A ceramic coating is a great way to protect your car’s paint job for longer, but you have to know how to take care of your ceramic coating. You might be wondering how to wash your car after you have a ceramic coating applied and whether you can polish that coating or not. If you’re thinking about using polish with a ceramic coating on your car, here’s what you need to know first.
Ceramic Coating Basics
Ceramic coatings are designed to protect the paint job of your car by providing a protective layer. Instead of your paint getting scratched or weathered, your ceramic coating will take the majority of the damage. For the most part, you can expect a ceramic coating to last a long time as they’re designed for durability. While a ceramic coating on a car can stand up to all sorts of inclement weather and physical wear and tear, certain chemicals can break that coating down quicker and shorten its lifespan. This is why it’s important to be careful about what you’re using to clean your car if it has a ceramic coating.
Wax vs. Polish
Before you do anything to shine up your ceramic coating, you need to know the difference between wax and polish. While you can give a car a polished look with wax, products that are labeled as “polish” may contain any number of chemicals. Some polishes might not damage your ceramic coating, but it’s up to you to decide whether that’s a risk you’re willing to take.
Wax is different from polish because it’s typically made from natural ingredients that happen to have a waxy consistency that provides a nice shine. Unlike the harsh chemicals that can be found in some polishes, waxes don’t typically strip away the ceramic coating on a car. which makes them a safer option to use. That being said, it’s still smart to be careful about what you’re putting on your car even if it’s just wax.
Is Polish Bad for Ceramic Coating?
The biggest problem with car polishes is the fact that many contain chemicals that are harsh enough to thin out and strip away the ceramic coating on a car. Ceramic coatings can stand up to wind, rain, rocks, and lots of other things, but chemicals that react with the coating and wear it down are a big problem. The truth of the matter is, you probably shouldn’t use any polishes on your ceramic coating.
Can You Apply Wax on Ceramic Coating?
We understand if you want to keep your car’s ceramic coating looking shiny and new for as long as possible. You might be wondering if you can use wax instead of polish to keep your ceramic coat looking its best. As long as you’re using a quality wax that’s made from natural ingredients, you probably won’t run into any problems if you wax your car. As tempting as it might be to go for something a little cheaper, do yourself a favor and spend the extra money on high-quality wax.
If you’re not sure whether the wax you’re using is safe for ceramic coatings or not, you can always try applying a small amount of wax in a spot where a blemish won’t be as noticeable. This is a good way to avoid damaging the ceramic coating of your entire vehicle.
Taking Care of Your Ceramic Coating
While a ceramic coating is a great way to protect the paint job on your car, you still have to take care of that ceramic coating to keep it looking good for as long as possible. You still need to wash your car regularly even if it has a ceramic coating, and you need to be careful about how you’re washing your car and what kinds of chemicals you’re putting on that ceramic coating.
Even if you’ve got a ceramic coating on your car, you should make sure you wash your car at least once every two weeks. Regular washing helps keep dirt from building up, and that buildup of dirt can damage your ceramic coating over time, leaving it looking duller. When you wash your car, use the two-bucket wash method to make sure you’re doing a good job, and don’t wash your vehicle in direct sunlight otherwise you may leave soap spots.
If you’re using specialty products to clean your headlights, wheels, tires, and other parts of your vehicle, be careful about getting those cleaners on your car’s ceramic coating. As long as you pay close attention and follow the manufacturer’s instructions, you shouldn’t have a problem.
The last thing you need to keep in mind is that a ceramic coating isn’t an impenetrable shield of armor. Just because your car has a ceramic coating doesn’t mean you should be especially rough on it. Try to avoid dirt and gravel roads when you can and wash your car after you’ve been driving on these roads. A little of effort goes a long way when it comes to keeping your ceramic coating in good shape.
Why You Need a Ceramic Coating
The best way to protect your car’s paint job is to have a quality ceramic coating applied by professionals. Ceramic coatings provide a layer of protection against UV rays, rain, dirt, and more. To find out more, contact Bob Moses Ceramic Coating today.