Cars have grown to be a necessity in this era, and if you have one, you need to care for it for the best performance. Most car enthusiasts apply ceramic coating to protect their cars from damaging contaminants, maintain paint shine, and repel liquids. However, regular maintenance of ceramic coating is essential; otherwise, it will degrade prematurely. If you’re wondering how to maintain ceramic coating, we have the answers for you!
How Long Does Ceramic Coating Last?
Have you ever wondered how long does ceramic coating last? It depends on a number of factors including the quality of the coating, the environment, and the amount of maintenance put into the vehicle. Generally speaking, ceramic coating can last anywhere from two to five years. It can also last longer if the car is kept in a garage, away from the elements. Additionally, if the vehicle is regularly washed, the coating can last even longer.
The better you maintain your ceramic coating, the longer it will last.
How to Maintain Ceramic Coating in 6 Simple Steps
- Do not wash your car before the coat cures.
As much as washing your car to maintain the ceramic coating is essential, avoid washing it for at least 7 days after applying it.
Ceramic coating is costly; unless you want to wash off all your investment, you should give it time to cure into your vehicle. A grace period of at least 7 days without washing is sufficient for the coat to cure properly.
- Keep Up With Routine Washes
Although applying ceramic coating protects a car from contaminants and gives it that extra glow, routine washing maintains it for a more extended period. This is because dirt and other pollutants chip away the ceramic coat when left on the car, thus reducing the lifetime and effectiveness of the ceramic coating.
Routine washing should be done at 1-2 week intervals to maintain the ceramic coating and its hydrophobicity properties.
Washing under direct sunlight may result in water spots appearing on the ceramic coat and may also crack the ceramic coat in the long run. To avoid this, wash the car under a shade or in the garage. You may also opt to wash it early in the morning or late in the evening when there’s not much sunlight.
Keep in mind, not all detergents are automobile- conducive; detergents used in homes have corrosive agents that will damage your ceramic coating when used to wash cars. Therefore, go for automobile-specific car soaps and shampoos that don’t contain corrosive agents to maintain the ceramic coating. If you’re not sure of the safety of the detergents on your ceramic coating, check its pH, it should be neutral. Even better, these products should be wax-free to clean your car easily.
- Use the two-bucket method.
The two-bucket method is the most efficient way of cleaning your car. It ensures that you don’t contaminate your car with dirt from other parts of the vehicle. The steps involved in using the two-bucket method when cleaning your car include the following;
- Have two buckets; the first is for washing your car, and the second is for rinsing.
- The first bucket should contain vehicle-specific detergent conducive to your ceramic coating, while the second should hold clean water for rinsing. Both buckets must have a grit guard to prevent picking and scrubbing grit on your ceramic coating.
- To start cleaning, rinse the vehicle with clean water to wash off loose dirt particles that may result in streak formation.
- Then, dip the washing mitt in the first bucket and clean a specific area. Afterward, rinse it in the second bucket before moving to wash another area. This prevents the formation of streaks by removing dirt or any contaminants in the previous area.
Remember, when washing your car using the two-bucket method, clean from the top downwards, one section after the other. Always rinse the mitt before moving to the next section to avoid cross-contamination.
Also, use different buckets and mits to clean wheels since they contain brake dust made from small metallic fragments. These metallic fragments will damage the ceramic coating when they come into contact with it.
- Use ceramic coating maintenance boosters.
If the ceramic coating has patches or scratches, the best solution is to apply ceramic coating maintenance boosters. They’ll restore the hydrophobicity and glossiness of the coat to its former glory. Apply ceramic coating maintenance boosters after 3-4 months and should be applied immediately after washing the car.
However, these boosters are ceramic coating specific. So, ensure you get the appropriate maintenance booster and avoid things like wax which will mess up the coating’s functions.
- Preserving the coat
Since applying ceramic coating comes with a cost, you’ll want to preserve it for as long as possible. Maintaining the ceramic coat ensures that it will serve you the following benefits:
- Protecting the car paint from UV rays which oxidize and fade the car paint. Ceramic coating provides a protective layer that reflects the UV rays.
- Protection against chemical stains from chemical cleaners and degreasers used to remove lubricant residue from the car. These chemicals harm the car paint.
- Maintains your car’s cleanliness for longer by having a hydrophobic ability. This ensures that dirt particles, debris, and mud easily fall off your car, especially when washing.
- It gives a car that extra shine and gloss, especially when you’ve cleaned and polished your paint. It achieves this by providing a transparent layer on the paint, which acts like glass, thus improving the glossiness and shininess of your car paint.
Therefore, preserving your ceramic coating is vital, and you can do this by sticking to the following steps:
- Parking your car
To avoid the adverse effects of UV light, park your car in a shady area. Parking under shade ensures the durability of your ceramic coating. Remember that debris chip the coating, exposing some parts of your vehicle to UV light and resulting in uneven fading.
- Remove contaminants immediately
Contaminants such as bird poop are acidic. Such contaminants eat away your ceramic coating, leaving your car with spot-like marks. This reduces the aesthetic value of your vehicle and exposes it to other damaging elements. So, always remove any contaminants immediately to avoid damaging your ceramic coating. As you already know, it’s worth having your ceramic coating flawless rather than in patches.
- Be cautious of automatic car washes.
Be cautious if you’re a fan of washing your car using an automatic carwash. An automatic car wash that uses brushes to clean your car can degrade the quality of your ceramic coating. If you must take your vehicle to a car wash, go for a touchless car wash to preserve the quality of your ceramic coating.
6. Ceramic coating maintenance checkup
You can determine the health of your ceramic coating by checking for its hydrophobic ability and glossiness against UV light. While these are the leading indicators of a healthy ceramic coating, be sure to also check for uneven patches on your coating. If they’re present, your car is worth a ceramic coating rejuvenation.
Maintenance checkups should be done at least once a year. Only allow a professional to carry out the checkup, preferably the person who did the previous coating. They will be better positioned to notice signs if your car needs ceramic coating rejuvenation.
Wrapping up
Getting a ceramic coating for your automobile is worth it. It will protect your car paint and improve its glossiness. However, if you don’t do proper ceramic coating maintenance, all your investments will be washed down the drain.
Contact Elite Auto for all your ceramic coating maintenance needs today!
