What Can Destroy a Ceramic Coating?
Ceramic coatings are one of the best investments you can make to protect your vehicle’s finish. But while they’re durable, slick, and highly resistant to chemicals and UV rays, they are not indestructible.
Just like any protective layer, a ceramic coating can degrade—or even fail entirely—if it’s exposed to the wrong elements or treated carelessly. If you want to get the full life and benefit out of your coating, here’s what you need to watch out for.
1. Harsh Chemicals
One of the fastest ways to degrade a ceramic coating is by washing it with high-pH or acidic cleaners. Many touchless car washes use strong degreasers or acids to cut through grime—because they can’t rely on physical contact. These harsh chemicals don’t just remove dirt; they also strip away protective layers over time.
Even at home, using products not designed for coated cars—like all-purpose cleaners or heavy-duty degreasers—can slowly eat away at the coating’s hydrophobic surface.
Pro tip: Always use a pH-neutral car shampoo and avoid anything labeled as “degreaser,” “engine cleaner,” or “acidic rinse” unless it’s coating-safe.
2. Neglecting Regular Washing
One of the biggest misconceptions is that a ceramic-coated car doesn’t need to be washed often. While it’s true that coatings resist dirt and make cleaning easier, you still need to wash the vehicle regularly—at a minimum, every 2 to 3 weeks.
Letting road film, salt, or dust sit on the surface too long allows them to slowly bond and dull the coating’s performance. If neglected, the surface may lose its slickness, water behavior, and overall clarity.
Washing at least every 2 to 3 weeks helps preserve the hydrophobic effect and keeps your coating performing like it should.
👉 Not sure how to wash it properly? Follow our full care guide here.
3. Abrasive Washing Tools
This one’s simple: don’t wash your coated vehicle with anything that could scratch it.
Using dirty sponges, old towels, or brushes with stiff bristles will wear down the coating and cause micro-marring. Worse, automatic car washes with spinning brushes are a guaranteed way to dull both your paint and your coating.
Always use clean microfiber towels, soft mitts, and the two-bucket method when washing. And if you’re drying by hand, pat dry instead of wiping.
4. Hard Water and Mineral Deposits
Hard water contains minerals like calcium and magnesium. If water is allowed to dry on your car’s surface, those minerals can leave behind stubborn water spots—which can etch the coating and create dull patches.
This is especially problematic in summer when heat bakes water spots into the surface quickly.
Solution: Always dry your car after washing and avoid washing in direct sunlight. If you do get water spots, use a coating-safe remover or schedule a professional decontamination.
5. Bird Droppings, Tree Sap, and Bug Guts
Organic contaminants may seem harmless, but they’re chemically aggressive. Bird droppings are acidic and can eat into the surface within hours. Tree sap and bug guts harden, bond to the surface, and can be difficult to remove without damaging the coating underneath.
Tip: Remove bird bombs and bugs as soon as possible using a coating-safe detail spray or waterless wash. Don’t wait until your next scheduled wash.
6. Extreme Heat or Flame
Exposing your coated vehicle to extreme heat—like from a polishing machine used incorrectly or an under-hood flame—can oxidize or burn the coating. While this is rare, it happens most often during DIY polishing or when high heat is used during paint correction without regard for the coating layer.
Heat doesn’t usually affect a coating during normal use, but under extreme conditions it can be a factor in premature failure.
7. Polishing, Buffing, or Compounding
Ceramic coatings form a physical barrier, and that barrier can be worn off with abrasion. If you polish or compound a coated surface, you are literally removing the coating itself.
People sometimes think of polishing as “reviving” a coating, but unless you’re reapplying something immediately after, you’re reducing or eliminating its protection.
Rule of thumb: Only polish a coated car if you intend to recoat it—or if a professional is doing a maintenance polish that includes a fresh layer of coating.
Conclusion: Durable, Not Invincible
Ceramic coatings are incredibly durable when cared for properly, but they aren’t bulletproof. High-pH chemicals, poor washing tools, bird droppings, water spots, and neglect can all take a toll.
If you’ve invested in a ceramic coating, the best way to protect that investment is with regular, proper care using the right products and techniques. When in doubt, reach out for guidance or schedule a professional inspection.
Need Help Keeping Your Coating Protected?
At Coatings by the Bay, we offer refresh details, decontamination services, and expert advice to help keep your coating performing like day one.
Text us at 920-659-0023 or visit coatingsbythebay.com to schedule service or check out our full ceramic coating maintenance guide:
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