Need crash course in keeping the Mach-E clean

[astronut325]

I've never owned a nice car. The Mach-E is by far the nicest car I've ever owned and it is beautiful beyond even the most exquisite words. I've had used Camrys, Corollas, and a few vans in my history. Nothing I really cared for, nor sought to keep in good condition. That is not the case with the Mach-E.

For all my cars, I would just take them to the cheapest car wash near me and call it a day. Sometimes I would wash them myself at home if I have the time. I've never waxed, polished, or anything else. So I'm turning to this forum to seek advice on proper Mach-E care.

I plan to get the whole car ceramic coated, and the interior leather is also going to get coated. Hopefully within the next two weeks. Couple of questions:

1) Is it better to wash by yourself or take the car to a touch-free wash? Truth be told, I'm not the best car washer.
2) Should I wash the Mach-E and apply a wax coat until I can get the ceramic coat applied?
3) I live in the foothills of mountains so it gets quite dusty, is it safe to use a car duster as a daily cleaner?
4) Do people wax their Mach-Es after getting a ceramic coat applied? If yes, how often? What about applying polish after the ceramic coat?
5) Anything specific I should use to clean the interior? In the past I used Clorox wipes on the dash, console and other hard plastic areas. I realize that's probably not the best. Looking for suggestions on this.

Any and all advice is appreciated.

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[RickMachE]

Stop using Clorox wipes immediately.

 

[Regularmache]

Great write up answering your questions. They sell all kinds of car care products, but this article is just generic car care 101.
https://www.autopia-carcare.com/inf-perfect.html

 

[Pushrods&Capacitors]

I've never owned a nice car. The Mach-E is by far the nicest car I've ever owned and it is beautiful beyond even the most exquisite words. I've had used Camrys, Corollas, and a few vans in my history. Nothing I really cared for, nor sought to keep in good condition. That is not the case with the Mach-E.

For all my cars, I would just take them to the cheapest car wash near me and call it a day. Sometimes I would wash them myself at home if I have the time. I've never waxed, polished, or anything else. So I'm turning to this forum to seek advice on proper Mach-E care.

I plan to get the whole car ceramic coated, and the interior leather is also going to get coated. Hopefully within the next two weeks. Couple of questions:

1) Is it better to wash by yourself or take the car to a touch-free wash? Truth be told, I'm not the best car washer.
2) Should I wash the Mach-E and apply a wax coat until I can get the ceramic coat applied?
3) I live in the foothills of mountains so it gets quite dusty, is it safe to use a car duster as a daily cleaner?
4) Do people wax their Mach-Es after getting a ceramic coat applied? If yes, how often? What about applying polish after the ceramic coat?
5) Anything specific I should use to clean the interior? In the past I used Clorox wipes on the dash, console and other hard plastic areas. I realize that's probably not the best. Looking for suggestions on this.

Any and all advice is appreciated.

1. It’s better to wash yourself because you control the process. However, I sometimes even use touchless washes when I don’t have the time for a hand washing. As long as the wash has nothing that physically touches your paint you’ll avoid swirls/micro scratches. When DIY, use the 2 bucket method for best results along with some good wash soap, wash mit, and a big thick microfiber drying towel.

2. Wash but don’t wax your MME before the ceramic application, they’re just gonna clay bar it and strip/prep it prior to application anyway. Unless you’re not taking it to them for a while, in that case a wax application would be smart.

3. No. Actually HFN, ?. Sorry. Contrary to what anyone says, any car duster will just drag dust and small particles across your paint and result in micro scratches.

4. Wax after ceramic isn’t necessary but there are many different ceramic “boosters” that help maintain super high paint glossiness/depth.

5. No more Clorox wipes. Interior care products. Search Chemical Guys car interior products just for an idea. That’ll get you started on a better path. Amazon always has good deals on their stuff. Or whatever brand suits your fancy honestly.

Congrats on escaping the boring tedium that is Corolla/Camry ownership, haha. Well done.

 

[JRT]

Who ever does your ceramic coating will give you guidance to follow

 

[RetiredDP]

I've never owned a nice car. The Mach-E is by far the nicest car I've ever owned and it is beautiful beyond even the most exquisite words. I've had used Camrys, Corollas, and a few vans in my history. Nothing I really cared for, nor sought to keep in good condition. That is not the case with the Mach-E.

For all my cars, I would just take them to the cheapest car wash near me and call it a day. Sometimes I would wash them myself at home if I have the time. I've never waxed, polished, or anything else. So I'm turning to this forum to seek advice on proper Mach-E care.

I plan to get the whole car ceramic coated, and the interior leather is also going to get coated. Hopefully within the next two weeks. Couple of questions:

1) Is it better to wash by yourself or take the car to a touch-free wash? Truth be told, I'm not the best car washer.
2) Should I wash the Mach-E and apply a wax coat until I can get the ceramic coat applied?
3) I live in the foothills of mountains so it gets quite dusty, is it safe to use a car duster as a daily cleaner?
4) Do people wax their Mach-Es after getting a ceramic coat applied? If yes, how often? What about applying polish after the ceramic coat?
5) Anything specific I should use to clean the interior? In the past I used Clorox wipes on the dash, console and other hard plastic areas. I realize that's probably not the best. Looking for suggestions on this.

Any and all advice is appreciated.

1. DON'T wax your car before getting it ceramic coated.

2. Have the car clay-barred before the ceramic coats...if you're having it done professionally, they SHOULD do that before the coatings are applied.

3. Don't wax the car, ever. Just apply a ceramic-coat detailer over the car after washing. The detailer will seal-in anything like dirt, so wash the car first. Ceramic coatings are sealants, not waxes. My pro shop recommended P and S Beadmaker Ceramic as a detailer, and it works fine. But I've switched to Technician's Choice Ceramic as a detailer...it has a slicker finish. Bugs and dirt just fall off when washing. Both are available on Amazon.

4. I don't use soap, which some may disagree with (I live in no-salt California). I powerwash my car with an electric 1400 psi power washer, which I got from Home Depot. I fan the spray out to its widest pattern, to cut the power down. DON'T buy one of those 2300 psi washers...they're too powerful. And avoid spraying at an oblique angle on the edges of any tape stripes, logos, emblems, etc...you may start to peel them up.

I don't use soap, because with the ceramic coat, the dirt and bugs just drop off with water-only.

5. Finally, try to avoid using a towel to dry the car. I use an electric leaf blower to dry the car...with the ceramic coating, water just beads-up and falls off. Drying the car is literally a breeze. I started with a plug-in leaf-blower, but have switched to a battery-operated Ryobi because then I can use it to dust the car off at car shows...no micro-scratches from towels or brushes, EVER!

 

[Nklem]

I vote for no ceramic coating. I use Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Ceramic Spray applied from new. No clay needed, It works great, easy to apply, protects your finish and you can pay for years of electricity, a few payments, an extended warranty or a set of tires with the savings. Search “project Farm” in YouTube for an unbiased review. Out of pocket I have spent less than $65 including my second bottle of wash concentrate.

After 9 months, 14k miles, and a full Maine winter, my Mach E is still smooth as glass and water beads like crazy. I use the matching detailer and wash concentrate too.

By the way, “no touch” car washes mostly in Winter. I hand wash and use only a microfiber wash mop with washes. I shammy it dry with a real leather shammy too.

 

[joebruin77]

I plan to get the whole car ceramic coated, and the interior leather is also going to get coated. Hopefully within the next two weeks. Couple of questions:

1) Is it better to wash by yourself or take the car to a touch-free wash? Truth be told, I'm not the best car washer.
2) Should I wash the Mach-E and apply a wax coat until I can get the ceramic coat applied?
3) I live in the foothills of mountains so it gets quite dusty, is it safe to use a car duster as a daily cleaner?
4) Do people wax their Mach-Es after getting a ceramic coat applied? If yes, how often? What about applying polish after the ceramic coat?
5) Anything specific I should use to clean the interior? In the past I used Clorox wipes on the dash, console and other hard plastic areas. I realize that's probably not the best. Looking for suggestions on this

Here are my 2 cents:

1) It is definitely better to wash the car yourself. Commercial and automatic car washes will induce scratches and swirl marks. Touchless car washes don't induce scratches, but they also do not clean as well. Plus, touchless car washes often use high pH soaps, which clean better, but these high pH soaps can also degrade or even strip waxes and sealants.

If you are not yet "the best car washer", you can watch videos on Youtube on the best car washing techniques.

2) I would definitely put some sort of paint protection on the car's paint until you get it ceramic coated. But let the installer know what is on the paint so that they can strip and remove the paint protection before the coating is applied. I would get something easy to apply such as Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Ceramic Sealant or Griot's Garage 3-in-1 Ceramic Wax. Or you can check with the coating installer and ask them what they recommend.

3) I would avoid those car dusters like the plague. You never want to drag dust particles across your paint. That will induce scratches and swirl marks for sure. Instead, I would learn about using a detail spray and/or waterless washes to keep your car clean between main washes.

4) It is not advised to apply a wax to a car that already has a ceramic coating. The wax won't bond at all to the paint. The ceramic coating will repel the wax just like it does dirt and contaminants. Plus the wax will mask the hydrophobic properties of the coating. However, you can use ceramic detailers, boost sprays, and the occasional decontamination wash to clean and maintain your coating.

And you would never apply a polish on top of a ceramic coating. The only time you would use a polish is when the ceramic coating is near the end of its life and you want to remove the remaining coating and prepare the paint for the application of a new coating.

5) For the interior, there are products that clean, products that protect, and products that do both. I personally like Mckees37 Fast Interior Detailer and Chemical Guys Inner Clean. Both of these products clean and protect.

If you want to learn more about car detailing and washing, you can visit autogeekonline.net . This is an online forum where car detailing professionals and enthusiasts post and answer all sorts of questions. I find it to be a super helpful resource for anything related to car detailing and washing.

 

[astronut325]

I absolutely love this forum. This is all great advice. I have a lot to learn.

 

[21st Century Pony]

One of the best ways I've found to keep the car sides clean, including on the Mach E, is to install molded mud guards. AOSK has a nice set. That will keep whatever the wheels throw up from the road, especially when wet, off the sides of the Mach E.

 

[Mach-DB]

I agree with Hybrid Solutions Ceramic Spray. I also learned of it from Project Farm's YouTube video. Hand or touchless wash, blow dry with a portable (battery power) leaf blower, then wipe down with clean microfiber towels.

Project Farm video link - worth watching, your car will love you for it:

 

[yngwenli]

Here's an old thread on this from this forum:

How Do I Keep my Mach-e Clean?
https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/how-do-i-keep-my-mach-e-clean.13713/

 

[Rt1AWD]

Stop using Clorox wipes immediately.

+100

I've got a portable vacuum cleaner that can be charged from USB. I use it to remove dust from the dashboard, seats and other surfaces. I use the regular vacuum cleaner for floors.

 

[Dzrhino]

This is a good article on soap to use to clean your car, it's for a Porsche but works for my Mach-E also: https://flatsixes.com/porsche-produ...awt_a=8R0L&awt_l=tMd70M&awt_m=3eqigcPRcE5gG0L

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