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Ceramic Coating Maintenance: How to Wash, Dry, and Protect Your Coated Car

Ceramic Coating Maintenance: How to Wash, Dry, and Protect Your Coated Car

TL;DR — To properly maintain a ceramic coated car, follow a dedicated maintenance wash between major detailing: prep your workspace, pre-rinse wheels and tires, use a decontamination foam to lift fallout, then perform a lubricated maintenance wash with a soap designed for ceramic coatings (a pH-neutral option works well for regular upkeep). Rinse thoroughly and dry with the best microfiber towels for ceramic coated cars, then finish with glass and tire care and a quick walk-around using a detailing spray that reinforces the coating. Pair this routine with an annual maintenance detail (wash, clay, seal, heavy decontamination) to preserve water-beading, gloss, and the coating’s protection for years.
Maintaining the pristine appearance of a ceramic coated vehicle requires a specific approach to ensure the coating's longevity and performance. In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through the essential steps to properly clean and protect your ceramic-coated car between major detailing services.
Sydni from The Rag Company, a leading authority in the world of automotive detailing, will share her expert techniques and the trusted products she uses to keep a ceramic-coated Ford Explorer looking its best. Whether you're a professional detailer or an enthusiastic at-home car care enthusiast, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and tools to preserve your vehicle's ceramic coating and keep it looking showroom-fresh.

Understanding the Importance of Proper Maintenance for Ceramic Coatings

Ceramic coatings have revolutionized the world of automotive paint protection, offering unparalleled gloss, hydrophobic properties, and long-lasting protection against the elements. However, even the most durable ceramic coatings require regular maintenance to ensure they continue to perform at their best.

Sydni explains, "For my customers, I always recommend that they come back once a year for a maintenance detail. That is where we do the wash, clay, seal, and heavy decontamination. In between those major services, it's important to follow a regular maintenance wash routine to keep the coating in top condition."

Neglecting proper maintenance can lead to a buildup of contaminants on the surface, which can diminish the coating's water-beading abilities and overall appearance. By following a consistent maintenance routine, you can preserve the integrity of your ceramic coating and enjoy its benefits for years to come.

Gathering the Necessary Tools and Products

Before diving into the wash process, it's essential to have the best products for ceramic coated cars handy. Sydni has carefully curated a selection of high-quality items that she trusts to safely and effectively clean and protect her ceramic-coated vehicle.

With these high-quality tools and products at your disposal, you'll be well-equipped to tackle the maintenance wash process and keep your ceramic-coated vehicle looking its absolute best.

The Maintenance Wash Routine: Step-by-Step

1. Prepare the Workspace and Gather Your Supplies

Sydni emphasizes the importance of having all your tools and products ready before starting the wash process. "This is going to prevent you from accidentally leaving something on the surface too long, running to get something ready. So I always like to start out by getting all of my buckets ready, my brushes, my foam cannon, everything."

By ensuring everything is within reach, you can maintain a smooth and efficient workflow, minimizing the risk of any missteps that could potentially damage the ceramic coating.

2. Pre-Rinse the Wheels and Tires

Sydni begins the wash process by addressing the wheels and tires, as they are typically the dirtiest areas of the vehicle. "I always start with the wheels and tires just because they are generally the dirtiest. And then I like to get them clean so that when I foam over the car, I can go back with one more pass over them with the foam."

She uses the Armour Detail Supply Tire Cleaner and Armour Detail Supply Wheel Cleaner to thoroughly clean the wheels and tires, agitating the surfaces with her specialized brushes to ensure all the dirt and grime are removed.

3. Decontamination Foam

With the wheels and tires taken care of, Sydni moves on to the main body of the vehicle. She starts by applying a decontamination foam using the Frostbite Surface Cleanse Snow Foam. This high-pH soap helps to loosen and lift any stubborn dirt or contaminants that may have built up on the ceramic coating.

"We are going to use the Decon soap. Hopefully that's going to get some of that off of there. Hopefully that's going to revive the coating a little bit. But I think the most important message is to know the coating's underneath there. It's still doing its job protecting against elements. But there is something on top of it."

Sydni allows the decontamination foam to dwell for a couple of minutes before rinsing it off, ensuring the surface is ready for the next step.

4. Maintenance Wash with Lubricated Foam

After the decontamination step, Sydni applies a second layer of foam using the Pearl Auto Shampoo Concentrate. This maintenance-focused soap provides ample lubrication for the contact wash, ensuring a safe and swirl-free cleaning process.

"In this step, we're just using the foam cannon basically to get our soap on the surface so that we have lots of lubrication for our contact wash. So with this one, I'm not looking for that heavy density foam. We're just trying to get the soap to cover the surface for us."

With the surface properly lubricated, Sydni proceeds to the contact wash, using the The Cyclone Ultra 10X Wash Pad and working in straight lines from top to bottom to avoid any potential swirling or marring.

5. Rinsing and Drying

After the contact wash, Sydni thoroughly rinses the entire vehicle to remove any remaining soap and dirt. She notes that at this stage, she can already see some of the water-beading behavior returning, indicating that the ceramic coating is still performing well beneath the surface contaminants.

For the drying process, Sydni utilizes the Premium FTW and Edgeless 300 microfiber towels, along with the Armour Detail Supply Amplify - Detail Spray as a drying aid. This versatile product not only helps to speed up the drying process but also enhances the paint's appearance and provides a layer of protective SiO2 sealant.

6. Glass Finishing and Tire Dressing

To complete the maintenance wash, Sydni turns her attention to the vehicle's glass and tires. For the glass, she uses the Reflect Glass Finisher, which not only cleans the surface but also leaves behind a protective SiO2 coating for improved water behavior and optical clarity.

For the tires, Sydni applies the Armour Detail Supply Tire Plus using the Screwball Brush, ensuring the dressing is evenly distributed and penetrates into the tire's grooves for a long-lasting, glossy finish.

As a final touch, Sydni uses the Armour Detail Supply Amplify - Detail Spray to perform a quick walk-around, addressing any remaining drips or smudges and leaving the vehicle with a flawless, showroom-ready appearance.

Maintaining the Ceramic Coating's Performance

Sydni emphasizes the importance of regular maintenance washes to preserve the ceramic coating's performance and appearance. "Even though we know the coating is there, it's doing its job. You know, we want as consumers, we want the fun part, which is the show of the water behavior. Right. So that will help us kind of restore that and get that feeling back."

By following this comprehensive maintenance wash routine, you can ensure your ceramic-coated vehicle continues to bead water, resist dirt and grime, and maintain its showroom-fresh look for years to come. Remember, proper maintenance is the key to unlocking the full potential of your ceramic coating investment.

For more tips, tricks, and product recommendations from the experts at The Rag Company, be sure to subscribe to their main YouTube channel, FAQ channel, and podcast channel. Stay tuned for more valuable content to help you master the art of automotive detailing and keep your ceramic-coated car looking its absolute best.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How often should you perform maintenance on a ceramic coated car?

In practice, follow an annual maintenance detail (wash, clay, seal, heavy decontamination) and perform regular maintenance washes between major services. Many readers consult a ceramic coating maintenance frequency chart to determine how often to wash and when to schedule deeper work, essentially answering the question of how often to wash a ceramic coated car.

What are the key steps in a proper maintenance wash for a ceramic coated car?

A proper maintenance wash typically includes: prep the workspace and gather supplies, pre-rinse wheels and tires, apply a decontamination foam to lift contaminants (decontamination procedures for ceramic coating), perform a lubricated maintenance wash, rinse thoroughly, dry with high-quality microfiber towels, then treat glass and tires with dedicated cleaners and a final detailing spray as a drying aid that reinforces the coating.

What tools and products are recommended for ceramic coating maintenance?

Recommended tools and products include the Frostbite Surface Cleanse Snow Foam, Pearl Auto Shampoo Concentrate, Armour Detail Supply Tire Cleaner and Tire Plus, Amplify - Detail Spray, Reflect Glass Finisher, a selection of detailing brushes (Wheel Brush Mini, TriGrip, ProGrip series), The Cyclone Ultra 10X Wash Pad, Premium FTW and Edgeless 300 microfiber towels, and the MTM Hydro PF22.2 Foam Cannon Kit. These are commonly cited in a DIY ceramic coating maintenance checklist for best results.

Can you use wax on a ceramic coated car?

Most ceramic coating manufacturers and detailers advise against applying traditional wax over a ceramic coating, as it can interfere with the coating’s hydrophobic properties and maintenance warranty. Instead, rely on maintenance sprays and SiO2-based sealants, and always check the ceramic coating warranty and maintenance requirements before applying any wax or competing products.

How long can a ceramic coating last with proper maintenance?

With proper maintenance, many ceramic coatings last several years, depending on the coating quality, maintenance frequency, and environment. Following a ceramic coating maintenance guide and sticking to a regular maintenance wash routine helps maximize longevity and preserves hydrophobic properties and gloss over time.