Most people treat their car like a disappointing Tinder date, with minimal effort. And they are sitting there wondering why things aren’t better
Over the weekend I applied some chemical guys hydroslick ceramic coating to my daily work car.
And it turned out great. Better than expected.
I did the coating in a self car wash bay in about one hour and a half. It was a cloudy day with the high of 70 and a low that night of 50. This is important because you don’t want to do it in the hot sun, and you want the coating to cure properly.
This hydroslick isn’t a true ceramic coating, but it does have some ceramic properties in the solution.
Step by Step Checklist:
WASH (self car wash bays get the job done)
- Park in shade if possible
- Quality car soap (no dish detergent)
- Clean microfiber wash mitt
- Wash from top to bottom
- Pay extra attention to lower panels (more dirt)
- Rinse thoroughly to remove all soap
CLAY
- Keep surface wet with clay lubricant or diluted car soap
- Work in 2’×2′ sections
- Use light pressure with clay bar/pad
- Glide in straight lines, not circles
- Wipe section with microfiber towel
- Feel for smoothness (should feel like glass)
DRY
- Use clean, plush microfiber towels
- Pat dry instead of wiping when possible
- Use separate towels for lower panels
- Pay attention to door jambs, panel gaps
- Make sure car is 100% dry (check crevices)
ALCOHOL WIPE
- Mix isopropyl alcohol with distilled water (1:2 ratio)
- Fresh microfiber towels (not used for drying)
- Work in small sections
- Wipe in straight lines
- Follow immediately with dry microfiber
- Check for any remaining residue
COAT
- Work in shade or covered area
- Surface must be cool to touch
- Follow directions on bottle
- Apply 4-5 dots of product to applicator like pad or microfiber towel
- Work one panel at a time
- Apply in thin, even coats using cross-hatch pattern
- Wait 1-2 minutes for hazing
- Buff with clean, dry microfiber towel
- Use straight lines, not circular motions
- Check for high spots or streaks with light
POST-APPLICATION
- Keep car dry for at least 3 hours if possible
- Avoid washing for next 7 days
- First wash should be just water (no soap)
Pro Tip: If application isn’t perfect, don’t panic. Any protection is better than no protection.
The Perfection Trap
Here’s the thing about ceramic coatings: people are terrified of them. “What if I screw it up? What if it doesn’t cure properly? What if the detailing gods strike me down for my hubris?”
Perfection is bullshit. It’s the enemy of actually getting things done.
The reality? An imperfectly applied ceramic coating on a not-so-perfect car is still exponentially better than the nothing you’re currently rocking.
The Small Domino Effect
The difference between the amateur and the pro isn’t what you think. It’s not about having a climate-controlled garage or $500 worth of fancy tools.
It’s about embracing the small domino—that first step that seems almost insignificant.
Wash. Clay. Dry. Alcohol wipe. Apply.
Each step is laughably simple. Together, they transform a vehicle from “is that dirt or actual paint color?” to “damn, is that new?” status.
The Unsexy Truth About Car Care
Nobody talks about the unsexy middle steps. The clay bar that looks like a weird red hockey puck. The IPA wipe down that smells like a hospital room. The waiting for the coating to cure.
These are the invisible steps that separate the shiny car from the sad car.
What Your Car Is Actually Telling You
Your car doesn’t care about your excuses. The clear coat peeling on your hood doesn’t give a damn about your busy schedule or your fear of doing it wrong.
Physics doesn’t negotiate.
UV rays don’t care about your feelings.
But here’s the liberating truth:
Your 2008 Civic with peeling clear coat is the perfect canvas for learning. It’s not a Ferrari. You can’t make it worse. The only direction is up.
F*ck Perfection
- Don’t have a garage? Apply at sunset.
- Can’t keep it “out of the elements”? Fuck it. Do what you can. Apply it in a self car wash bay, take your time leaving, and park in a shady spot.
- Worried about application? Thin beats thick. Always.
- Scared of streaks? More buffing, less product.
The Paradox of Automotive Care
The most important insight is this: the cars that need protection the most are often driven by people who care the least. The beaters, the daily drivers, the cars that actually live in the real world.
Your car lives in the rain, the sun, the bird-poop-filled parking lot at work. It deserves armor.
The Bottom Line
Here’s what nobody tells you about ceramic coatings like HydroSlick: they’re forgiving. They’re designed for normal humans, not just detail nerds with clean rooms and microscopes.
Did you perfect the application? Probably not.
Did you make your car significantly better protected than before? Absolutely.
And in the end, isn’t that the point? Not Instagram-worthy perfection, but real-world protection for a real-world car.
Now get out there and drive the damn thing. Just don’t forget peep them water beads the next time it rains—small victories matter.
Joe DiAndrea 