Tips for Car Washing After a Ceramic Coating

Learning a few tips and good practices for car washing after a ceramic coating is always recommended. Cavalli Stables includes an after care kit with every ceramic coating which explains proper after-care for ceramic coated vehicles. Keep in mind that knowing how to properly wash your car after a ceramic coat is the most important part of keeping your vehicle’s paint and body protected while getting the most from your coating. In this blog, we’re going to give you some useful tips to keep your coating working to its fullest potential.

Why Is It Important to Maintain a Ceramic Coating?

In contrast to many internet DIY coating products that advertise ceramic coating as completely“self-cleaning” or “bulletproof”, in many cases, your car still needs to be washed and properly maintained during the lifetime of your coating. Yes, it is true that the surface of a car that is treated with ceramic coating is more slick and slippery, durable, and resistant, but it still needs to be washed on a regular basis. Washing your vehicle will be much easier because dirt and grime don’t stick to the coated surface. We recommend washing your vehicle on a weekly basis, but bi-weekly and monthly are good too. Cavalli Stables can set you up with a subscription service around your schedule.

Why Drying Matters

Drying your vehicle after washing is a key step in the washing process. The process of washing your car is never finished if the drying process isn’t done right. In most cases, if you’re washing your car at home or running it through a car wash, hard water is being used. If you let this water dry by itself (air dry), or even worse in direct sunlight, water spots may begin to develop upon the coated surface. The hydrophobicity of ceramic coating will help a lot to minimize the chance of water spots.

Using the right drying towel or air blower

Using the right method to dry your vehicle will make the process much easier and more fun! Not every type of cloth or microfiber will properly do the job. Using the wrong one may result in scratching the surface or creating water residue. It is recommended to use a specific microfiber drying towel for automotive use. If you check your local store or detailing shop, you can find dedicated car drying towels. Just one of them can dry your entire car in a lot less time. We use Griot’s Garage Microfiber drying towel which we highly recommend as it’s plush, absorbent and well-made. We can also source this item for you. Our #1 recommended method for drying your ceramic coated vehicle is using the master blaster air blower. With an 8hp motor blowing warm, filtered air, this is the best method of drying your car. It also eliminates the risk of scratching the vehicle with it’s “touchless dry” feature.

Applying a Maintenance Spray

Applying a ceramic coating infused maintenance spray is crucial to maintain the ceramic coating of your car. There are many sprays that are used for different purposes like, hybrid wax sprays, polymer’s, Teflon based sprays, and ceramic coating based sprays, but in this case, the ceramic coating based spray is what you’ll need. You should always ask a specialist at Cavalli Stables what is best for your car. With our warrantied ceramic coating packages, a yearly top coat is mandatory to maintain the warranty and keep the coating working to its fullest potential. We recommend using a clean, edgeless microfiber towel or microfiber applicator pad.

Always use it directly after washing the vehicle.

Based on the type of spray you are going to use, it is recommended to be informed on the proper way to use it. Keep in mind that you must always use them after your car is washed and dried properly. 

Never use it in direct sunlight.

If these ceramic enhancement sprays are used in direct sunlight, on warm to hot surfaces, it may cause damage to the surface or not give the results that you want. In some cases, a ceramic coating correction may be needed, which Cavalli Stables can help with! Ideally, to avoid this you have to apply the maintenance spray inside your garage or in a shaded area when your car’s surface is cool.

5 Tips on How to Maintain a Ceramic Coating

Now that you have learned some basics about maintaining and washing your car, now we are going to give you 5 exact tips in order to protect your car paint for as long as possible. 

• Never Take Your Car to a Soft-Touch Automated Car Wash. Soft-touch automated car washes will scratch your paint or ceramic coated surface. These car washes usually use ph aggressive detergents, chemicals, and soaps that can weaken the ceramic coating and possibly the paint underneath it. We recommend using Cavalli Stables for your maintenance wash needs, but a touchless car wash is also an option.
• Always Use a pH Neutral Car Shampoo with No Added Wax. As we mentioned earlier, having a ceramic coating helps with the car washing process. The ceramic coating makes it harder for the contaminants and dirt to stick on. As a result of this, it is not necessary to use aggressive car wash shampoo. It is recommended to use a neutral pH shampoo that foams and lathers well. 
• Wash the Vehicle in Low Light Hours or in a Garage. We explained the importance of drying the car and not letting it dry by itself. In broad daylight, you will have a lot less time to properly wash your car as the product and water will dry much quicker. Washing and drying your vehicle in direct sunlight will speed everything up, resulting in water spots. Early in the morning or in the early evening is the best time to wash your car if the outside is the only option as the working time is increased.
• Use the Same Ceramic Coating Boost Spray. You may see advertisements claiming they are the best maintenance spray and tell you that’s all you need for a perfect finish, but as industry professionals, we recommend asking us before purchasing a product or calling us to perform the service for you. Sometimes it comes down to the personal preference of a product. You can ask Cavalli Stables specialists, after the ceramic coating, about which maintenance spray is best for your car. 
• Always Use Clean Products and Tools. Every time you are washing your car, it is very important to use the 2 bucket method with grit guards. Use a clean microfiber wash mitt and ensure your drying towel is clean. For every step of the process, you should use a perfectly clean towel and bucket to avoid contamination that may result in a poor wash.

Annual Inspections

After coating your car with a ceramic coating, the job is not finished yet. Depending on the warranty of the ceramic coating and the maintenance that is done, a yearly maintenance wash and topcoat are mandatory to maintain the warranty and ensure your coating is working to its full potential. Cavalli Stables can help you with your yearly maintenance.

Why choose us?

Cavalli Stables mobile cleaning offers an innovative way to clean. With the use of steam vapour, we are able to powerfully clean, sanitize and disinfect a variety of different things including, but not limited to: vehicle interior and exteriors, furniture, condo disinfection,  public areas, medical clinics, daycares, restaurants, gyms, and public transit vehicles. We are able to safely, effectively, and naturally disinfect anything that is exposed to bacteria, and all is done in the comfort of your home, office, or business. We are certified to use System X ceramic coating and have coated everything from cars to boats, to planes. Check out our Instagram (@cavallistablesmobilecleaning) to see an up to date portfolio! Feel free to contact us here and don’t hesitate to call, text, or email us.