We recommend following your coating's care instructions and using a compatible, residue-free shampoo for routine washing. CarPro Reset is designed for coating maintenance; AutoBead Ceramic Shampoo is an option where you deliberately want a compatible protective top-up. Pre-wash, use clean wash media, rinse thoroughly and dry carefully. Extra ceramic products are optional, not a requirement after every wash.
What is the best way to wash a car with a ceramic coating?
We recommend a compatible pre-wash, a lubricated contact wash with clean media and careful drying. A coating makes maintenance easier but does not make the finish scratch-proof. A pure shampoo helps you assess the coating without adding another finish; use stronger or topping products only where the coating's care instructions support them. Our guide to how to wash your car safely covers the basic technique.
What should you use to clean a ceramic coated car?
Choose around your existing coating and its maintenance guidance. These products cover routine cleaning and optional top-up stages; you do not need to use every one at each wash.
Shampoo
Made to work hand in hand with AutoBead waxes and coatings, helping to maintain and prolong the protection. Its ceramic molecules bond to the surface, so regular use builds up extra layers of ceramic protection. Use 3 to 4 capfuls in a 15 litre bucket of warm water.
CarPro developed it as the partner to nanotechnology sealants and coatings. Its surfactants clean with the strength of an alkaline cleaner while staying pH-neutral in solution, to break down dirt and traffic film and keep the coating's water repellency. It has no gloss enhancers and dilutes 1:500, which is 40ml in 20 litres of water.
Pre-wash
Stjarnagloss SNÖ pH Neutral Snow Foam
A double-strength, pH-neutral snow foam that loosens dirt and traffic film before the contact wash and is safe for ceramic coatings, waxes, sealants, PPF and vinyl wraps.
Mitt, towel and top-up
FibreKing Gold Label Korean Microfibre Wash Mitt
A soft wash mitt for a lubricated contact wash after thorough pre-washing. We keep it clean and use light pressure; no mitt guarantees freedom from scratches.
FibreKing Silver Label Drying Towel
A 50 x 80cm, 1100 GSM double-layer twisted-loop towel with a hidden edge seam. We would use it gently on clean paint and keep a separate cloth for dirty door shuts.
AutoBead Ceramic Quick Detailer
A blend of nano ceramic particles and reactive polysiloxanes that adds a layer of ceramic protection lasting approximately 6 months, works with its coatings and hard waxes, and can be used on a dry surface or as a drying aid.
Ceramic car wash products compared
| Product | Job | Mix or use | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| AutoBead Ceramic Shampoo | Optional wash with added protection | 3 to 4 capfuls per 15 litres | Adds ceramic layers with each wash |
| CarPro Reset | Routine coating maintenance wash | 1:500, 40ml per 20 litres | No gloss enhancers, pH-neutral in solution |
| Stjarnagloss SNÖ | Touch-free pre-wash | Snow foam lance | pH neutral, coating safe |
| AutoBead Ceramic Quick Detailer | Top-up after the wash | Mist onto a microfibre, or as a drying aid | About 6 months; conditions vary |
How do you wash a ceramic coated car step by step?
Pre-wash, then contact wash with a compatible shampoo and clean wash media before rinsing and drying. We recommend keeping dirt out of the wash solution with an appropriate rinse or fresh-mitt routine. Add a topper only when it is compatible and needed.
- Find shade: work on a cool car, so nothing dries on the paint.
- Rinse, then pre-wash: rinse off loose dirt, then cover the car in a pH-neutral snow foam, let it dwell without drying and rinse it off. Rinse thoroughly and complete the pre-wash before the contact wash.
- Two buckets: one with shampoo, one with clean rinse water. Add AutoBead Ceramic Shampoo at 3 to 4 capfuls in a 15 litre bucket, or CarPro Reset at 40ml in 20 litres.
- Wash from the top down: with a dedicated wash mitt, start at the highest point of the car and work downwards, rinsing the mitt in the clean bucket before reloading it.
- Rinse thoroughly: remove any remaining shampoo.
- Dry carefully: use a clean, suitable drying towel with light pressure. A drying aid is optional and should be compatible with the coating and the towel; use only a formula approved for wet-panel application.
- Assess before topping up: check the clean finish and follow the coating's maintenance schedule. If a compatible topper is needed, apply it sparingly as directed rather than adding a new layer after every wash.
Common questions
Can you use Reset for every maintenance wash?
Reset can be used for routine maintenance of compatible coatings; it does not need to be reserved for fading beading. We recommend following the coating's wash guidance and the shampoo dilution. If water behaviour remains weak after cleaning, investigate mineral deposits and other contamination before assuming failure or adding a topper.
What destroys a ceramic coating?
Abrasion, unsuitable chemicals and poor maintenance can affect a coating and the paint beneath it. We recommend avoiding abrasive automatic brushes, dirty wash media and dry wiping. Chemical compatibility depends on the coating, product concentration and contact time, not pH alone. Remove contamination promptly and follow the coating supplier's care limits.
Can you wash the car straight after a ceramic coating?
Not straight away. Every coating needs time to cure before it gets wet or washed, and the time varies from product to product, so follow the cure time on the coating you used. Once it has cured, wash it as above. For choosing a type of protection in the first place, see wax vs sealant vs ceramic coating, and for more shampoos, the best car shampoo.
If washing no longer restores the surface, our iron-removal guide explains one possible decontamination step; confirm compatibility with your coating first.
Need help?
Tell the TDHQ team which coating is on your car and how it is behaving, and we will suggest the right shampoo and top-up. You can also browse every car shampoo, snow foam, quick detailer and the full AutoBead range.
Last updated 16 October 2026.
