People spend real money on a ceramic coating and then run it through a gas-station brush wash. The coating survives that better than bare paint would, but every one of those washes takes a little off the top. A coating doesn't make washing optional; it makes washing easier and safer, as long as you do it right. This is the routine we use on customer cars in the shop.
What not to do
- No brush car washes. Those brushes carry grit from every car before yours.
- No dish soap. It's a degreaser. It strips the oils that keep a coating slick.
- Never wipe a dry car. Dust is abrasive. Dragging a towel across it is sandpaper in slow motion.
- Don't wash in direct sun. Soap dries on hot paint and leaves spots that are a pain to remove.
Step 1: Rinse first
Knock the loose dirt off with a hose or pressure washer before anything touches the paint. Start at the roof and work down.
Step 2: Foam it
If you have a foam cannon or foam gun, this is where it earns its keep. A thick layer of Color Changing Ceramic Soap lifts dirt off the surface before you wash, so your mitt slides over grit instead of grinding it in. The soap changes color as it works, so you can see where you've covered and where you haven't. Let it dwell for a minute or two, then rinse.
Step 3: Two buckets, one mitt
One bucket with soap, one bucket with plain water, a Dirt Guard in each. Load your wash pad in the soap bucket, wash one panel in straight lines with light pressure, then rinse the pad in the plain-water bucket before going back for more soap. Top of the car first, dirty lower panels last. For a coated car we like PH Balanced Maintenance Soap here because it cleans without stripping anything.
Step 4: Wheels last, separate mitt
Wheels carry brake dust, which is iron. Use a separate mitt or brush and keep it away from the paint. If your wheels are past the point of soap, read our guide to iron removal.
Step 5: Rinse and dry
Rinse thoroughly, then dry with a plush drying towel. Our 1100 GSM drying towel holds enough water to do a whole car; lay it flat and drag it lightly, or blot. Don't scrub. On a coated car most of the water will already be gone because it beads and runs off, which is the whole point.
Step 6: Boost it every few washes
Every three or four washes, mist a panel with Ceramic Boost and wipe it in while the car is still slightly damp. It tops up the SiO2 layer, brings the water beading back to day one, and adds a layer of gloss. Two minutes, whole car.
How often?
Every two weeks for a daily driver is a good rhythm. Between washes, light dust and fingerprints can be handled with Ceramic Waterless Wash; just don't use it on a car that's actually dirty. That's a separate post: when waterless wash is the right call.
