By Robert Romero Jr.
Published
What to leave in the cabinet
Dish soap is built to strip oils. Used often, it is a harsh way to wash a coated car. A stiff brush, a dry towel, and an automatic tunnel do the mechanical damage. A random wax or a spray from a parts counter can sit on top of the coating and make the next wash annoying, or it can be pointless. Ask what was installed before you add a topper.
The wash that does belong is on washing a coated car. If you are choosing between wax and a coating, read ceramic coating versus wax.
Why this matters to the install
Durable ceramic paint coating still fails the eye test if you scrub grit across it. The layer does not make the clear coat thicker. Swirls you add after the install are in the clear, and correcting them later is another appointment.
Hard water is not a product, but letting it dry is the same category of mistake. Dry the panel. The water-spot note explains the mineral, not a miracle remover.
If you already used the wrong thing
Stop and call. Do not stack a second product to cancel the first. Tell us what you used and what the panel looks like in the sun. Sometimes it is a wash. Sometimes it is a conversation about correction.
Schedule your shop ceramic coating consultation if you are still before the install, or call (210) 201-4847 if the car is already coated. The studio does not travel.
Products that fight the coating
A dirty wash mitt, a tunnel brush, and dish soap as the regular shampoo are the usual ways a coating gets blamed for a failure it did not cause. Household glass cleaner on a coated panel, and any polish you are not sure about, can abrade the finish you just paid to protect. If a product does not say it is safe on a coating, do not experiment on the hood.
Hard water still spots a coated car if it dries in the sun. Dry the panel. Do not stack a new sealant every week because an ad said the coating had worn off after one rain.
If you are unsure what is already on the paint, call (210) 201-4847 before the next product goes on. Studio at 11692 Bricken Circle. Tuesday through Sunday, 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Monday is closed.