I am always asked by my customers how they must clean and maintain their car once it is coated with ceramic glass products. And, I always reply – it is much easier because the top quality coatings protect the paint and other surfaces and as they are hydrophobic, they repel water (and mud) from the surface of the vehicle.
This also means that grit like sand particles are easily washed away with just water from a hosepipe. One BIG tip is to never run a microfiber cloth over your vehicle until it has been thoroughly rinsed first. Although the top quality ceramic glass coatings are tough and hard enough to prevent scratching and swirl marks, if you properly maintain the coated surfaces, the coating will endure for a lot longer and the glossiness with stay too.
Coating maintenance can be broken down into three simple categories: Wash, maintain, rejuvenate.
Although the top quality ceramic glass coatings do provide UV protection, avoid washing your car under direct sunlight if possible. Try to wash your car early in the morning or late afternoon when the sun is not at its hottest. It will make your job easier and avoid products from drying on the paint.
Wash, rinse off and dry panel by panel as you go, if you must wash in direct sunlight or outside in hot temperatures.
Always use shampoos that are Ph neutral and safe to use on ceramic coatings. Avoid shampoos that contain waxes or sealants in them.
TWO METHODS YOU CAN USE
FULL HAND WASH:
This is a commonly used method if you have a running water source available.
Start by rinsing the vehicle off (garden hose or pressure spray) to remove any loose contaminants.
Use a snow foam shampoo with a foam cannon, if possible. Let it dwell for about 5 minutes to loosen up any sticky dirt particles. Rinse the car off with the hose.
Clean the wheels first. Use a specially designed maintenance shampoo for ceramic coatings to wash the vehicle. These shampoos are specially formulated shampoos for coatings and will not contaminate the car’s coating.
Use the safe wash method by using the 2-bucket system; one wash, one rinse bucket. Also, use grit guards in both buckets. A grit guard helps the sediment to get down to the bottom of the bucket, therefore, prevents marring to the surface.
Use a high-quality microfiber wash mitt and gently wash the vehicle starting from the top and working your way to the lower panels. Rinse the car off.
Although the top quality ceramic glass coatings are intensely hydrophobic, it is still recommended that after washing, the car is dried properly. Dry the surface well with a microfibre drying towel. Gently sweep the towel over the paint or press-dry the paint gently. Dry the door jambs with microfiber towels as well. Also, remember to dry the tyres and add a tyre dressing.
RINSE-LESS METHOD:
This method is a very safe and easy method to use if the car is not too dirty.
Once you know how to do a rinse-less wash, it will be super easy to maintain your car’s coating.
You will be able to clean your car in about 15-20 minute if your car is not very dirty. Keep in mind that if the car is too dirty, then the normal hand wash method would be advisable.
Use ONE 5 litre bucket with a grit guard and fill the bucket.
Have your microfibre towels handy as it is best to dry immediately after washing. The best towels to use for drying are the large microfibre towels and a super soft edgeless microfibre towel to buff the paint lightly after drying.
Use a high-quality soft microfibre wash mitt to wash the car. This is safe to use on the paint with the right products as the product releases the dirt from the wash mitt every time the mitt is dropped back in the bucket.
Start washing the roof and work your way around to the lower panels. Gently wash panel by panel with your wash medium. It does not need to be soaked, just capture enough soapy water to clean the panel. Just glide the wash mitt or sponge over the paint, the polymers in the product will do the work to clean the paint.
Use the large drying towel to dry each panel gently. Just let the towel soak up the water without applying any pressure.
Move on to the next panel and repeat the washing and drying stages until the whole vehicle is cleaned.
Once you get the hang of a rinse-less wash method, it is very easy and fast to keep your car clean. If you think about the hot and humid weather conditions in KZN, this is a very fast method to clean your car and using less water in doing so.
For ceramic coatings, waxing, polishing or applying any other sealants are not recommended. Waxing is not needed because it will not bond to the coated surface. Polishing is a type of abrasive that can contaminate the coating. Stay away from these products as they are not designed for ceramic glass coatings.
SOME DO’S AND SOME DON’TS:
A few maintenance steps to maximize coating performance and to ensure your investment last longer.
DO’S
· 100% hand wash every week if possible
· PH neutral car wash soap
· Coat reconditioning and maintenance products
· Proper wash mediums; high-quality wash mitts and microfibre towels
· Wash in shade is best
· Remove damaging substances like bird droppings, tree sap immediately
· Annual inspection by a ceramic glass coating auto detailer.
DON’TS
· Automotive brush washes (tunnel washes)
· Avoid washing in direct sun to avoid streaking and water spotting
· Avoid abrasive products such as polishes
· Do not use quick detailer sprays or any waxes
· Avoid using abrasive towels such as terry cloths and chamois
· Avoid aggressive washing, rubbing or wiping
· Avoid letting the car sit dirty for a long time.