Rail Dust
Rail dust is iron particles which statically become attracted to your car.
They get the name 'rail dust', because it is common to see on vehicles which are parked by railway lines, however metal particles can come from a wide range of sources including your own car's brakes. It can be contained in soot from factory exhaust or caused by grinding and welding, and for this reason is falls under the classification of "industrial fallout".
Once iron particles stick to your car, they react with moisture in the air and rust, and this can eat into the paintwork and cause permanent damage.
Depending on the severity of the contamination, rail dust can be removed in a number of ways, either by using clay bar or clay pads, or by using a chemical treatment which dissolves the particles without damaging your paintwork.
Written by Danny Argent. Last updated 16/12/2022 16:28