How to maintain a ceramic coating properly (And what NOT to do)

A ceramic coating isn’t magic. It won’t make your car maintenance-free, and it won’t stop every scratch. What it does do is protect your paint for years — if you look after it properly.

Think of it like a premium non-stick pan: food still sticks if you burn it, scrub it with wire wool, or don’t rinse it.The coating protects you when you treat it the right way.

So here’s how to keep a ceramic coating working as it should — and the mistakes that ruin it.

Use Proper Shampoo (Cheap Soap Ruins Coatings)

Dish soap, household cleaners, and “all-in-one shampoo + wax” are the worst things you can use on a coating.

• Dish soap strips protection

• Cheap “wash & wax” leaves residue

• Strong detergents kill hydrophobic performance

You don’t need anything fancy — just a pH-neutral car shampoo without waxes or gloss enhancers. Let the coating do the work.

Always Touch the Car Safely (This Is Where People Ruin It)

The coating is tough against UV, chemicals and bird mess… but nothing protects against bad washing technique.

The biggest killers of coatings are:

• two-bucket method ignored

• cheap sponge or mitt

• using dirty towels

• automatic car washes

• wiping dust off with a cloth

• 
  

A coating makes washing easier only if you wash safely. That means:

• Pre-rinse the dirt

• Use proper wash mitts

• Use two buckets

• Dry with quality microfibres

Don’t Let Dirt Sit For Weeks

A coating resists contamination, but it doesn’t remove it for you. Leaving bird droppings, brake dust and tree sap to “bake on” will damage any coating. Just like one stain left on clothes can become permanent…one bird bomb left too long can etch through protection.

If you spot something nasty, rinse it off quickly. Think of it as emergency paint care.

Avoid Random Top-Ups (Coatings Don’t Like Interference)

A lot of people make this mistake:they keep adding cheap waxes and random “wet coatings” on top.

Here’s the problem:

• They block the ceramic

• They reduce hydrophobic performance

• They make cleaning harder, not easier

If you want to boost a coating, use a dedicated SiO₂ topper — not a £3 “spray wax” from the supermarket.

Maintain It, Don’t Replace It

A ceramic coating doesn’t need constant topping up.It needs simple, consistent maintenance.

Here’s the ideal routine:

✔ Safe wash every 2–4 weeks

✔ Decontamination every 6–12 months (Depending on mileage)

✔ Use a dedicated ceramic topper only if performance drops

✔ Use proper shampoo + safe drying

Ceramics work when you don’t fight them.

Final Thought — A Coating Doesn’t Replace Care. It Rewards It.

A ceramic coating isn’t for lazy owners.It’s for people who want long-term gloss and easy cleaning.

Look after it the right way, and your paint:

• stays glossy

• stays protected

• resists contamination

• washes like a dream

Ignore it, and it behaves no better than cheap wax. The coating protects you — you protect it back.

If you already have a ceramic coating — whether you booked it with us or somewhere else — and you’re unsure how to look after it, just ask.

If you’re in Stalmine, Poulton, Blackpool, Lytham, Fleetwood or anywhere across the Fylde Coast, we’ll tell you exactly what to use and what to avoid. No upsells. No jargon. Just the correct advice for your coating.