How to Maintain Your Ceramic Coating During Winter
Want to keep your ceramic coating looking and performing its best during winter? In this guide, I’ll show you the best way to maintain your ceramic coating through cold weather — to preserve gloss, water beading, and protection all season long.
Winter is the harshest test for your ceramic coating — constant salt, grime, freezing temps, and limited wash opportunities can degrade performance fast if you don’t maintain it properly.
But the good news? A few simple steps will keep your coating strong and looking amazing — whether you’re running Gloss Boss or Tough As Shell.
Here’s your step by step winter ceramic coating maintenance plan:
Why Winter Maintenance Matters
👉 Even the best ceramic coatings need maintenance:
- Salt and calcium chloride can degrade hydrophobic properties
- Road grime can clog surface pores and dull beading
- Neglect leads to coating failure and permanent paint damage
👉 Regular washing and boosting is key to keeping your protection maxed out through winter.
Step 1 — Wash Frequently (Even in Winter)
👉 During winter, aim to wash your coated car at least every 1–2 weeks if possible:
- Pre-rinse thoroughly to remove loose salt and grit
- Use The Super Soaper — ceramic-safe and effective on winter grime
- Wash with a soft towel like the Orange Wash Microfiber Towel
- Dry thoroughly with a Massive Drying Towel
Step 2 — Boost Protection Regularly
👉 Even if you have Gloss Boss installed — adding a sacrificial topper layer of Tough As Shell every 4–6 weeks helps:
- Restores slickness
- Refreshes water beading
- Shields against salt and chemicals
👉 After a wash:
- Apply Tough As Shell panel by panel
- Buff off immediately with a Softer Than Soft Microfiber Towel
This routine keeps your base coating protected and looking great — even in harsh winter conditions.
Step 3 — Don’t Let Contaminants Sit
👉 The worst thing you can do is let salt and grime sit on the surface for weeks:
- They eat away at hydrophobic properties
- They can etch clear coat if they breach the coating
👉 If you can’t do a full wash, at least rinse the car or do a touchless foam rinse with The Super Soaper and a thorough rinse-down.
Step 4 — Check Coating Performance
👉 After washing, check for:
- Strong water beading → indicates protection is healthy
- Loss of slickness or flat water → time to reapply topper or refresh base layer
👉 With Gloss Boss + Tough As Shell maintenance, your car should stay slick and beading through the entire winter.
Winter Ceramic Coating Maintenance Tips
- Wash every 1–2 weeks minimum
- Boost with Tough As Shell every 4–6 weeks
- Pre-rinse heavily to avoid scratching
- Use ceramic-safe soaps only — no harsh degreasers
- Don’t let salt or snow sit on the surface long-term
Recommended Products
- Gloss Boss — Base ceramic coating
- Tough As Shell Ceramic Spray — Winter maintenance topper
- The Super Soaper — Safe winter wash soap
- Orange Wash Microfiber Towel — Safe contact wash towel
- Massive Drying Towel — Winter drying essential
Conclusion
👉 Want to maintain your ceramic coating all winter long?
- Wash regularly with The Super Soaper
- Top off protection with Tough As Shell
- Don’t let salt and grime sit on the surface
- Monitor beading and slickness — and boost as needed
👉 Follow this simple winter maintenance plan — and your ceramic coating will stay strong and performing — no matter how harsh the season gets.
