you use?
| Product | Main role | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|
| DETOX | Acidic mineral-cleaning shampoo with foam and lubrication. | Prewash, contact wash, and broader mineral-cleaning maintenance. |
| REGEN | Concentrated acidic cleaner for targeted deposits. | Stubborn water spots, mineral scale, coating descaling, and compatible wheel cleaning. |
Start with the cleaning process appropriate for the condition of the vehicle. For general mineral buildup, DETOX is the wash-stage starting point. If specific deposits remain, REGEN lets you treat those areas without repeating a stronger process across the entire vehicle.
DETOX combines acidic cleaning and chelating agents with shampoo surfactants and lubricants. REGEN uses its own acidic cleaning, surfactant, and corrosion-inhibiting system to wet into stubborn deposits. These are complete cleaning formulas; the pH number alone does not describe the entire washing experience or surface compatibility.
How to use DETOX Acidic Shampoo
Choose your dilution
The current product directions specify:
- Foam cannon: 1–3 oz of DETOX, depending on the desired cleaning power. The heavy pre-soak recommendation is 3 oz.
- Wash bucket: 1–2 oz per 3–4 gallons of water.
For example, 2 oz in a bucket containing 4 gallons of water is within the listed bucket range. Foam-cannon output also depends on your equipment and settings, so follow the product and equipment directions when preparing the reservoir.
Use it as a prewash and contact wash
- Prepare the vehicle. Work on cool surfaces out of direct sunlight. Shake the product, test a small area, and follow the label's skin, eye, and respiratory protection requirements.
- Apply the foam. Cover the areas you are treating. The current directions call for approximately 2–3 minutes of dwell time, while keeping the product from drying.
- Rinse thoroughly. Flush away the loosened contamination and shampoo residue.
- Contact-wash when needed. Use the bucket dilution with clean wash media to agitate the remaining film. Keep your media clean throughout the wash.
- Rinse, dry, and inspect. Look for remaining spots or haze and assess the water behavior before adding a drying aid or protective topper.
DETOX can also serve as the acidic prewash before your chosen contact-wash process. Select the approach based on the amount of contamination and the condition of the existing protection.
Does DETOX need a neutralizing shampoo afterward?
DETOX is formulated to rinse clean without an additional neutralization step. A thorough water rinse is still essential. Do not leave shampoo residue sitting on the vehicle or allow the product to dry while waiting to move to the next stage.
How to use REGEN Acidic Cleaner
REGEN is the targeted step for stubborn mineral deposits that remain after washing. Both the 16 oz bottle and the gallon contain concentrate. Measure the product into a separate, compatible application bottle at the dilution appropriate for the task.
Match the dilution to the job
Ratios below are water to product. A 10:1 mix means ten parts water plus one part REGEN. “Neat” means undiluted product.
- Wheel cleaning: neat to 4:1, only on compatible surfaces.
- Water spots and mineral scale: 4:1 to 10:1.
- Ceramic coating descaling: 10:1 to 20:1.
Begin with the milder end of the appropriate range and test the result before considering a stronger mix within that range. Wheel-cleaning strength is not the default choice for routine coating maintenance.
Here are approximate measured examples for a 500 mL finished batch:
| Ratio | Water | REGEN |
|---|---|---|
| 4:1 | 400 mL | 100 mL |
| 10:1 | 454.5 mL | 45.5 mL |
| 20:1 | 476.2 mL | 23.8 mL |
Treat one section at a time
- Confirm compatibility. Check the finish and the current label before application. REGEN must not be used on interiors, engines, polished aluminum, or anodized surfaces. Sensitive finishes, raw aluminum, and damaged clear coat need particular caution.
- Prepare a wet, cool surface. Work out of direct sunlight and test a small area first. Follow the label's skin, eye, and respiratory protection requirements.
- Apply to a manageable section. The current directions specify a brief 10–15 second dwell.
- Agitate as needed. Use a suitable brush, sponge, or microfiber for that surface. REGEN is not a guaranteed spray-on, rinse-off solution for every heavy deposit.
- Rinse thoroughly and dry. Do not allow the cleaner to dry on the surface.
- Inspect the result. Assess the treated area before repeating the process. A mark that remains may be etching rather than removable mineral residue.
Where Decon Soap fits into a two-pH wash
A vehicle can carry both organic grime and mineral contamination. Decon Soap addresses the alkaline cleaning side of that process, while DETOX provides the acidic mineral-cleaning stage.
One straightforward sequence is:
- Clean the wheels and tires with products suitable for their finishes.
- Use Decon Soap to address the organic grime, following its current application directions.
- Rinse thoroughly.
- Use DETOX as the acidic foam and/or contact-wash stage.
- Rinse thoroughly again and inspect for remaining mineral deposits.
- Use appropriately diluted REGEN on compatible areas that still need targeted treatment, then rinse and dry.
Use these as separate cleaning stages. You do not need every step at every wash: light contamination may only call for DETOX, while isolated stubborn deposits may call for a targeted REGEN treatment after cleaning.
Water spots, etching, and coating failure are different problems
Mineral deposits sit on the surface and may respond to acidic cleaning. Etching is physical damage to the paint or glass left after contamination has affected the finish. Removing the deposit can reveal that damage, but a cleaner cannot rebuild the damaged surface.
If the deposit is gone and a mark remains, the next step may be paint polishing or a dedicated glass-correction process. Repeatedly increasing chemical strength is not a substitute for identifying what remains.
The same distinction applies to ceramic coatings. A healthy coating masked by mineral buildup may regain better water behavior after cleaning. A worn-out or damaged coating will not be replaced by DETOX or REGEN. Inspect after the cleaning stage so that a new topper does not complicate your assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Will DETOX strip my ceramic coating?
DETOX is designed for coating maintenance and does not strip healthy ceramic coatings when used as directed. Weaker waxes, spray sealants, and temporary protection may be affected, depending on their condition. Match the cleaning process to the protection you are maintaining.
Do DETOX and REGEN add gloss or protection?
Their purpose is cleaning. Removing contamination can improve clarity and reveal the existing coating's behavior, but that improvement is not a new layer of protection.
Should I use REGEN every time I wash?
Choose it for a specific mineral-cleaning need. A targeted treatment is useful when deposits remain after washing; it does not need to become an automatic step on an already clean surface. Cleaning frequency should follow the contamination you actually encounter.
Can I keep increasing the strength until a spot disappears?
Stay within the product's recommended range for the job and confirm surface compatibility. If proper cleaning leaves a mark, inspect for etching or seek finish-specific guidance before further treatment.
For the broader process, read our paint decontamination guide. For regular upkeep after the reset, see how to wash a ceramic coated car.