YOUR COATING IS PROTECTED — Here's how to keep it performing for years to come.
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Ceramic Coating Owners

Your Ceramic Coating Aftercare Guide

Your ceramic coating is doing the hard work. A little simple care keeps that deep gloss and water-beading protection performing for the full life of your warranty — here's everything you need to know.

The First 7 Days Your Wash Routine Do's & Don'ts Maintenance Program Seasonal Care FAQ
Schedule Your Check-Up 📞 Questions? Call Us
110°+Water beads up when cared for
10minA weekly rinse is all it takes
2×/yrPro maintenance, scheduled for you
// WHAT YOU'RE PROTECTING

Your Coating Works 24/7

A healthy coating beads water and shrugs off the stuff that wrecks paint. Simple aftercare is what keeps it doing this.

Coated≈110° · beads & rolls off
Uncoated≈30° · water sheets & sits

See the difference? Tight beads mean water, dirt, and contaminants have almost nothing to grab onto — they roll right off. Gentle washing is how you keep your paint beading like the panel on the left.

☀️
UV & oxidation✓ Resisted
🐦
Bird droppings✓ Resisted
🐛
Bug splatter✓ Resisted
🧂
Road salt✓ Resisted
💧
Water spots✓ Resisted
// Ceramic Curing Protocol
07

First
Days

The curing window.

Cure Timeline
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
◄ No Wash ZoneCleared ►

No Washing

Rain ok — no soaps or chemicals.

No Trees

Sap & debris can etch.

No Fallout

Avoid industrial areas.

No Sprinklers

Hard water spots etch.

Why It Matters
Ceramic Coating
Clear Coat
Your Paint

The coating is still bonding and hardening — developing the chemical resistance that protects your paint.

Day 07 — Cleared to Wash Normally

Fully bonded and ready for normal washing.

30-Day Check-Up Included.
Ongoing Care

Your Simple Wash Routine

After the first week, washing a coated car is easier than ever — dirt releases with way less effort. Follow these steps every two weeks, or whenever it's visibly dirty.

// Which wash do I need?
Light dust→Foam down with car shampoo, no contact needed, rinse soap, dry with leaf blower
Normal & dusty→Full two-bucket wash
Mud / road salt→Foam pre-rinse, then two-bucket
Bird bomb / sap→Spot-clean now — don't let it sit
// The two-bucket method
WashSoapy water
↻
RinseGrit guard
  1. Load the mitt in the wash bucket.
  2. Clean one panel, working top to bottom.
  3. Rinse the mitt in the rinse bucket — grit sinks past the guard.
  4. Back to clean soap with a clean mitt, and repeat.
// Step by step

Rinse first, always

Pre-rinse the whole vehicle to flush off loose grit before you touch the paint. This is the single best way to prevent swirl marks.

Use a pH-neutral, ceramic-safe shampoo

Skip dish soap, degreasers, and anything harsh — they strip the coating's performance over time. A dedicated car shampoo is all you need.

Two buckets + a soft mitt

One bucket of soapy water, one of clean rinse water (grit guards help). Use a clean microfiber wash mitt and work top to bottom.

Wash in the shade

Never wash hot paint or in direct sun — soap and water dry too fast and leave water spots that are tough to remove from a coating.

Rinse thoroughly, then dry

Don't let soap dry on the surface. Dry with a clean, plush microfiber towel or a filtered blower — letting it air-dry invites mineral water spots.

Refresh with a ceramic booster

Every couple of months, a ceramic boost spray (it's in your aftercare kit) restores the slick, water-beading top layer between washes.

Keep It Simple

Do's & Don'ts

✓ Do

  • ✓Rinse off salt, sap, bugs, and bird droppings as soon as you can.
  • ✓Use clean, dedicated microfiber towels and mitts.
  • ✓Stick to a regular wash schedule — about every two weeks.
  • ✓Use only pH-neutral, coating-safe products.
  • ✓Bring it in for your scheduled maintenance visit.

✕ Don't

  • ✕Use automatic brush car washes — they cause swirl marks.
  • ✕Reach for dish soap, degreasers, or abrasive sponges.
  • ✕Let bird droppings or sap sit and bake in the sun.
  • ✕Wax over the coating — it isn't needed and can mask the hydrophobics.
  • ✕Wipe dust off a dry panel — rinse first to avoid scratching.
// Ongoing Care Protocol

Keep Your Coating Performing

Maintenance Roadmap — Included
NOW30 DAY6 MO12 MO
pickupcheck-upserviceservice
↻ Recurring twice a year, scheduled for you.

45-Min Performance Check

We confirm the coating settled & is performing.

Complimentary Coating Maintenance

Included with your check-up, on us.

Wash Protocol
Best

Hand Wash

Gentle soap, two buckets, dry fully.

Touchless

Quick & safe — always dry after.

Rule: gentle soap + safe drying = best results.

// Seasonal Care

Care Through The Seasons

Minnesota throws a lot at your paint. A quick seasonal rhythm keeps the coating ahead of it.

❄️

Winter

  • Rinse road salt off often
  • Avoid harsh brush car washes
  • Keep washer fluid topped up
🌧️

Spring

  • Decontaminate after winter
  • Clear off pollen & grime
  • Check your water beading
☀️

Summer

  • Wash in the shade
  • Remove bugs & sap fast
  • Refresh the ceramic booster
🍂

Fall

  • Clear leaves & tree sap
  • Pre-winter booster coat
  • Schedule your check-up

Aftercare Questions

When can I wash my car after coating? ▾
Wait at least 7 full days. The coating is curing and hardening during that time, so let it set before the first wash.
Can I still take it through a car wash? ▾
Avoid automatic tunnel and brush washes — the brushes are the number-one cause of swirl marks, and the harsh soaps degrade the coating. A touchless wash is okay occasionally, but a proper two-bucket hand wash is always best.
Do I still need to wax it? ▾
No. The coating replaces wax and outperforms it. Adding wax on top isn't necessary and can actually mask the slickness and beading. If you want a refresh between washes, use the ceramic boost spray in your kit.
What soap should I use? ▾
A pH-neutral, ceramic-coating-safe car shampoo. Steer clear of dish soap, degreasers, and any "wash & wax" products with fillers.
My water isn't beading like it used to — is the coating gone? ▾
Usually not. Reduced beading is almost always surface contamination sitting on top of the coating, not coating failure. A proper wash often restores it, and a maintenance visit brings it right back to new.
How often should I get a maintenance visit? ▾
Every 6 months keeps the coating performing and the water-beading strong. Give us a call and we'll get you on the schedule.

Questions About Your Coating?

Our team is here to help you keep your coating in great shape. Reach out anytime.

📞 Call (763) 321-6523
📍 7600 W 27th St #222, St. Louis Park, MN 55426 ✉ info@finaltouchautoworks.com 🕘 Mon–Sat 9 AM – 6 PM
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