Washing a Ceramic Coated Car

The Best Way to Wash a Ceramic Coated Car

A ceramic coating makes washing easier, but it does not make any wash safe. The best car wash for a coated car is a gentle hand wash with a pH neutral shampoo, done before dirt has time to bake on. This is the routine we hand every Liquid R customer at pickup, and it is most of the difference between a coating that lasts three years and one that lasts seven.

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Give us a call or drop by anytime:
P: 1800 985 880
E: info@liquidr.com.au
A: 12/23A Cook Road Mitcham VIC 3132

Opening hours:
8:30am-5:00pm Monday to Friday
8:30am-12:30pm Saturday

Enquiry & Booking


5000

Vehicles Protected

1000

m² Workshop

50

Years of Combined Experience

10

Dedicated Bays

Two Toyota LandCruiser Prados in the Liquid R studio

PPF on the panels that get hit, ceramic coating over the rest, window tint if you want it, bundled at a sharper price for a brand new car. See the packages.

Technician levelling a ceramic coating on a black panel

Explore Our Services

Paint Protection Film: self-healing film for the panels stone chips hit first.

Colour Transformation: a full colour change in Spectra Colour PPF, no vinyl, no respray.

Window Tinting: 3M and Defcon Films Australia films fitted to Victorian legal limits.

Detailing: paint correction, interior deep cleans and PPF refresh.

Wash mitt on a soapy panel

pH Neutral Shampoo

Use a pH neutral car shampoo without wax or gloss additives. Dishwashing liquid and degreasers strip coating toppers and dry out film edges, so keep them away from the car entirely. More in our dos and don’ts of cleaning a coated car. Choosing a coating in the first place? See the best ceramic coating in Melbourne.

Wash mitt on a soapy panel

Rinse Before You Touch

A pre-rinse, or a snow foam if you have one, lifts loose grit before a mitt touches the paint. Most wash scratches come from dragging grit across the surface. If the paint is already swirled, a cut and polish fixes it before the next coat.

Water beading on ceramic coated paint

Two Buckets

One bucket of shampoo, one of clean water to rinse the mitt. Grit stays in the rinse bucket instead of going back onto the paint. More in our mistakes to avoid after a coating.

Water beading on ceramic coated paint

No Brush Car Washes

Brush washes carry grit from every car before yours and will mar a coating. Touchless washes are fine when you are short on time. Hand washing remains the standard. The same applies to cars with paint protection film.

Ceramic coating being applied with an applicator block

Dry It, Do Not Air Dry

Melbourne tap and bore water leave mineral spots as they dry. Use a clean microfibre towel or a blower.

Ceramic coating being applied with an applicator block

Wash Often, Gently

Every fortnight suits most daily drivers. Lift bird droppings and sap promptly, before the sun bakes them on. Our article on ceramic coating myths explains why a coating still needs washing.

Ceramic coating dripping from a pipette onto dark green paint

Top Up With a Booster

A compatible ceramic booster every few months keeps the beading strong. Ask which booster suits your coating. Ask us which suits your Gtechniq or graphene coating.

Paintwork detail on a BMW M4 in colour PPF

Matte and Satin Finishes

Never use gloss, wax or polish products on matte or satin paint or matte PPF. Matte safe washes only. Colour film wraps follow the same rules, see car wraps.

Envoke and Gtechniq Crystal Serum coating bottles

When to Come Back

If the coating stops beading after a proper wash, it may need a decontamination wash rather than a new coating. Our aftercare page covers PPF and coatings together. Book it through our contact page or ask about a maintenance detail. PPF owners can use the PPF buyer’s guide too.

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Map showing the Liquid R workshop location in Mitcham Melbourne

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Common Questions

Frequently asked questions

Straight answers before you book. Anything else, call 1800 985 880.

What is the best car wash for a ceramic coated car?

A hand wash with a pH neutral shampoo, two buckets and a proper dry. Touchless washes are fine occasionally. Avoid brush car washes.

Can I use any car shampoo on a ceramic coating?

Use a pH neutral shampoo without wax or gloss additives. Avoid dishwashing liquid and degreasers.

How often should I wash a ceramic coated car?

About every fortnight for a daily driver, and promptly after bird droppings or sap.

Can I take a coated car through an automatic car wash?

Touchless washes are fine. Brush washes are not, because they drag grit across the coating.

Why is my coating not beading any more?

Usually road film is sitting on top of it. A decontamination wash normally brings the beading back.