Published
Washing and caring for a coated car so the protection lasts
A coated car does not need waxing, but it does need washing. The coating stays in good condition when the car is washed gently by hand, dirt is not rubbed off dry, and dirt that can set in is not left on the surface for long.
A coating makes washing easier but does not replace it
Dirt sticks less readily to a coated surface, and it comes off more easily when you wash. But the coating does not keep the car clean. When road grime builds up on the surface, the coating ends up underneath it, and water no longer beads in the same way.
If water stops beading, the reason is often simply the dirt that has built up on the surface. Wash the car before you conclude that the coating has worn off.
How to wash a coated car
- Rinse first. Remove loose dirt, sand and salt with water before you touch the surface. Sand scratches if it is rubbed against the paint.
- Use a mild car shampoo and a clean wash mitt. Rinse the mitt often so that the dirt it picks up does not go back onto the paint. Two buckets help here: one for the wash water, the other for rinsing the mitt.
- Wash in the shade, when the surface is cool. A surface warmed by the sun dries the wash water quickly, and dried droplets leave marks.
- Dry with a soft microfibre cloth. A coated surface dries quickly because the water runs off it, so there is less left to dry.
What to avoid
A coating does not make the paint scratch-proof. Automatic car wash brushes leave hairline scratches on a coated car too, and their rubbing wears the coating.
Do not wipe a dusty or dirty car with a dry cloth, your sleeve or your hand. Dry dirt acts like sandpaper. The same goes for winter: brush the snow off lightly, but do not scrape ice off the paint.
Also avoid strong and abrasive cleaning products, such as polishes and abrasive stain removers. They are designed to wear away the surface, and they can wear away the coating as well.
Bird droppings, insects and tree sap are best removed soon. The coating gives you more time but does not make the surface fully resistant to them. You will find instructions in our articles on bird droppings and insects and tree sap.
Our coatings
Paint coating and Stardust PCS 2 protect the paint for 18–24 months. NanoCeramic Protect – full set coats the paint with Stardust PCS 5, which the manufacturer says lasts 48–60 months, and also coats the glass and the wheels. The coating is applied at an authorised centre, and you receive a treatment certificate. If the paint is repaired, for example after a collision, the repaired area can be recoated at the same time.
Once the coating has reached the end of its lifespan, you can renew it or switch to wax. The options are compared in our article on wax versus coating.
Washing with us
All our washes are done by hand, and every one of them suits a coated car, as long as the wash is done correctly and in line with the coating's instructions. The wash starts with shampoo and a pressure-washer rinse, so that loose dirt comes off before the surface is touched. The car is then washed with a sponge and shampoo, rinsed and dried with a microfibre cloth.
Basic wash (€34–47) includes a hand wash, the door frames and the rubber mats, and it is enough as a regular wash. Premium wash (€39–52) also uses a solvent wash to remove the traffic film that would otherwise cover the coating. Seasonal wash (€49–62) includes a solvent wash and a quick wax.
Bring your coated car for a hand wash
Basic wash €34–47. Book online or call us.