How often should you wash a car with a ceramic coating?
Quick answer: We recommend only washing your car when it needs to be washed. In the summer, you might find it's dusty, in which case you can give it a rinse off.
Wash your car when it needs washing. In summer it may just be dusty, so a rinse is often enough. In winter, traffic grime builds up on the lower panels and needs a more thorough wash.
Fortnightly is ideal, monthly at a push. Both are sensible if you want a routine, but plenty of our customers go months without cleaning because the car still looks respectable -- largely thanks to the "self cleaning" effect of a ceramic coating.
Coatings don't make dirt disappear; they stop it sticking. Leave grime sat on the car and you'll blunt the hydrophobic behaviour and grind dust into the clear coat. A quick routine does the trick: pre-wash to knock off the heavy stuff, pH-neutral shampoo with a soft mitt, gentle rinse, then dry with a plush microfibre. Skip harsh TFRs unless you really need them, and avoid the whirly-brush car washes altogether.
Season and use matter. Winter salt wants rinsing off more often, and so does coastal spray after a weekend away. Deal with bird mess, bug splatter and tree sap as soon as you spot them -- a quick spritz of detailer and a soft towel saves trouble later. If the beading starts to look lazy, do a decontamination wash. Industrial fallout or paint overspray is worth watching for too.
You can top up with a SiO2 detail spray and it'll spring back.