Problem Solving
Q: When I first used your product it foamed well and cleaned great. Now I'm not getting the same level of suds or performance. What could be the problem?
Q: What does reclaim compatible chemicals mean?
Q: What does Conditioner mean?
Q: What are the advantages of using powdered detergent instead of liquid? Is the extra effort worth it?
Q: A friend suggested that I mix some bleach in with tire cleaner. Will this help me clean tires better?
Q: Why does Stone Soap use carnauba wax in its clearcoat protectants instead of silicone?
Q: The rinse water on my car breaks very slowly. I turned up the rinse aid and now cars will not break at all. Why?
Q: The product directions say to use 1 part detergent to 90 parts water. I am using it as directed, why am I having trouble cleaning?
Q: I have heard the term "titration" used. What does titration mean and how difficult is it to perform?
Q: Does Stone Soap powdered presoaks and pressure wash detergents stay in solution after they are mixed, or should I have to keep the mixer running?
Q: When I first used your product it foamed well and cleaned great. Now I'm not getting the same level of suds or performance. What could be the problem?
A: If a Hydrominder is used in order to dilute product, you might consider installing a new foot valve.  This is the small attachment at the end of the suction hose designed to prevent product from falling back into the detergent container.  After several months of operation foot valves begin to fail.  They become restricted over time and the flow of product through the Hydrominder becomes reduced.  The reduced concentration of product that results from the restricted foot valve intake results in reduced foaming and performance.  It is a good policy to replace foot valves every six months and suction hoses yearly.
-back to top-
 
Q: What does reclaim compatible chemicals mean?
A: Many car washes are required to reuse their wash water.  When this takes place, shampoo, presoak, tire cleaner, rinse aid and waxes are all collected and combined in a large reclaim reservoir, rather than being discharged to the sewer. Often while combining all of the wash chemicals together in the reclaim reservoir, a chemical reaction takes place among the various products because of chemical incompatibilities.  Special reclaim compatible products must be used in order to prevent chemical incompatibilities in the reused water.  If you have a water reclaim system in place, or are thinking about installing one, be sure to alert your Stone Soap distributor or one of our specialists. 
-back to top-
 
Q: What does Conditioner mean?
A: Conditioner is a term used in the car wash industry that refers to the preparing of an automobile painted surface for more effective cleaning or waxing.  This term is generally used when referring to multi-colored shampoo or wax product systems.  Stone Soap offers two multi-color product systems: One is Rainbow® Multi-Foam  (A three-color shampoo/detergent system).  The other is Rainbow® Triple Foam  (A three color foaming wax system).
-back to top-
 
Q: What are the advantages of using powdered detergent instead of liquid? Is the extra effort worth it?
A: Powdered detergents offer two advantages over their liquid counterparts: They offer a savings ( up to 60% ) when compared to comparable liquid detergents, and they generally clean better than comparable liquids.  Many operators who use large amounts of detergents have chosen to take the extra step required in dissolving powders in order to achieve better results at a significant cost savings.
-back to top-
 
Q: A friend suggested that I mix some bleach in with tire cleaner. Will this help me clean tires better?
A: Operators should never mix additional ingredients into a fully formulated product.  All Stone Soap Company products work well when used as directed. Should you have questions about improving product performance, please consult your Stone Soap distributor or one of our specialists.
-back to top-
 
Q: Why does Stone Soap use carnauba wax in its clearcoat protectants instead of silicone?
A: Carnauba is the hardest and most effective automobile wax found anywhere in the world.  Made from the leaves of Carnauba Palm trees, this wax ingredient is the industry standard and product of choice for both automatic and hand wax applications.  When Silicone wax became an alternative to Carnauba wax because of price, many manufacturers chose to use the less expensive Silicone wax ingredient.  Stone Soap continues to exclusively use Carnauba wax because it is the superior choice. Carnauba wax produces a better and more durable gloss than silicone, and is reclaim system compatible.
-back to top-
 
Q: The rinse water on my car breaks very slowly. I turned up the rinse aid and now cars will not break at all. Why?
A: Rinse aids work well at recommended dilutions.  When the proper amount of rinse aid is used, water breaks and runs off the car quickly.  When too little rinse aid is used, water breaks slowly.  When too much rinse aid is used, water may not break at all.  You may be using too much rinse aid.  Slowly begin to reduce the amount of rinse aid applied to the vehicle until the water breaks quickly.
-back to top-
 
Q: The product directions say to use 1 part detergent to 90 parts water. I am using it as directed, why am I having trouble cleaning?
A: Many factors affect cleaning, including water temperature and water hardness.  If your water heater is not delivering the recommended water temperature, the recommended detergent concentration level may not make up for this lack of temperature.  Increasing the water temperature to the recommended level may result in significantly improved cleaning results.

Water hardness is the measurement of calcium and magnesium, which dramatically decreases detergent effectiveness.  A properly operating water softener will produce water free of both of these performance-inhibiting minerals.  As water hardness increases, the detergent concentration must be increased in order to compensate for the performance inhibiting actions of these minerals.  If your water softener is not delivering zero hardness water, recommended levels of detergent may not be sufficient to clean.
-back to top-
 
Q: I have heard the term "titration" used. What does titration mean and how difficult is it to perform?
A: Titration is the industry standard method for determining the concentration of the ready to use presoak.  This is done by adding drops of reagent solution to a measured amount of dilute presoak until a color change is seen.  Stone Soap offers two titration kits that are quick and easy to use.  Our titration test kits allow the operator to accurately determine the dilution ratio of presoak in less than 30 seconds.  These kits are a must for all touchless wash operators and other car wash operators who rely heavily on presoak detergents in order to clean their customers vehicles.
-back to top-
 
Q: Does Stone Soap powdered presoaks and pressure wash detergents stay in solution after they are mixed, or should I have to keep the mixer running?
A: Stone Soap Company powdered presoaks and pressure wash detergents are formulated to stay in solution indefinitely after they are thoroughly dissolved.  No additional mixing is necessary after the products are initially mixed.
-back to top-
 
  

Pick the type of wash you have and find answers.

Stone Soap Company - America's Oldest and Most Trusted Name in the Car Wash Industry
800-952-SOAP(7627) | Tel: 248-706-1000 | Fax: 248-706-1001 |  ©Copyright 2007 Stone Soap Company, Inc. All rights reserved.