pH measures a solution's acidity or alkalinity, measured on a scale from 0 to 14. A pH of 7 is considered neutral, less than 7 is acidic, and more than 7 is alkaline. Tap water, for example, has a pH value of 7.

An acidic solid product with a low pH between 0 and 3 is suitable for removing calcium deposits and rust particles, such as brake dust and iron.

A slightly acidic product with a pH value between 3 and 6 is found in wax-based products. A slightly acidic pH improves wax products' stability and durability.

Neutral products with pH values between 6 and 8 are mainly mild car shampoos used when washing the car manually. Because of its neutral pH, it is not harmful to the skin or the car's materials.

A slightly alkaline product with a pH value between 8 and 11 are cleaning product which, on the one hand, works safely but, on the other hand, also dissolves road dirt or grease well. These are the type of products for removing dirt during a regular car wash and in the interior or when cleaning glass.

An alkaline product with a pH value between 11 and 14 can be aggressive but also suitable for removing oil, grease and traffic dirt. The products work fast and effectively, but when misused, fragile parts of a car can be damaged. Therefore, always use these products according to the instructions and rinse well with water afterwards.

When using acidic and alkaline cleaning products, ensure you're wearing suitable protection, and gloves are essential. Acidic and alkaline cleaning products are corrosive to the skin and eyes and can lead to severe physical damage if used without care. It's also important to remember these products can have an effect on certain materials of a car.

Important — Always ensure you never mix acid and alkaline solutions together. Not only will they lose their cleaning performance, but they could also cause a chemical reaction; not only can this cause unnecessary damage, but it also releases a vapour that can harm your health.

The pH value provides essential information for finding the right product for your application. Not only will this save time and money, but it will also achieve better results and prevent unnecessary damage.

Applying a ceramic-coating to your wheels is the best way to protect them from the elements. However, whilst ceramic-coatings help keep the wheels cleaner, they still need regular maintenance washes to maintain the performance of the coating.

2 x Buckets of hot water with grid guards

It's always best to pre-rinse the wheels. Since ceramic coatings have good hydrophobicity and self-cleaning capabilities, a thorough rinse with a pressure washer will remove any light dirt and contaminants from the surface before you start your contact wash. 

Using chemical decontamination is the most effective way of cleaning your wheels without any contact and will give excellent results. However, ensure your wheel cleaner is less acidic, as this can impact the long-term performance of your ceramic coating. I recommend a product with a pH between 6-8.

Important — you should never use a clay bar on a ceramic-coated car or wheels. This will permanently damage the coating.

 Make sure to read my article about what is pH and why is it important.

Apply your chosen pre-wash chemical liberally to the face and barrel of the wheel, and remember to always work on one wheel at a time. Allow the cleaning product to dwell (usually between 2-5 minutes), and ensure the product isn't left to dry. Depending on your product, this can be applied using a trigger spray or a pump sprayer. Rinse the wheel thoroughly.

As most brake dust and contaminations have been removed from the wheel using the previous step, we can now apply a layer of snow foam and allow it to dwell. This will dissolve any remaining contaminants not removed by the dedicated wheel cleaner. Next, rinse the wheel thoroughly. 

Apply a car shampoo (preferably mildly alkaline or pH-neutral) to your wheel bucket and dilute following your product's instructions. Agitate using a wheel mitt, microfibre wheel brush and soft detailing brush, ensuring you regularly rinse them in a clean bucket of water. This will help stop any remaining contaminants from being ground into the coating, causing unnecessary damage. Finally, rinse your wheel thoroughly.

To aid the drying process, I recommend applying Gyeon WetCoat to the wheel and rinsing it off. Once you've washed the rest of the car you can dry them off using water, a car dryer or a drying towel. In addition, I recommend using a quick detailer like Gyeon Quick Detailer, Gyeon Ceramic Detailer or Gyeon Cure. This will aid the self-cleaning ability of your coating and maintain its hydrophobicity.

TL;DR Yes, you can, but you shouldn't — applying wax over a ceramic coating will not improve its performance; it will hinder it. You're essentially putting a layer over the coating, stopping it from working as intended.

I don't want to admit it, but let's face it, traditional wax is dead. Even today's lab-created synthetic concoctions can't compete with the power, protection, and durability of a ceramic coating. In addition, professional-grade coatings offer years of protection against UV exposure, bird droppings, tree sap, and other harmful contaminants.

Some of the best paste waxes claim to last up to 6 months, whereas a consumer-level coating lasts about 2 to 3 years, and if you get a professional-grade application, this can last a lifetime when checked annually.

Car wax also contains a lot of natural oils, grease, and other sticky substances. This may produce the water-beading effect you see after a wax application. However, these also attract dirt, dust and other road contaminants, causing them to stick to the surface.

The key to the performance of your ceramic coating is keeping it clean and free of harmful contaminants that can accelerate the breakdown of these hard coatings, which is why a regular maintenance wash will support the performance of the coating.

Important — you should never use a clay bar on a ceramic-coated car; this will permanently damage the coating. Instead, it's more effective to use a selection of cleaning chemicals to remove these contaminations.

If you want to boost the gloss or improve slickness, apply a water-based product, like Gyeon WetCoat, when you rinse the car down or Gyeon QuickDetailer or Gyeon Cure as a drying aid.

Can you apply wax to a ceramic-coated car?

What is pH and why is it important?

How pH affects cleaning

Safety

Conclusion