Having a ceramic coating applied to your car is one of the best ways to keep it protected for years to come. In order to get the best out a coating it needs to be properly maintained using the right chemicals and techniques. Keeping your car’s coating well maintained will ensure it continues to keep the surface cleaner between washes, protects the paintwork underneath, and makes it last for longer.
How to Wash a Coated Car
The first aspect of coating maintenance to cover, is routine washing. A proper maintenance wash process using the correct chemicals and techniques will ensure the coating stays fresh and the car continues to look glossy.
There are a few crucial rules to outline first:
1. Never take a ceramic coated vehicle through an automatic car wash.
Tunnel car washes use harsh brushes and sponges which will mar and scratch the coating.
2. Do not use roadside hand car washing stations.
Again, they often use harsh brushes and sponges to wash the car which will cause swirls and scratches, and they also use harsh alkaline and acidic chemicals which can degrade and in some cases even stain coated and uncoated surfaces.
3. Do not use wax-infused or gloss-enhancing shampoos on coated cars.
These may sound like a good idea but can clog the coating and reduce its water and dirt repelling properties. Instead use a pH-neutral, pure shampoo which will clean the car without leaving anything behind. A good example would be Gtechniq GWash.
Now you know what not to do, let’s talk about what proper coating maintenance should look like.
- The car should always be pre-washed first. This involves using a snow foam or citrus pre-wash to loosen the dirt before pressure washing the surface at a safe distance. A thorough pre-wash means there’s less dirt and grit on the car before contact is made with a wash mitt, which dramatically reduces the risk of scratching and marring the coating.
- Use a safe wash technique to clean the car with a high-quality microfibre wash mitt. Safe wash techniques include the “two bucket wash method” which involves having one bucket with the shampoo solution and one bucket with clean water to rinse the mitt out between panels. This reduces dirt build-up on the mitt and hence the risk of causing swirls and scratches.
- Always thoroughly rinse after washing and dry with a soft, plush microfibre or a car dryer to keep the surface swirl-free.
How Often Should You Clean a Coated Car?
To keep a ceramic coating performing to its maximum capability for as long as possible, it should be washed regularly. The exact frequency depends on how often the car is driven and whether it’s stored outside or in a garage, but as a general rule a ceramic coated car should be washed every 1-2 weeks on average and no less than once per month.
Between washes, the coating will be subjected to contaminants which can clog the surface and reduce its water and dirt repelling properties if left to build up. These contaminants include traffic film, bugs, iron fallout and mineral deposits. If the coating is left too long between washes, the coatings performance will be reduced and it will need to be deep cleaned to restore the properties.
Deep Cleaning a Ceramic Coating
In order to remove contamination build-up and keep a coating fresh, it will need to be periodically deep cleaned. How often a coating needs to be deep cleaned depends on a few factors:
- Is the car stored in a garage or outside? Cars stored outdoors are more prone to mineral deposit build-up as rain droplets can dry on the surface and leave residue behind. Storing a car outside also means it’s more exposed to iron fallout (particularly if stored near a busy road or railway) and tree sap.
- How often is the car washed? Washing a car more frequently will help to keep the contamination from bonding to the surface.
- How often (and how aggressively) is the car driven? Washing a car more frequently will expose it to more traffic film and brake dust which can clog the coating and reduce its performance.
On average, most ceramic coated vehicles need a deep clean (also known as a decontamination wash) every 5000 miles or every 6 months – whichever comes first.
The process of thoroughly decontaminating a ceramic coating involves three stages which are performed after a regular routine wash.
Iron Fallout Removal
Iron particles can become embedded in the coating which leads to reduced water and dirt repellency. They can also be visible in more severe cases on lighter coloured cars, often taking the appearance of small orange spots.
Iron fallout can be removed by using a dedicated chemical which contains an active ingredient called sodium thioglycolic acid which solubilises the iron particles in a colour-changing reaction. The surface can then be rinsed with a pressure washer to remove the contamination.
Tar Removal
Tar spots can often build up on the paintwork behind the wheels as small pieces of asphalt (tarmac) are flicked up onto the surface. Driving on freshly laid tarmac, or on very hot days can increase the frequency of tar deposit build-up. These tar spots stick very hard and cannot be removed by regular washing. Instead, a dedicated tar removal spray which utilises either hydrocarbon or citrus-based solvents can be used to soften the tar spot so it can be easily wiped away with a microfibre towel.
Mineral Deposit and Salt Removal
Mineral deposit removal is an often-overlooked aspect of coating maintenance but one that is crucial in order to maintain a coating’s performance. This type of contamination can be caused by water spots forming after rain dries on the surface, which clogs the coating and dulls the water repellency. Salt residue resulting from driving on gritted roads in winter can also cause the same issue.
These contaminants are best removed by using specialist acidic car cleaning chemicals such as acidic shampoos or water spot removers. These products will carefully cleanse the coating to restore the hydrophobic and dirt repelling properties.
The three processes described above all fall under the category of “chemical decontamination”. There is also another type of decontamination process called “physical decontamination” which involves using a clay bar or mitt. Clay bars (and other synthetic clay types such as clay mitts, clay towels etc.) should not be used on a ceramic coated car as they will cause marring, hence it is best to stick with chemical decontamination processes only.
Topping-Up a Coating
A good quality ceramic coating doesn’t necessarily need top-up protection applied to it, particularly if a good coating maintenance routine is being carried out and the surface is kept free from contamination build-up. However, applying some top-up protection can help to increase the overall lifespan of a coating and restore some properties such as hydrophobicity and slickness that will gradually decline over time.
It is best to use a top-up protection product from the same manufacturer that produces the coating on the car. For example, if your car is coated with a Gtechniq coating, its best to also use a Gtechniq product to top up the protection to ensure compatibility.
Top-Up Protection Options
- Spray and rinse sealants: these are applied to a freshly washed car before the surface is dried, by spraying the product (1-2 sprays per panel is typically appropriate) and rinsing with a pressure washer. These are quick to apply, but the least durable of all the options available. An example of a spray and rinse sealant is Gtechniq Hydro Coat.
- Ceramic sealants: these are applied to dry paintwork using a microfibre towel and then the residue is buffed away to reveal a slicker and more hydrophobic surface. These tend to result in better protection than spray and rinse sealants, but take longer to apply. A good example is Gtechniq C2 Ceramic Sealant.
- Ceramic top-coats: these can be applied to a freshly decontaminated coating to extend the lifespan and restore the initial surface characteristics of the coating. They should generally not be applied more than every 12 months, and are the most time consuming but long-lasting option available. An example of a ceramic top-coat is Gtechniq EXOv5.
Applying some top-up protection to a coated surface can improve the surface characteristics and also provide a sacrificial protective layer. A sacrificial layer shields the coating from contamination, as the top-layer of protection will absorb more of the contaminants and can be shed more easily from the surface.
Ceramic Coating Maintenance Summarised
Here are the key things to remember when it comes to keeping a ceramic coating in the best possible condition:
- Wash a ceramic coated car regularly – ideally every 1-2 weeks but no less than once per month.
- Do not take a ceramic coated car to an automatic or roadside car wash station. Instead choose a local professional detailer to wash a coated car.
- Only use high-quality car detailing chemicals to clean the vehicle. Never use household products or shampoos which contain wax or gloss-enhancers.
- Always pre-wash the paintwork before using a wash mitt.
- Use good quality wash mitts and microfibre towels, and a safe wash technique such as the “two-bucket method”.
- Chemically decontaminate a ceramic coating when the performance diminishes (usually every 6 months or 5000 miles).
If you are considering getting ceramic coating, choosing experienced professionals like Paddock Ten can make all the difference in achieving a flawless, long-lasting finish. Get in touch today for a free quote.