A ceramic coating does a great job of keeping your car’s paint job showroom-ready, but it’s not a set-it-and-forget-it solution. It does require a bit of maintenance to keep it in good shape, and considering it’s a fair investment, you certainly don’t want to mess it up due to neglect.
The good thing is that maintaining your ceramic coating isn’t difficult.
Today, we’re going to go over seven tips for maintaining your car’s ceramic coating in Carlsbad’s climate to keep it brand-new.
1. Do Not Use an Automatic Car Wash
Automatic car washes are great if you don’t care about your car’s appearance. Otherwise, they’re something every driver should avoid, whether they have a ceramic coating or not.
Everyone has heard horror stories of automatic car washes claiming hubcaps, antennas, side mirrors, and more, but if you have a ceramic coating, they can cause damage that isn’t so easy to see. Those hard bristles whirling around at record-breaking speeds can scratch up the coating, too.
Unfortunately, the damage can be pretty intense, too. So, your simple car wash trip can end up requiring some costly coating work in the future.
Trust us on this – the best way to protect your ceramic coating in Carlsbad’s hot climate is to wash your car by hand!
2. Dry Your Vehicle Fully After It Gets Wet
Whenever you wash your car, you need to take extra care and ensure that you dry it properly. Ceramic coatings are extremely good at repelling water. They act a lot like an extremely advanced, permanent wax treatment. However, they’re not fully immune to water spots. If you only rely on the ceramic coating to keep water from sitting on your car, you’re going to be disappointed.
Take a dry towel, and dry the water off by hand when you’re done. This will get those stubborn spots where water doesn’t have an incline to roll off of, and minerals won’t be left behind.
With proper maintenance of your ceramic coating in Carlsbad’s arid climate, this task becomes much easier compared to a bare paint job, helping keep your coating in good shape for the long run.
3. Use a Microfiber Cloth
When you’re washing your car, you can do almost as much damage to the coating as an automatic car wash if you use the wrong tools. Especially rigid bristles or dirty towels that might have debris stuck in the fibers.
Instead, we always recommend using the two-bucket method with a microfiber automatic towel. These are made to wipe delicate surfaces without scratching them, and they work wonders when it comes to protecting your coating.
Also, they’re extremely cheap and reusable. You can get them for a few bucks in any automotive section at a big box store, and you can get plenty of use out of them before you need to replace them. So, there’s no reason not to keep a few around in the garage to protect your ceramic coating in Carlsbad’s dry climate.
4. Try to Park Out of the Sunlight
This can be difficult in Carlsbad. We get tons of sun all the time, and you’re not likely to find a lot of indoor parking. However, it is always best to park out of intense sunlight, under shade, or in a garage if possible.
Ceramic coatings are resistant to UV rays, but they’re not foolproof. The intense Carlsbad sun will damage them over time.
Honestly, it’s just a fact of life living in the area, but every step you take to prevent it will help dramatically. Even if it’s just parking under a shady tree or investing in a car cover for when you’re going to have it parked for a while.
A sign that your coating is degrading due to the Carlsbad sun is that your paint is fading. The coating does a great job of protecting it, but after years, it won’t block UV rays well.
Given the local weather conditions in Carlsbad, the best way to avoid this issue entirely is to entrust the maintenance and care of your ceramic coating to an experienced detailing service. They can catch that problem before it becomes noticeable.
5. Decontaminate the Coating Regularly
To keep your car looking great all year long, it’s important to schedule a detailing appointment about every six months. Regular ceramic coating maintenance in Carlsbad’s climate ensures that it remains well protected from harsh local weather conditions.
Not only does this help with a lot of other parts of your car, but it helps the coating in one major way. As debris and other tiny things build up on the coating, they contaminate it. They won’t come off with a normal wash. The more this is allowed to persist, the less effective your coating is, too.
During a professional detailing session, a clay bar wash will be used to decontaminate the coating and remove all that. This greatly prolongs the life of your coating and keeps it in tip-top shape to protect your paint.
The good thing is that detailing is a comprehensive service. So, you’re not just getting your coating worked on twice a year. You’re getting your vents cleaned out, upholstery deep cleaned, mold removal, and everything else. In general, it helps your car last longer and stay comfortable.
6. Don’t Use Harsh Chemicals
Harsh chemicals might get rid of really stubborn dirt, but they can also eat up your coating. Especially acidic chemicals.
If you need a more substantial cleaning agent, it’s always best to take the car in for a professional detailing appointment. The pros have access to chemicals and techniques that get rid of those stubborn problems without ruining your coating.
As for you, it’s best to stick to gentle soaps when you’re cleaning your car at home. They won’t damage anything, and 99% of the time, they’re enough to deal with the issue if you scrub long enough.
7. Use a Boost Spray
A ceramic boost spray is a commercial product you can find in most automotive sections. It essentially helps seal up the coating after it has suffered micro scratches and other imperfections, and it creates a sacrificial layer that gets damaged before the actual coating does.
The caveat for this is that you need to research your options and go with the best option available. Cheaper sprays might just give you a false sense of security.
Start with a Proper Ceramic Coating from Finetactic Detailing
Of course, the best way to keep your ceramic coating in great shape in Carlsbad’s climate for a long time is to start on the right foot. If you’re looking to protect your car’s exterior, trust the experts at Finetactic Detailing to provide the best ceramic coatings and mobile detailing services in Carlsbad.
Call us today and get an instant quote!