How Do I Wash My Car After Ceramic Coating?

Although it may seem like a simple question, the answer is not so simple, and there are some nuances you should know when it comes to cleaning a ceramic coated car both in the short and long term.

The methods you use to wash your car after it has been treated with a coating can have a direct effect on how the coating will perform and how long it will maintain its looks and protective properties.

There is a massive misconception in the general population when it comes to ceramic coatings whereby they think once they coat their car it will be maintenance-free. Well thats not the car. Ceramic Coatings love being clean so the regular scheduled cleans should be a priority to getting the most out of your protective coating.

Coatings do make a car easier to clean, it certainly does not mean you can now just neglect it.

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Here is a list of products we recommend buying and we use at Rpm Detailing Melbourne

  • C2 Gtechniq Ceramic Sealant. This is a maintenance product and can be used weekly or monthly.

  • W6 Gtechniq Iron Fallout Remover. This is a pH Neutral Wheel & Caliper Cleaner that is Ceramic Coating Safe.

  • W3 Gtechniq Ceramic Gwash. This is a pH Neutral si02 Shampoo. We recommend using when you double bucket wash the vehicle ie Safe Wash. If the dirt on the vehicle is allowed to dry it will dry over the Ceramic Coating and block the hydrophobic properties. Always Snow Foam and Rinse prior to any double bucket wash method.

  • W4 Gtechniq Citrus Foam. This is a pH neutral pre-wash citrus snow foam. We recommend snowfoaming the vehicle weekly with W4 to help stop caking the ceramic coating in dirt. W4 should be used prior to any safe wash. Most pH neutral snowfoams can be used in your product arsenal.

  • Snow Foam Gun. Speak to your local repco or supercheap auto to find a snowfoam gun that suits your pressure washer. We recommend the bowdens snowblow Cannon.

  • Gtechniq Wash Mit or Gtechniq MF1 Microfibre Towels. Wash mitts can get clogged with dirt particles over time. We recommend using a brand new MF1 microfibre towel from Gtechniq every wash as we do.

  • Gtechniq MF2. We recommend using a MF2 in conjunction with small garden blower or aircompressor for optimal results when drying the vehicle. Do not wash or dry the vehicle in direct sunlight as the water may leave mineral deposits ie water spots which stain the ceramic coating.

Let’s take a look at what you need to know about washing a ceramic coated car! The First Wash After Ceramic Coating One thing a lot of people do not realise is that the first wash is the most important to get right. The golden rule you should always stick to after a ceramic coating is Do not wash your car within 7 days of application! If you know the basic properties of these types of products, you will know that once they are applied they will begin to cure and harden. In some instances, it can take several days for this chemical reaction to happen. You need to give the Coating time to fully cure on your vehicle. If you wash or otherwise agitate the surface of the paintwork, it can drastically inhibit the curing process of the product. If you are like me and enjoy washing your car more regularly than the average joe, it can be hard to resist the urge to clean your car for a whole seven days, but rest assured the effort will pay off. By washing and cleaning prematurely, you can significantly shorten the life and effectiveness of the ceramic coating.

Be patient and the final result will be worth it! How to Do a Maintainance Wash on a Ceramic Coated Vehicle Now that you have waited at least a week, you can now resume contact washing.

There are some different tips and tricks you can use when cleaning your car to make the most of the coating. I frequently hear on forums people giving out claiming their coating isn’t performing the way they expected it to, and more often than not it comes down to how they are maintaining it! Let’s take a look at some simple washing tips that can turbocharge your ceramic protection.

  • Keep on Top Of Dirt and Clean Frequently Just because you have a ceramic coating on a vehicle doesn’t mean you should clean it any less. To keep a coating performing at its optimal level, you should be washing it weekly. I may be in the minority, but I wash my vehicle at least once a week. This is my typical recommendation to others when they ask me how often they should wash their vehicle. Understandably not everyone has the spare time to do this, so I think at least one wash every 2 weeks is what you should be aiming for at a minimum but if washing the vehicle every 2 weeks tou will need to use the safe wash double bucketwash method to ensure the removal of all contaminates.
  • Implement Safe Wash Methods If we have installed a ceramic coating on your vehicle, chances are we have completed some sort of paint correction on the vehicle. When you wash or dry your vehicle you run the risk of inflicting swirls and scratches on your paint. It is always important to avoid this, but even more so if you have already gone to the effort and cost of paint correction and coating. There are several things you can do to reduce the risk of damaging your paint when cleaning your car. Use of Snow Foam before coming in contact with the paint. Use a Two Bucket Wash Method at the very least. Use a good quality Microfiber Wash Mitt or Microfibre Towel. Use Grit Guards Where Possible as they will pick up and store the dirt from the vehicle under there base. When drying your car use a dedicated detailing towel and or a blower. Avoid automated car washes unless they are touchless and state they are completely pH neutral.
  • Use Shampoo Designed For Ceramic Coatings at the absolute bare minimum, you should be using a PH Neutral shampoo and always avoid any harsh cleaning products ( these will shorten the life of your coating drastically). Products such as Gtechniq W3 Gwash are specifically designed to be used with coatings and provide gentle cleaning action which is safe for your protection. I always recommend some type Si02 infused shampoo for ceramic coated vehicles as these can prolong the life and performance of coatings. Not only are they pH neutral, but since they contain Si02, they will also act as a “Top Up” protective later for your ceramic coating. I have used many of these in the past and I can confirm that they make a big difference to the hydrophobic of the paintwork.

    If you have noticed that your coating is not beading or sheeting like it was when you first had your ceramic coating installed on your car, you should try one of these shampoos and see what happens. Also try Gtechniq C2 Liquid Glass as a top up spray.

  • Use Si02 infused Sprays as a Coating Top-up Regularly There are many different “Ceramic Sprays” or Si02 infused quick detailer products available on the market which will help to prolong and enhance the performance of your ceramic coating. These will act as a top-up to the existing protection and bring back the amazing water-repelling behaviour of the coating. Personally we use Gtechniq C2 Liquid Crystal on all of our vehicles.

You will find that most brands will have similar products which were specifically developed to work best with their Ceramics so best stick to the same brand.

Warm regards,
Rpm Detailing Melbourne