DSS-R.04.01 — Detergent / Surfactant Film

Detergent/surfactant film is an appearance change on glass from leftover cleaning agents (surfactants, wetting agents, soaps) due to incomplete rinse, over-concentration, hard-water mixing, or re-deposition from tools. It presents as shear streaks, drag/wipe overlaps, rainbow/iridescent sheens in low-angle light, and re-wet spotting. Classification is appearance-only per VIS (method-agnostic). Inspect after Non-Invasive Reveal under VIS lighting/geometry; record surface numbering and worked-surface status.

• Directional wipe streaks (vertical squeegee pulls, circular hand wipes) with overlap edges and stop-start stamps.
• Iridescent/rainbow sheen at oblique/raking angles; ghosting returns when lightly misted (re-wet reveals surfactant).
• Heavier at edge starts, high-touch zones, or where microfiber/soap was over-used.

Surface-catch class (MSRT)

• Typically SC-0 (thin organic film on surface).
• SC-1 may occur where abrasive cloths/pads introduced very shallow micro-texture while detergent residue acted as a binder; SC-2 is uncommon and suggests misclassification.
• Perform one light, non-marring pass on a small revealed test patch (substrate). Use polymer stylus if a functional coating is suspected. MSRT supports classification only.

Visual signature

• Shear streaks and overlap lines that mirror tool paths; rainbowing/iridescence in raking; re-wet beading anomalies (film “breaks” unevenly).
• No chip-flank sparkle (not mechanical scoring); no discrete pits (not hot-particle peppering).

Viewing / lighting

• Evaluate clean & dry at 12 / 36 / 72 in, normal incidence and oblique sweep (~60°-120°); use raking light macros to show shear streaks and iridescent film. Record distances/angles in-frame.

Location / access

• Record pane ID and surface numbering (#1-#4; laminate-internal). If pattern appears between panes by parallax on #2/#3, classify CAT-5 by location and refer.

Mechanism cue (context)

• Recently cleaned panels, soap buckets nearby, detergent residue on sills, dirty/saturated microfiber, high TDS mix water, or no final rinse.

Assign CAT by visibility at acceptance geometry and MSRT after a controlled reveal test. Depth values are indicative-field measurement not required.

• CAT-1 (Benign / non-relief): Thin detergent veil with shear streaks/iridescence; SC-0; mainly angle/raking visible. Indicative relief: 0-10 μm (optical film).
• CAT-2 (Light): Persistent film with overlap edges and SC-1 in small zones (from abrasive wiping); limited impact at standard view. Indicative relief: ~10-40 μm.
• CAT-3 (Moderate): Wide-area streaking/veils legible at standard distance due to heavy deposition or soil capture; localized SC-1. Indicative relief: ~40-120 μm.
• Reclassify when: After true residue removal, any modeled micro-texture or SC>0 persists → evaluate under M.02 (abrasion fields) or Ch.03 (mineral) if water deposits are involved.
• CAT-5 (by condition/location): Between-pane/inaccessible by parallax, integrity indicators, or confirmed functional-coating loss on the surface to be worked → CAT-5.

CAT is appearance-based; acceptance is separate under VIS-A at 12/36/72 in. Do not abrade to “force” film removal during classification.

• vs. Fabric softener/additive film (R.04.02): Additive films often show sweet/fragrance cue, silicone/quaternary feel, and strong wetting anomalies; detergent film is classic streak/iridescence with cleaning pattern geometry.
• vs. Mineral staining (Ch.03.02): Minerals leave ring/runs and crystalline edges; detergent films present tool-path streaks and uniform iridescence without ring crystals.
• vs. Hydrophobic mismatch (Ch.06.02): Mismatch exhibits sharp wetting boundaries; detergent film shows gradual streaks that re-wet uniformly (but highlight streak lines).
• vs. Silicone/PIB smears (R.01.xx): Sealant smears are oily/tacky with corduroy or stringers; detergent film is thin, non-tacky, with wiping geometry.

• Photo set (VIS): 12 / 36 / 72 in, normal + oblique; raking macros of shear streaks and iridescence; optional light mist frame to show re-wet behavior (avoid flooding edges). Record distance/angle in-frame.
• MSRT result (substrate): After a small reveal test patch, perform one light, non-marring pass; record SC-class (SC-0/SC-1/SC-2).
• Forms: Pane ID; product family & surface numbering; worked surface Y/N; functional coating present on worked surface? (Y/N/Unknown); reveal status; lighting/time; geometry checklist; photos attached.
• Acceptance split: Post-restoration acceptance per VIS-A §6; classification ≠ acceptance. Coated-face appearance rules apply per VIS §6.2.e when the worked surface is a factory functional coating.

• R.04.01 Detergent / Surfactant Film - Directional shear streaks with iridescent veil on surface #___; post-reveal test patch shows [SC-0/SC-1]; visible at [12/36/72 in] under VIS geometry. Morphology: tool-path overlaps, re-wet highlighting, no chip-flank sparkle, no pits. Classification: CAT-[1/2/3] by visibility and SC-class; CAT-5 if between-pane or coating-side loss on the surface to be worked. Forms + photo set attached; acceptance per VIS-A §6.