8 Best Ways on How to Take Care of a Ceramic Coated Car

A ceramic coating is a great investment for your car, as it will protect its exterior paint job, and give it a stunning glossy and smooth finish. Your ceramic coated car will stay clean much longer, and will be safe from minor scratches and scuffs.

However, the brand new coating will not exactly clean itself, and it will not make your shiny vehicle invincible.

If you are considering a ceramic coating, you should first learn how to take care of a ceramic coated car. You don’t want to end up with a bad surprise just because you had no idea of what you should and should not do to maintain your car.

Below are the eight best ways on how to take care of a ceramic coated car:

1. Give the ceramic coating some time to cure

After your ceramic coating has been applied on your car by a certified dealer, you will need to give it some time to cure. Before the curing process is completed, the ceramic coating will be soft and easy to damage.

Even though the coating will seem hard after the first 48 hours, 3 to 4 weeks should be necessary to let the coating cure completely.

You can still use your car while the coating is curing, but be sure not to expose it to rain, water sprinklers, and direct sunlight. If any contaminant falls on your car, wash it off as soon as possible.

2. Don’t take your car to an automated car wash

If you want to take care of a ceramic coated car properly, you should not take your car to an automated car wash. A ceramic coating is hydrophobic, which means it repels water and prevents contaminants such as dirt, bird droppings, and dead bugs from bonding to the car’s surface. Some would call it a self-cleaning technology, but it doesn’t mean you will never have to wash your car again.

In fact, you will still need to wash it regularly if you want to preserve the shiny finish of the coating.

But whenever you want to wash your ceramic coated car, don’t take it to an automated car wash. The soaps they use, along with the different automated brushes, would quickly ruin your car’s new finish.

3. Wash your car properly and regularly

Since you can’t take your car to an automated car wash, you will have to carefully wash it by hand. The two-bucket system is recommended: you need a bucket with water and soap to wash your car, and another bucket with only water, to rinse it.

Each bucket should have a grit guard to keep dirt and impurities at the bottom of the bucket, and not on the microfibre towel you will use.

Thanks to the ceramic coating, the water will bead up and roll off your car, bringing contaminants with it.

4. Be sure to use a pH neutral car shampoo

It’s important to use the right type of soap to wash your ceramic coated car. You can ask your dealer for car shampoo recommendations.

The car shampoo you use should be pH neutral, and contain no harsh chemicals or added wax. An aggressive soap could damage the glossy finish of your car, while wax would leave an ugly residue on top of it, which would end up making the coating appear dirty.

5. Use a good microfibre drying towel

After you have washed your car, you need to completely dry it to avoid unsightly water spots. If there is a lot of calcium or minerals in your water, it’s even more important to thoroughly dry your car after washing it.

A high-quality, waffle-weave microfibre towel will be perfect to dry your car. Make sure this towel is clean, and that it has never been used with harsh cleaners.

6. Avoid washing your car under direct sunlight

You should avoid washing your car under direct sunlight, as it would dry the soap and water quickly, and leave ugly water spots and streaks on the finish.

If you have to wash your car outside, do it during a cloudy day, early morning, or during the evening.

7. Refresh the ceramic coating with a maintenance spray

Your dealer should also recommend you a maintenance spray to rejuvenate the ceramic coating of your car. This product will seal and protect your ceramic coating, and maintain its beautiful shiny finish.

You can use this spray immediately after washing your car, every 2 to 3 months. Avoid direct sunlight when you apply it, and be sure to follow the instructions given by your dealer.

8. Get your coated car inspected each year

The certified dealer who applied your car’s ceramic coating wants you to be satisfied with your investment. And to really protect this investment, you should get your car inspected once a year.

A professional will take a close look at your ceramic coating to check for any issue that needs to be fixed. They will correct uneven coverage or minor scratches, so your shiny car can keep looking its best for years to come.