Why washing technique matters more on a coated car
People assume a coating is bulletproof. It isn't. A ceramic coating is extremely chemical- and UV-resistant, but it can still be marred by bad washing — the same swirl marks and fine scratches that dull regular paint will dull the gloss of a coating too. The good news is that a coated surface is far easier to clean safely, if you use the right method.
The goal of every wash is simple: lift dirt off the surface and carry it away without dragging it across the paint. That's the whole principle behind everything below.
The two-bucket method, step by step
- Rinse first. Blast the whole car with a hose or pressure washer to remove as much loose grit as possible before anything touches the paint.
- Set up two buckets. One with your shampoo solution, one with clean rinse water. A grit guard in the bottom of each traps dirt so it can't get re-loaded onto your mitt.
- Wash from the top down. The lower sections of the car are always dirtiest. Start at the roof and work down so you're not spreading the worst grime over clean panels.
- Use a clean microfibre wash mitt. Work one panel at a time with light, straight passes — never circular scrubbing.
- Rinse the mitt between panels. Dunk it in the rinse bucket and agitate against the grit guard before reloading with shampoo. This is the single most important habit.
- Final rinse. Sheet water off the car for a final clean rinse before drying.
What products to use
- A pH-neutral shampoo — avoid "wax-added" or "wash & wax" shampoos, which can leave residue that degrades a coating's hydrophobics
- A clean, plush microfibre wash mitt (not a sponge or chamois)
- A large waffle-weave drying towel or, ideally, a dedicated air blower
What to avoid
- Automatic and brush car washes — the spinning brushes are the fastest way to put micro-scratches into a coating
- Dish soap — it's harsh and strips protection
- Single-bucket washing — you're just reloading grit onto the mitt every pass
- Dirty or dropped mitts and towels — one piece of grit becomes a scratch
Drying without marring
Drying is where a lot of damage happens. Don't drag a towel across the paint. Pat or gently glide a clean waffle-weave drying towel, or use an air blower to push water out of panel gaps and mirrors. On a well-coated car most of the water sheets straight off, so drying is quick.
Top-up tip: every 3–6 months, apply a ceramic maintenance spray (we use IGL Premiere) after washing. It refreshes the hydrophobic properties, restores slickness and adds a little extra protection between professional services.
How often should you wash?
In Canberra conditions — pollen, frost, road grime and the occasional dust haze — we recommend washing at least every two weeks. Letting contaminants sit on the surface for weeks gives bird droppings, tree sap and industrial fallout time to etch, even through a coating. A regular, gentle wash is far kinder to your paint than an occasional aggressive one.