Guide to Ceramic Coating Aftercare
Updated: May 8
This Guide will walk you through what to avoid and how to care for your car's ceramic or graphene coating in the first 24 hours after applying the coating, during the first two weeks as it cures, and throughout the year so that you maximize the coatings performance and durability for years-to-come.
Coating your vehicle with our ceramic or graphene coating is one of the best decisions you can make to improve the appearance of your car and protect your vehicles paint from harsh elements such as sun UV rays, bugs, bird poop and so on. Our ceramic coatings have superior durability, performance, and appearance enhancement compared to any conventional wax or polymer sealant, a ceramic coating is the ultimate form of protection for your cars finish.
But without proper care and maintenance, a ceramic or graphene coating will degrade faster and its benefits will eventually no longer be present. Just because a vehicle has a ceramic coating does not mean it can now be neglected, it still needs to be maintained. Having a coating means super easy maintenance, never wax again, extremely durable & long lasting protection, intense shine and more color depth. Follow this guide to maintain your coatings performance for many years to come.
DURING THE CERAMIC COATING CURING PROCESS
THE FIRST 24 HOURS
The first 24 hours after coating your vehicle is the most critical time during the curing process. Your vehicle is safe to drive, but the new coating is still hardening. It is pretty important to avoid any of the following...
Abrasives or washing - No wash mitts, soaps, bug removers should touch your vehicle during the curing process.
Hard mineral water - No hose water should touch the surface of the paint
Automatic car washes - Stay out of the car washes!
Avoid parking under trees or other locations where bird droppings/tree sap may fall on to the your new coating
If your coating comes in contact with bugs, bird poop, tree sap, gently lubricate the coated surface with a sealant such as OP Detail Spray and wipe the surface with a clean microfiber towel - the CREATURE EDGELESS is ideal for this kind of job. Any ceramic detail spray will work just fine. Advanced Auto sells these types of products.
THE NEXT 14 DAYS
For the next 14 days, your ceramic coating will be actively curing to reach its full hardness potential. It's recommended that you attempt to continue avoiding the same items listed above during this time period.
In the event that your vehicle has any dust, pollen, bird poop, tree sap, etc, rinse with clean water and a give it a gentle hand wash using a pH-Neutral soap such as ULTRA WASH and dry completely using a quality Microfiber Drying Towel. It's very important that you continue to avoid any products containing detergents or unbalanced pH levels during this period to avoid breaking down the coating.
FULLY CURED CERAMIC COATING | CARE & MAINTENANCE Guide to Ceramic Coating Aftercare
EVERY 2-4 WEEKS - Ceramic Coating Maintenance Washes
It's recommended to perform a maintenance wash by hand every 2 to 4 weeks depending on your driving habits and conditions. This will maintain your ceramic coatings' deep shine and hydrophobic properties.
One of the great benefits of a ceramic or graphene coated vehicle is the ease of maintenance. Below you will see some basic washing instructions.
BASIC COATING WASH METHOD:
Use only pH-neutral soaps like ULTRA WASH. Using a soap that isn't pH-balanced exposes your coating to harsh detergents that can break it down and decrease its lifespan.