A panel wipe or panel prep is traditionally a solution of distilled water and Isopropyl Alcohol. Many people refer to this as an IPA wipe because of the main active ingredient is Isopropyl Alcohol. A panel wipe or IPA wipe is used to clean and remove excess compounds, polishes, wax, oils, and other contaminants from your paint’s clear coat.
What is a panel wipe or IPA wipe?
A panel wipe or panel prep is traditionally a solution of distilled water and Isopropyl Alcohol. Many people refer to this as an IPA wipe because of the main active ingredient is Isopropyl Alcohol. A panel wipe or IPA wipe is used to clean and remove excess compounds, polishes, wax, oils, and other contaminants from your paint’s clear coat.
What happens if you don’t use panel wipes?
Without the use of a panel wipe, you risk the finish on your vehicle being full of holograms, unrefined and not as corrected as you may think. The presence of oils on the surface will also hinder the bonding of any protective coatings.
Can you use panel wipes to clean glass?
Even panel wipes that are water based work with certain polymers that mimic the effect of a solvent, giving the same effect with difference ingredients. Most panel wipes are also the basis for a glass cleaner. So if you’re short of a glass cleaner, use your panel wipe.
Does panel wipe prepare the surface for wax?
There are a few products on the markt that have the words panel wipe on the label, but actually prepare the surface for wax. It doesn’t prepare for sealants and/or coatings. Panel wipe comes in liquid form, ready from the bottle, as a concentrate or even as wet cloths.
What does panel wipe contain?
Isopropyl AlcoholPanel wipe, also known sometimes as panel prep, is traditionally a solution made up of distilled water and Isopropyl Alcohol. Panel wipe is often known as an IPA wipe because of the main active ingredient being Isopropyl Alcohol.
Is panel wipe a degreaser?
Panel wipes (also known as IPA wipes) are powerful degreasers that can dissolve small contaminates in localised areas.
Does panel wipe damage paint?
Most panel wipes (also known as IPA wipes) are made up of a combination of distilled water, solvents and isopropyl alcohol. However, there are more and more options on the market that are less abrasive and won't risk softening the paint.
Is panel wipe necessary?
Without the use of a panel wipe, you risk the finish on your vehicle being full of holograms, unrefined and not as corrected as you may think. The presence of oils on the surface will also hinder the bonding of any protective coatings. Using a panel wipe therefore also helps prepare an optimum surface for bonding.
What can I use instead of panel wipe?
Many bottles of Isopropyl Alcohol usually come in 50%, 70%, or 91% strengths. 50% Isopropyl Alcohol is the easiest to mix and get to a usable ratio. If you can get 50% strength Isopropyl Alcohol we recommend grabbing it and you do not need a large bottle as 16 ounces will go a long way.
Can you use panel wipe on plastic?
It's practically a cocktail of solvents and alcohol, meaning it'll eat through contaminants as well as old sealants. The downside to this power is that this panel wipe can't be applied to PPF, vinyl, plastic, rubber or resprayed paint, making it a bit harder to use than the others.
Does isopropyl alcohol remove ceramic coating?
Isopropyl alcohol breaks down these oils, as well as the surface contaminants that are “exfoliated” during the paint correction and buffing processes. The result: A clean slate for you to work with that is ripe for nano ceramic coating.
How many layers of ceramic coating does a car need?
Most of the time, 2 ceramic coating layers along with a top coat layer is all you need. It delivers the safety you require against scratches and abrasions, as well as the protection you seek against ultraviolet (UV) rays and paint chips.
Can wax be applied over ceramic coating?
The lesson is simple: unless your goal is to strip the ceramic coating off your car, keep the polish away. Car wax and polish are not the same. Car waxes with ingredients like carnauba wax and synthetic shine polymers are perfectly safe to use—and even recommended to use—on top of ceramic coatings.
Does IPA remove wax?
Yes, IPA will remove waxes and sealants.
Can you use rubbing alcohol on car paint?
Answer provided by. Using a ratio of 10%-15% rubbing alcohol to 85%-90% water mixture will not damage car paint, and is highly effective in removing grease, oil, and other stubborn stains from your car's exterior paint coat.
How do I make my own IPA spray?
9:1217:24How To Make An IPA Panel Wipe For Car Detailing - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo that's 240 milliliters of your 70 ipa and 710 milliliters of distilled water you add that in yourMoreSo that's 240 milliliters of your 70 ipa and 710 milliliters of distilled water you add that in your spray bottle. And you're good to go for a bit more bite if you want even more cleaning.
How do you use a panel degreaser?
1:262:17Prep-It - Panel Cleanser and Degreaser - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo first thing you want to do is mist your microfiber bit. And then we're just going to wipe side toMoreSo first thing you want to do is mist your microfiber bit. And then we're just going to wipe side to side overlapping strokes and then i'm going to use my second towel just to buff.
How do you use a panel wipe?
0:381:07How To Use Gtechniq Panel Wipe PW - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSimply spray panel wipe onto a surface and buff with a G Technic M f10. Our microfiber buff. Cloth.MoreSimply spray panel wipe onto a surface and buff with a G Technic M f10. Our microfiber buff. Cloth.
How do you wipe an IPA panel?
1:1217:24How To Make An IPA Panel Wipe For Car Detailing - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo it is a non-polar solvent so in the car detailing. Industry they're often referred to as an ipaMoreSo it is a non-polar solvent so in the car detailing. Industry they're often referred to as an ipa wipe a panel prep a paint prep spray a panel wipe. So on and so forth they all mean the same thing.
Why do you need a panel wipe?
Panel wipe is needed to prepare the surface for another product. For example: when you want to apply a wax, sealant or coating to a surface. After polishing there will be some product left over on the surface, and this can prevent some products from adhering properly.
What is IPA glass cleaner?
IPA is a popular panel wipe and is based on a form of alcohol. This is also the basis for several types of glass cleaner. The point is that the solvent removes any grease or oils allowing it to be wiped off. The residue of the panel wipe will just evaporate without leaving any traces.
Can panel wipes evaporate?
The residue of the panel wipe will just evaporate without leaving any traces. Even panel wipes that are water based work with certain polymers that mimic the effect of a solvent, giving the same effect with difference ingredients. Most panel wipes are also the basis for a glass cleaner. So if you’re short of a glass cleaner, use your panel wipe.
Do panel wipes remove wax residue?
Please not that not all panel wipes are designed to remove all residue. There are a few products on the markt that have the words panel wipe on the label, but actually prepare the surface for wax. It doesn’t prepare for sealants and/or coatings. Panel wipe comes in liquid form, ready from the bottle, as a concentrate or even as wet cloths.
Why do you need a panel wipe?
Panel wipe is needed to prepare the surface for another product. For example: when you want to apply a wax, sealant or coating to a surface. After polishing there will be some product left over on the surface, and this can prevent some products from adhering properly.
What is IPA glass cleaner?
IPA is a popular panel wipe and is based on a form of alcohol. This is also the basis for several types of glass cleaner. The point is that the solvent removes any grease or oils allowing it to be wiped off. The residue of the panel wipe will just evaporate without leaving any traces.
Can you use panel wipes on glass?
Most panel wipes are also the basis for a glass cleaner. So if you’re short of a glass cleaner, use your panel wipe. Please not that not all panel wipes are designed to remove all residue. There are a few products on the market that have the words panel wipe on the label, but actually prepare the surface for wax.
Does panel wipe prep for wax?
There are a few products on the market that have the words panel wipe on the label, but actually prepare the surface for wax. It doesn’t prepare for sealants and/or coatings. Panel wipe comes in liquid form such as Synergy Prep, ready from the bottle, as a concentrate or even as wet cloths.
Do panel wipes evaporate?
The residue of the panel wipe will just evaporate without leaving any traces. Even panel wipes that are water based work with certain polymers that mimic the effect of a solvent, giving the same effect with difference ingredients. Most panel wipes are also the basis for a glass cleaner.
Why use Gtechniq Panel Wipe
Panel Wipe is designed to remove all polish residues so that chemically bonding coatings can form the maximum amount of bonds with your vehicle’s paintwork.
Simple steps to help you get the best results
Not suitable for use on PPF, vinyl, plastic or rubber. Avoid use on smart repairs or resprays
The best panel wipe
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Bilt Hamber Cleanser
If the Gtechniq is too powerful and you're after something a little more general purpose, Bilt Hamber Cleanser is a clever choice. Made without isopropyl alcohol (a core ingredient to most panel wipes), it's gentle formula means it can be used as a tar spot remover and for cleaning away other common paint contaminants.
What is panel wipe?
Panel wipes (also known as IPA wipes) are powerful degreasers that can dissolve small contaminates in localised areas.
Can it be used on other contaminants?
There's no denying that panel wipes are effective cleaners. They can cut through ceramic coatings, which means tar spots, fuel spills and grease won't be an issue whatsoever. The issue is that most are incredibly harsh and will probably do a fair amount of damage if you were to use them as a general cleaning products.
Gtechniq
Gtechniq was born out of pure science, the love of cars and the desire to create the best car care products, with a focus on protective coatings – the cornerstone of our success.
America's Premier Manufacturer and Distributor of Microfiber since 1999
The Rag Company is a family-owned, woman-owned business offering the highest levels of quality, value, variety, and service in the industry.
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Fabric
The fabrics used in antibacterial wipes use fibres made from plastic polymers, which are then mechanically processed and sometimes thermally bonded.
Chemicals
Our wipes use a variety of antibacterial agents, or ‘biocides’. Among other ingredients, our wipes utilise water-soluble quaternary ammonium compounds, which is highly effective at low concentrations and found in most antibacterial products.
A word on waste
Reducing our waste is important to us. In 2020 we decreased the amount of landfill and incinerated waste per pack by 8% and we’re on track to decrease by a further 8% in 2021. Our aim is to continue this trend so that by 2024 we will have reduced the waste per pack by 40%.
