Ceramic Coating Maintenance Guide | Glossworks Nelson

The First 10 Days: Critical Care Period

The initial 10 days after ceramic coating application is crucial for achieving optimal performance. While the coating fully cures within the first week, proper care techniques are essential throughout the life of your coating to maintain its protective properties.

For the first week, we recommend:

• Avoid washing your vehicle
• Park in covered areas when available
• Remove bird droppings or tree sap as soon as possible using water

After the first week, once the coating has cured, we provide a complimentary wash service where we’ll demonstrate the proper techniques for maintaining your ceramic-coated vehicle. This hands-on training ensures you have the knowledge and confidence to care for your investment properly.

It’s important to note that automatic car washes should always be avoided for ceramic-coated vehicles, as these systems can potentially damage both the coating and your vehicle’s paint.

How Often Should I Wash My Ceramic Coated Car?

Monthly Care

Your vehicle should receive a thorough wash at least once per month. This regular maintenance helps prevent contaminant buildup and maintains the coating’s hydrophobic properties. While ceramic coating makes cleaning easier, regular maintenance is still essential for long-term protection.

Quarterly Assessment

Every three months, take time to inspect your coating’s performance. Look for:

• Water beading behaviour
• Surface smoothness
• Any areas showing reduced protection

Annual Professional Check

We recommend an annual professional inspection of your ceramic coating. This allows us to assess the coating’s condition and address any areas needing attention before they become problems. However, this isn’t necessary for the life of the coating as long as regular maintenance cleaning is being done correctly. Your coating will continue to protect your vehicle with proper washing and care routines.

What Should I Watch For During Different Seasons?

How Do I Properly Wash My Ceramic-Coated Vehicle?

Keeping your ceramic-coated vehicle clean is straightforward, but it’s important to use the right techniques and products. Every vehicle has different needs based on how it’s used and stored, which is why we provide personalized cleaning recommendations to each client during your complimentary wash training session.

When it comes to washing your vehicle, we prefer using a single bucket method with multiple clean wash mitts, rather than the traditional two-bucket approach. This technique helps prevent contamination and reduces the risk of creating swirl marks in your paint. We’ll demonstrate this method during your training session, showing you exactly how to maintain that showroom finish safely.

Drying is just as important as washing. Using clean, high-quality microfibre towels is essential – the right tools make all the difference. Avoid letting water air-dry on the surface, as this can lead to water spots, especially on hot days.

Products play a crucial role in maintaining your coating, but rather than providing a generic list, we prefer to discuss specific product recommendations during your training session. This allows us to tailor our suggestions to your particular needs, taking into account factors like where you park your vehicle, how often you plan to wash it, and your local environmental conditions.

How Do I Know If My Ceramic Coating Is Still Working?

Regular, proper washing of your ceramic-coated vehicle will prevent most common issues, but even with the best care routine, you might occasionally encounter some challenges. Let’s talk about what you might see and what to do about it.

Water spots and mineral deposits are perhaps the most common concern. While your ceramic coating makes cleaning easier, mineral deposits from tap water can build up over time on the surface. These typically need specific chemical decontamination to remove properly. Hard water spots that have been left to bake in the sun can be particularly stubborn – it’s best to address these sooner rather than later.

You might also notice that water isn’t beading quite as dramatically as it once did. This usually indicates some surface contamination or mineral build-up affecting the coating’s hydrophobic properties. While thorough washing can help, occasionally you’ll need a decontamination clean to restore that impressive water-beading effect.

The good news is that none of these issues typically require professional intervention – they’re all part of normal maintenance for a ceramic-coated vehicle. We’re always happy to provide advice over the phone about which approach might work best for your specific situation. Sometimes a simple change in washing technique is all that’s needed, while other times we can recommend specific products or processes for you to try at home.
Remember, if you’re ever unsure about something you’re seeing with your coating, just give us a call. We’d rather help you address small issues early than wait until they become more challenging to resolve.

Maintaining Your Investment

Caring for a ceramic-coated vehicle is straightforward when you understand the basics. Regular washing with proper techniques will keep your coating performing at its best, and most maintenance can be handled at home with the right knowledge and products. After your initial training session with us, you’ll have the confidence to maintain that showroom finish yourself.

While challenges like water spots or mineral build-up may occur occasionally, they’re typically easy to address with the right approach. Remember, we’re always just a phone call away if you need advice about caring for your coating.

If you’re considering ceramic coating for your vehicle, understanding these maintenance requirements is an important part of your decision. We’d be happy to discuss how ceramic coating could work for your specific situation and walk you through the protection packages we offer. Contact our team in Nelson to learn more about protecting your vehicle’s finish with ceramic coating.