Car-care chemicals — explained
Every chemical class we track on CarCareTruth, with plain-English notes on what each one actually does, when it's a concern, and which products use it. Filter products by ingredient class on the products page.
Solvents
What carries the active ingredients. Solvent choice determines flammability, smell, skin irritation, and how fast a product flashes off.
Alcohol solvents
Aliphatic solvents
Aromatic solvents
Glycol ether solvents
Terpene solvents
Surfactants
Soaps. They reduce surface tension so dirt lifts off — but the type matters: anionics strip wax/sealant, amphoterics are gentle, nonionics are workhorses.
Anionic surfactants
Nonionic surfactants
Amphoteric surfactants
Acids, bases & redox
How aggressive the chemistry is. The most dangerous ingredients in car care live here.
Acids
Bases
Oxidizers
Coatings, polymers, waxes
What stays on the paint after the carrier evaporates — the actual protection layer.
Silicones
Waxes
Ceramic (SiO₂)
Functional additives
Smaller-percentage ingredients that adjust performance, smell, color, or shelf life.