October 2026 · By the Divine Detailers team
A ceramic coating makes washing easier, but it still needs gentle care. How you wash it decides how good it looks and how long it lasts.
After the coating is applied
- Follow the installer's instructions for the curing period. Usually that means keeping the car dry and not washing it for a few days, up to about a week.
- Avoid parking under trees, where sap and droppings can land on fresh coating.
The basic wash
- Rinse first: remove loose dirt with water before touching the paint.
- Use a pH-neutral car shampoo: harsh soaps and degreasers can wear a coating down faster.
- Two buckets: one with soapy water, one for rinsing your mitt, so grit goes into the rinse and not back on the paint.
- Soft microfiber mitt: wash from the top down, in straight lines, not circles.
- Dry with a clean microfiber towel or a car dryer to prevent water spots, which are common in Florida's hard water.
What to avoid
- Automatic car washes with spinning brushes, which create fine scratches.
- Washing in direct sun or on a hot panel, which dries soap and water into spots.
- Dirty towels or sponges used on wheels and then on paint.
- Strong cleaners such as degreasers or acid-based wheel cleaners on the paint.
Quick fixes between washes
Bird droppings, bug splatter and sap are acidic and can etch paint, even coated paint, if left to bake in the sun. Spray them with a quick detailer, let it soften, and wipe gently with a clean microfiber towel as soon as you can.
Maintenance
Some owners add a ceramic booster or sealant spray every few months to keep the surface slick. A yearly inspection by your installer is a good habit. They can check the coating, decontaminate the paint and top it up if needed.
Learn more
See our ceramic coating service page for how we do it, or request a free quote and we will help you choose what fits your vehicle.