Maintaining Your Car’s Ceramic Coating: Dos and Don’ts

Unlike regular car protective coatings, such as car waxes and sealants, ceramic coatings promise incredibly long-lasting protection. Unfortunately, they are not impervious. Every day wear and tear can cause scratches, swirls and fading, ruining the look and feel of a ride. Regular care can extend the life of ceramic coatings. Simple but effective strategies can make all the difference.

Before we go ahead to discuss the do’s and don’ts of maintaining car ceramic coatings, elaborating on washing techniques, regular inspections and proper tools, let’s take a brief look at ceramic coatings and their benefits

What Are Car Ceramic Coatings?

At Auto Finesse, we believe in starting from the basics. So, what is meant by ceramic coating? It’s a liquid polymer that, when applied to a vehicle’s exterior, chemically bonds with the factory paint to offer an impressive protective layer. More durable than a wax or a sealant, a car ceramic coating safeguards the auto exterior from chemical stains, road grime, and UV rays. Despite its invincibility, it may still experience damage due to tree sap, industrial fallout and bird droppings. It requires regular maintenance to preserve hydrophobic properties, apart from gloss and smoothness.

Did you know that ceramic coatings also contribute to cleaning ease? A ceramic-coated car is less receptive to dirt and grime. Therefore, a simple rinse and wipe-down is sufficient to freshen up a vehicle. The hydrophobic property is another advantage, responsible for water to slide off the surface. Enjoy up to 6 months of ceramic protection with Lavish, a snow foam that adds or tops up car protective coatings. Want to maximise its effectiveness? Watch this YouTube video for insights.

How to Prolong the Life of Ceramic Coatings on Cars?

A ceramic-coated car lasts longer if you pay a little more attention to its wash and maintenance. Here are a few standard practices to incorporate into your DIY car care routine:

• Ensure surface-level cleanliness

Regular maintenance washing is key to keeping a car clean and well-protected. Once a week is sufficient. However, if you feel you are unable to keep up, ensure you clean your car every fortnight. Keep track of the distance driven. For instance, if you cover an average of 150 miles a week, your ride is eligible for regular upkeep.

• Prioritise safety during the wash process

Safeguarding car ceramic coating is essential, but many are unaware that it demands a proper pre-wash using pH-balanced snow foam or car pre-wash solvents. The two-bucket method is equally significant, especially when it is combined with grit guards. In short, never skip the pre-wash stage during car detailing. Clean microfibre wash mitts for wheels and bodywork aid the process. A separate plushy microfibre towel of premium quality accelerates drying, leaving your ceramic-coated car exterior intact.

• Invest only in the right car shampoo

The greatest ally of a ceramic-coated car is a pH-balanced shampoo. In its absence, especially when a vehicle is treated to high-alkaline shampoos or washing-up liquid, the lifespan of its ceramic coating shortens. A few other car detailing products to steer clear of are wash-and-wax-based ones and shampoos with a wax base. They are responsible for clogging up SiO₂ layers and diminishing performance.

The only exception, though, is Wash ‘N’ Gloss from Auto Finesse. This wash-and-wax shampoo is pH-neutral and safe on applied coatings. Maintenance washes are quick and effective when they are used. Not only does it cleanse the car's exterior of harmful contaminants, but it also leaves an extra layer of hydrophobic SiO₂ coating. The latter has proven itself by lending supreme protection and a super gloss-like layer to the car exterior.

• Add SiO2 boosters to your car care routine

While detailing your car, plan a SiO₂ booster. It improves the hydrophobic effect, but if you are anticipating protection against chemicals or UV rays of the sun, a ceramic sealant or an SiO₂ booster will not be adequate. That is only feasible when you shop for a proper ceramic coating product. However, with these detailing products, you are assured of a few things—ease of use, prompt application and effectiveness for coatings nearing the end of their lifespan as promoted by brands.

• Update your drying technique

The most overlooked aspect of car washing is the drying method. Often referred to as the final contact with vehicles during a wash process, it demands only the right tools and techniques. A plush and clean microfibre towel is the first step, followed by a few changes. For instance, work from the top of the vehicle, starting with the roof, windscreen and then bonnet. As you dry the surfaces, work the towel in straight lines and use a car blower dryer to take care of tight spaces.

At Auto Finesse, we have two choices—Aqua Deluxe XL and Silk Drying Towel. The former’s super-absorbent core and the latter’s suitability to sensitive surfaces make them ideal for collecting all water from a ceramic-coated vehicle.

•  Ensure car care tools are clean

This advice applies more specifically to brushes, wash mitts, drying towels and buckets. Try to clean them up in between washes. As for buckets, ensure the use of grit guards and thorough rinsing when not in use. Handle the dirt on microfibre with a dedicated detergent, such as Auto Finesse’s Micro Wash.

• Avoid shortcuts

While wash-and-go and automatic car wash services prove more convenient, they come with the risk of leaving heavy swirls on the vehicle exterior. After all, dealerships are all about completing the job quickly. Most are not bothered about using ceramic coating-safe products. Instead, they treat your car to alkaline-based chemicals and unsafe acids. Both are meant to speed up the clean-up process without paying attention to damage by abrasive brushes and solvents.

•  Practice decontamination washing

Regular maintenance washes keep vehicles looking their best, but a deeper clean at times goes a long way in freshening up ceramic coats. Shop for a few decontamination products, such as fallout remover, tar, and glue remover and water spot remover. Auto Finesse, your car detailing supplies partner, has everything to conduct a decontamination wash. Iron Out and Citrus Power, a bug, tar and glue remover, proves safe on all kinds of exterior surfaces, including paintwork. A local stockist near you can supply you with the absolute best from Auto Finesse. Explore here!

Key Products to Keep Your Car’s Ceramic Coating Looking Its Best

Before we end, let’s take you through a few car detailing products safe on ceramic coatings:

• pH-balanced shampoo
• Wash mitt
• Drying towel
• Booster spray

These are designed to have your ceramic-coated car look its absolute best. With most of them available at Auto Finesse, enjoy the convenience of finding the right products at your fingertips. While ceramic coating products are said to deliver exceptionally long-lasting protection, they are more effective in maintaining the signature gloss and hydrophobic effect when properly maintained. So, what are you still waiting for? Shop pH-neutral shampoos and more from Auto Finesse to extend the life of car protective coatings. All are supported by positive reviews, and you can view them here.