While this guide was developed to provide aftercare instructions for a Ceramic Coated vehicle, it provides great insight for a maintenance level wash on any vehicle in general.
Ceramic Coating Aftercare: Keeping Your Vehicle Looking Its Best
Congratulations on protecting your vehicle with a ceramic coating! To ensure you get the most out of your investment, proper aftercare is essential. While ceramic coatings provide outstanding protection, they still require maintenance to keep your car looking its best. Follow these comprehensive guidelines to maximize the longevity and performance of your ceramic coating.
The First 7 Days: Initial Cure & Precautions
Your ceramic coating needs approximately one week to cure enough for a full wash, but it can be exposed to water one day after application. During this period:
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Avoid washing the vehicle for the first 7 days.
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Keep the car dry when possible but if it gets wet, no need to panic—just avoid using detergents or harsh chemicals.
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Do not park under trees to prevent sap and bird droppings from sticking.
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If any contaminants get on the paint, you can remove them with a soft microfiber towel and a ceramic-safe detail spray.
How to Properly Wash a Ceramic Coated Vehicle (Two-Bucket Method)
Regular washing is critical to maintaining the hydrophobic properties of your coating. The two-bucket method is the safest way to clean a ceramic-coated vehicle while minimizing scratches and swirl marks.
Supplies You’ll Need:
✔ Two buckets (3-5 gallons each) – One for clean water, one for soapy water.
✔ Grit guards (one per bucket) – Helps trap dirt at the bottom to prevent scratching.
✔ pH-neutral car shampoo – Avoid harsh detergents, wax-based soaps, or products containing silicones.
✔ Soft microfiber wash mitt – Avoid sponges, which can trap dirt and cause micro-scratches.
✔ Microfiber drying towel or air blower – Helps prevent water spots.
✔ Foam cannon (optional) – Ideal for pre-soaking dirt before handwashing.
✔ Ceramic-friendly detail spray – Adds slickness and enhances protection.
Step-by-Step Washing Process:
- Rinse / Foam the Vehicle
- If heavily soiled: Use a pressure washer or hose to remove loose dirt, dust, and debris. If not heavily soiled, begin with a foam cannon.
- If available, use a foam cannon with pH-neutral soap to pre-soak the surface for 2-3 minutes. If no foam cannon available, skip to step
- Prepare Your Buckets
- Fill one bucket with clean water and insert a grit guard.
- Fill the second bucket with water and add the recommended amount of pH-neutral car shampoo. Insert a grit guard.
- Wash the Vehicle Using the Two-Bucket Method
- Dip the microfiber wash mitt into the soapy bucket.
- Wash only 2 to 3 panels at a time.
- After each section of panels, rinse the mitt in the clean water bucket to remove dirt before reloading it with soap.
- Continue this process, working from the top down (roof, glass, hood, doors, then lower areas last).
- Rinse the Vehicle Thoroughly
- Use a hose or pressure washer to remove all soap from the vehicle.
- Ensure no soap residue remains, especially in crevices or door jambs.
- Apply a Ceramic Detail Spray (Optional)
- Spray the ceramic booster spray directly onto panels while the vehicle is still wet.
- Use a power washer or hose to rinse off the detail spray before drying. This helps distribute the booster spray evenly across the surface while preventing streaks.
- Dry the Vehicle Properly
- Use a clean microfiber drying towel to gently dry the surface.
- If available, use an air blower to remove water from cracks, trim, and emblems.
- Avoid letting the car air dry, as minerals in water can create spots.
Maintaining the Hydrophobic Effect
Over time, road grime, minerals, and other contaminants can weaken the coating’s hydrophobic properties. Restore them with:
- A ceramic booster spray “as needed”: This replenishes the slickness and enhances beading/sheeting. It is not required, but it will give you beads on demand.
- Regular decontamination washes using iron removers every 6 months (avoid using clay bars, as they can abrade the coating). Most elect for spring and fall, or even just once in spring.
- A professional ceramic coating topper service once a year: A detailer can apply a maintenance coating layer to extend the life of your ceramic coating. It is required to maintain warranties with every major manufacturer.
Avoiding Harsh Chemicals & Abrasives
To preserve your ceramic coating, avoid:
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Acidic or alkaline cleaners that can break down the coating.
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Strong degreasers that strip away hydrophobic properties.
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Polishing compounds or abrasive pads unless done professionally, as these can wear down the coating prematurely.
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Clay bars – Unlike traditional paint, ceramic-coated surfaces should not be clayed, as it can mar the coating and reduce its effectiveness.
“Can I Use Automatic Car Washes” (More on Our No-Fine Print Warranty)
Coatings by the Bay offers an In-house Warranty if you can follow 3 simple rules.
- No setting your hood on fire
- No aggressive wash methods
- See Coatings by the Bay once a year for an annual inspection
1) Don’t imitate the advertisements you see and set your hood on fire – don’t ask, it’s happened.
2) So what is an “aggressive” wash method? This is mainly targeting automatic brush based car washes. It is also a bad idea to use the supplied brushes at self wash bays. They are full of contaminants that you will literally scrub into your paint.
3) This appointment includes a FREE Ceramic Topper and is merely to ensure that you aren’t breaking either of the first two guidelines.
One Note: While not “ideal” – I get you will not be standing in your Wisconsin driveway in February hand washing. Touch-free automatic was are okay to use. For more information on the information above you can visit our Peace of Mind page here.
How to Clean Various Coated Items:
How to Clean Ceramic Coated Glass?
Have bug guts, bird droppings or other contaminants on your Ceramic Coated glass? No need to worry – it is easier than ever to clean! All you need is a high quality microfiber (like Autofiber – Mr Everything) and a 50/50 mix of distilled water/ isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle.
- Spray 50/50 mix directly on glass – less is more (Ex. SINGLE spray for an entire window)
- Take a microfiber and fold it in quarters
- Scrub the piece of glass with one face of the quartered towel
- Flip the towel to a different face and wipe and remaining streaks
Seems too simple right? The real difference maker is using less. Every company encourages you to spray the glass to the point that it is dripping everywhere. Also when cleaning interior and exterior glass on a car a tip is to wipe opposite directions. So when wiping exterior do it horizontally – on internal glass wipe vertical. Wondering why? If streaks are left you will know exactly what side they are on!
How to Clean Ceramic Coated Rims?
There are many approaches to this, but Coatings by the Bay prefers the conservative and least aggressive methods first. With the Ceramic Coating installed on your rims – brake dust will wipe right off with minimal effort. You can clean your ceramic coated rims during your two bucket wash. During your soap scrubbing stage of the vehicle grab a spare microfiber and throw it in the soap bucket. Once the entire vehicle is scrubbed clean simply wipe each spoke with the microfiber.
Dispose of the towel when done. Do not use a wash mitt and we suggest staying away from rim douches. These types of brushes cause more abrasion and are meant for when you do NOT have a coated rim. Why? Because without the coat brake dust sticks and is a pain to remove. This is why wheel cleaners (acidic and non acidic) came about. It is one of the harshest cleaners you will use on your vehicle. While Ceramic Coating would have no problem if you decided to use an acidic wheel cleaner – it just isn’t necessary. The brake dust literally wipes off – try it the next time you see some sitting on a rim with ceramic coating.
Wanting to clean the rims between washes? All you need is a high quality microfiber (like Autofiber – Mr Everything) and a 50/50 mix of distilled water/ isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle. Spray each individual wheel one at a time. Wipe entire wheel with a single microfiber, then follow up with a dry wipe with another high quality microfiber.
How to clean… (Various Contaminants)
Road Tar on Paint and Glass
Break out the clay bar! While road tar is much easier to remove from Ceramic Coated Paint and glass it will still require a clay bar. When using a clay bar; Coatings by the Bay always recommends that you start with a tow bucket wash to get any large contaminants off the vehicle. Once done the two bucket wash all you will need is a quick detailer or clay lube. You will move a single panel at a time, spraying the entire panel liberally then rubbing the clay over the surface. Like magic the tar will slowly disappear. Coatings by the Bay suggests washing the vehicle a second time after clay barring. Random fact: Coatings by the Bay washes a vehicle 3 total times prior to polishing and installing a Ceramic Coating; one of these falls after the clay bar. Many detailers will push that after every clay bar you MUST have a polish. While I agree that clay barring does leave micro-marring in a clear coat – I do not think it is always needed. However, if you notice a lackluster appearance – a polish will fix this.
Tree Sap on Paint, Glass and Plastic
Tree Sap on a car is one of the worst scenarios. It is fixable; but very time consuming – even if the vehicle is ceramic coated. Tree sap on your vehicle is one we suggest leaving to the professionals, but if you are determined – here are a couple suggestions. Break out your 50/50 isopropyl alcohol mix and saturate the sap until it is “gummy” again, then scrub off. Or, if the sap is dried out you can take a plastic blade nearly level to the paint and “pop” the sap off the surface. You will likely still have a ring left on the surface from the outline of the tar. There is no good way except a polish to get this back to 100%.
Road Paint on Paint Glass and Plastics
Do not attempt removal at home. Many YouTube videos and “expert blogs” will feed you the idea of “quickly” using strippers or paint thinners. While this is a method of removing road paint from your car – it is a very risky one if you have never done it before. Being blunt – coated or not you run the risk of the same chemical you are using to remove road paint, also removing your car paint. I don’t mean to be a dooms day bell ringer – but wouldn’t you rather have it be not your problem if something goes wrong? For plastics – it is cheaper and less time consuming to just replace the affected trim. With glass you can spray your 50/50 isopropyl mix and use a metal razor blade almost parallel to the glass to scrape the paint dots off.
Road Salt on Paint, Glass or Plastics
There is a WONDERFUL product for this called be StarBrite Salt Off. Follow the directions on the bottle to remove that annoying light white film from your vehicle in the winter. It is a simple spray that was originally designed for boats in salt water, but works just as effective on ceramic coated vehicles. We can not recommend this product highly enough.
Bugs Guts on Paint, Glass and Plastic
Take a guess where I am going with this… Did you say 50/50 isopropyl alcohol mix? We have a winner! Coatings by the Bay almost always starts any clean up project with this mix as it is mild, but extremely effective. This mix will remove bug guts with ease. Can bug guts hurt Ceramic Coating? Only if left for substantial time as they are very acidic. I recommend checking once a week through the buggier seasons and giving you grill and mirrors a quick wipe. Bugs being left a day or two will not harm the coating, but leaving them for weeks baking in the sun is not a great idea.
Bird Droppings on Paint, Glass and Plastics
Yes, you can use the 50/50 isopropyl alcohol mix in a pinch on this – however, I would suggest getting a wash when possible. With bird droppings on your car; there is always a chance of spreading the bird droppings versus actually getting it off. You will be fine for a day or two if you don’t have time to immediately wash the bird dropping off the Ceramic Coating. Even an automatic touch-free wash should be able to fully remove bird droppings with no issues.
Hard Water on Paint, Glass and Plastics
As always start least aggressive and work your way up. To truly see how much mineral is actually stuck to the Ceramic Coating – start with a two bucket hand wash. Typically all that will be left after a was is an outer ring of where the hard water spots were. You can then move up to your 50/50 mix of isopropyl alcohol; sprayed directly on the surface. Allow to dwell about 30 seconds to a minute then wipe dry. If the hard water spots persist you can try either distilled white vinegar (its magic) or eraser gel from 3D. Vinegar works miracles because the same science that made the baking soda volcano blow up in 3rd grade. Vinegar is a mild acid, while the minerals are basic. You can allow the vinegar to dwell for up to 10 minutes if needed. Yes, this does work on shower glass as well! Spots still there? Time to call Coatings by the Bay for a quick polish!
In Summary: The Do’s and Don’ts of Ceramic Coating Care
Do:
✔ Hand wash at least once a month (if possible).
✔ Use soft, clean microfiber towels.
✔ Dry completely to avoid water spotting.
✔ Apply a ceramic maintenance spray periodically.
✔ Schedule annual professional maintenance.
Don’t:
✖ Use automatic brush car washes.
✖ Apply harsh chemicals like APCs or degreasers.
✖ Let bird droppings, bugs, or tar sit for too long.
✖ Use abrasive drying towels or dirty mitts.
✖ Use clay bars on a ceramic-coated vehicle.
✖ Skip regular maintenance, assuming the coating is “set and forget”.
By following these steps, your ceramic coating will continue to protect and enhance your vehicle’s appearance for years to come. If you have any questions or need professional maintenance on a coating you had installed by us – just reach out! You can text George anytime at 920.659.0023 or email: george@coatingsbythebay.com