How to Maintain Your Ceramic Coated Car?

Kudos to you for making a proactive move by choosing the most advanced paint protection products currently available in the market. Ceramic Coatings are always a great idea to sustain the showroom look of your vehicle, along with leveraging the benefits of sturdy protection against UV, chemicals, and other environmental pollutants. Every professional ceramic coating requires proper maintenance for it to last longer. Washing your ceramic-coated vehicle as per the instructions of the ceramic coating manufacturers keeps the coating in great shape for the long run.

Professional ceramic coatings are also backed by warranties that require an annual inspection of the ceramic-coated vehicles to keep a check on their health. However, if you have opted for a DIY route, then you are completely on your own. A common misconception among vehicle owners is they assume that their ceramic-coated vehicles do not require to be washed and end up reducing the life of their ceramic coatings. So, the question still stands:

Why is it important to maintain your ceramic-coated car?

Often vehicle owners are confused by the “self-cleaning” attribute of the ceramic coatings and expect the vehicle to clean itself. However, in reality, self-cleaning is associated with the hydrophobic effect of a ceramic coating that allows water to smoothly slide off the painted surface giving rise to the beading effect. Ceramic Coating is a hydrophobic sacrificial layer that bonds to the painted surface and facilitates in sliding of water, tree sap, dirt, grime, acidic bird droppings, and other environmental contaminants. Although, the residual matter of these pollutants still ends up forming a layer of dirt on your vehicle that needs to be washed regularly. So, the self-cleaning effect makes cleaning the ceramic coated vehicles effortless however you still need to wash your vehicle regularly. Washing your vehicle could be tricky as you do not want to damage the ceramic coating on it, so here are some tips that may come in handy during your next car wash.

Always Use Microfiber Cloths:

A normal wiping cloth can do more harm than good to the painted surface. Many vehicle owners make the mistake of using a standard dirty towel for wiping the painted surface; this leads to fine scratches called swirl marks. The best possibility to prevent swirls is by using professional detailers’ recommended 380 GSM microfiber towels that are highly absorbent. Vehicle owners should use a gentle hand while wiping off the surface.

Use a pH neutral Shampoo:

A pH-neutral shampoo cleans off any layer of contaminants from the painted surface. Make sure to rinse your vehicle with a pressure washer to remove loose dirt and apply a thick layer of pH-neutral shampoo to it. It is advisable to check the ingredients of the pH-neutral shampoo before purchase. Do not buy a shampoo that leaves a waxy residue on the surface after wash as it may drastically affect the hydrophobic properties of the ceramic coating and even make the paint stickier than usual.

Avoid Washing the Vehicle in Direct Sunlight:

After you rinse off all the lather from your vehicle it is trivial that you begin with the drying process, especially when the sun is just over your head. You do not want the standing water to sit on your paintwork and end up forming water spots. Yes, news flash, the painted surface can form water spots even if it is ceramic coated. Ceramic Coatings can highly reduce the chances of water spots, but it does not make the painted surface waterproof. This also depends on your geographical presence as some locations have more hard water than others. An ideal time to wash your vehicle could be early morning or the time close to sunset. You can also choose a cloudy day when the sun is not out, and the likelihood of dried water spots is low.

The Concept of Drying :

Drying is one of the most crucial steps in the car wash process. You must dry your vehicle’s paintwork with a clean microfiber cloth. Excessive force to wipe the water off the surface should be avoided. Using separate microfibers to dry paintwork, wheels, glass, and interiors makes the process much easier and quicker. Make sure you wipe off the surface thoroughly to avoid water spots in case the sun is out.

The 24-hours Rule:

If you notice bird droppings, bug splatters, or tree sap on the vehicle surface, try to wipe it off within 24 hours with a damp microfiber cloth. Make sure not to use excessive force to remove any contamination off the surface, as you may end up ruining the paint. This will help to maintain the longevity of the ceramic coating.

A Big No to Automatic Car Wash:

Never take your vehicle to one of those automatic car washes that use hard brushes and mop-like rags to wash the vehicles. Such places can ruin your ceramic-coated car for good. They use pH-aggressive shampoos and detergents that are not healthy for your vehicle’s paintwork and most often leads to swirls and scratches.

Protecting your investment is a wise decision, although thorough research is essential to choose the right product. If you are still looking for a suitable ceramic coating for your vehicle our latest formulation Graphene is getting a lot of positive feedback in the market. It is always advisable to choose a professional ceramic coating and get it installed by a professional detailer. Professional detailers can guide you to find the right product for your vehicle and also help you to maintain it. You can simply find a Kovalent Coatings Approved Applicator near you by reaching out to us here.