The Ultimate Guide to Washing Your Ceramic Coated Vehicle at Home
Welcome to the definitive guide for maintaining the sparkle of your ceramic coated vehicle. By following these easy steps and using the right products, you'll keep your car looking showroom fresh
Step 1: Prepare Your Tools
Firstly, you'll need to gather your cleaning equipment. Start with a good quality car shampoo. For a ceramic coated vehicle,
Koch Chemie Gentle Snow Foam is a fantastic choice. This pH-neutral soap is gentle on the ceramic coating, while still being tough on dirt and grime.
Next, ensure you have a variety of soft, microfiber mitts on hand. 'The Rag Company' offers an assortment of wash mitts, perfect for tackling different areas of your vehicle without scratching the surface. Here's our favorite, the Cyclone.
Then, we cannot forget the two-bucket method. You'll need two buckets: one for your soapy water and one for rinsing your mitt. This technique helps avoid dirt and grime being rubbed back onto your car, preventing potential scratches. For an added layer of protection, install a grit guard in each bucket. This accessory traps the dirt particles at the bottom, stopping them from mixing back into your clean water or soap solution.
We recommend
this setup from Adam's.
Step 2: Rinse Your Vehicle
Start with a thorough rinse of your vehicle using a regular hose. Initiate from the top and work your way down to the wheels. This step ensures larger debris is removed before washing, preventing any scratches during the process.
Now it's time to break out the 'Koch Chemie Gentle Snow Foam'. Add a capful to a half-full bucket of water, then apply it to your vehicle with one of your wash mitts. Use hot water in your bucket for the best results. Remember, always start from the top and work your way down to prevent dragging dirt and grime up onto cleaner areas of your car.
Rinse your mitt in the rinse bucket after each panel and scrape it on the grit guard at the bottom to release trapped particles. Then, dip it into the soap bucket to reload the mitt with suds for the next section.
Step 4: rinse off the Soap
Once you've washed every inch of your car, it's time to rinse. As before, start from the top and work your way down, ensuring you've removed all soap residues.
Step 5: Dry Your Vehicle
Drying is an essential step to avoid water spots. 'The Rag Company' provides a range of high-quality, super absorbent microfiber drying towels perfect for this purpose. Lightly pat dry or drag the towel over the surface. Remember, don't rub vigorously as this can create swirl marks. Here's our
favorite drying towel.
Optionally, you can use a
water deionizer filter to rinse your vehicle without leaving water spots, and no need to dry it. Be sure to use a new hose and nozzle as contaminants from old hoses can cause water spots. There are alternatives available on Amazon that are smaller and less expensive as well.
Step 6: Final Touch-Up
For the final touch, a ceramic spray like 'CarPro Reload: Spray Sealant' can be a game-changer. This product helps maintain the hydrophobic properties of your ceramic coating while adding an extra layer of protection and enhancing gloss. Use after your wash every month for best results. Just one spray per panel is needed.
And voila! By following this guide, you'll not only maintain the beauty of your ceramic-coated car, but you'll also extend the longevity of its protection.
Extra Tips for Success
Extra Tips for Success
Always wash your car in a shaded area or when the car is cool to the touch to prevent rapid evaporation.
Try to wash your car every two weeks to prevent contaminants from damaging the ceramic coating.
Regularly clean your washing tools to prevent accumulated grit from causing scratches.
Ceramic Coating Maintenance
When hydrophobics diminish, or at least once per year, it's time for a annual maintenance wash! This consists of a water spot remover, a iron remover, and a
reactivation shampoo then a top coat to get your vehicle looking fantastic again. We include this with our inside and out detail for our ceramic coating customers at no extra charge.
Happy washing!
