Ceramics are the way to go.
Can be easier than wax to apply, absolutely hydrophobic and can be applied to most all surfaces. Water sprayed on a Ceramic coated bike or car is enough to wash dirt off. Ceramics is what you always hoped wax would be, but never seemed to measure up. The film that is left can be wiped off with a detail spray and micro fiber towel. If you have ever used Rain X its like that for all finishes. I do not use my windshield wipers much since I did the ceramic coating over the whole car. All my vehicles are ceramic coated. The finish is deeper, it lasts much longer than wax and does not allow bird droppings or chemicals that would normally hurt the paint to touch it. The problem comes in the surface prep BEFORE you apply it. The finish should be really good, smooth and for the best shine has to have all the surface scratches taken out.
The SUV I bought took me 3 days of prep before I applied the coating to achieve a lasting deeper shine that could ever be achieved with wax alone. But the thing looks brand new.
In saying that though my Valk was already pretty good, so prep was only a wash and check the surface then apply. I have tried 4 Ceramic coatings and all of them gave a good shine, but one left a haze or shadow in the surface that had to be removed fairly easily. The one I prefer is the cheapest, lasts ok gives a deep shine but very easy to work with and can coat the whole car in about 45 minutes. It shines like brand new.
To professionally ceramic coat a car can cost two thousand dollars and its all about the prep.
I have recently applied ceramic to my seats and I like the results there also. Black on bumpers and other places can come out really deep black or have a haze. But most of the time the black trim looks much better. Chrome holds up longer, aluminum shine holds up longer because water and dirt dont get through the ceramic coating.
I recently found a great car wash that strengthens the coating and restores its water repellency and also smells good. The wash is kind of expensive like 45$ but you use one or two capfulls in a wash bucket and it cuts dirt and bugs easily.
Ceramics also do protect against bugs on the car also, so cleaning is much easier. Trim around windows that might turn a bit stays new looking with ceramic coatings also.
Most products are around a hundred bucks for a small bottle and after the first time you apply it is enough to do a car roughly twice. But the first time may require a bottle and a half.
Most of this is professional grade but its easier to use than wax and gives better results once you learn it. Water to clean a car once ceramic is applied is all you need with a micro fiber towel.
One benefit is longevity of the vehical since the wash penetrates into the places where you cannot get to but rain water does and sometimes lays. Once washed with this it repels the water and helps to fight corrosion in cracks and crevasses.
GYEON is a heavier coating even to protecting the paint a bit from rocks and works well and what I use now occasionally
Gyeon Leather Shield EVO 50 ml - Ceramic Coating for Leather | All Types of Natural Leather, Tesla Vegan | No Change in Finish of Upholstery |Repels Dirt and Liquid | Car Interior UV Protector
$55.99 with 16 percent savings -16%
$55.99
GYEON Pure EVO Ceramic Coating Ultra Gloss sio2 Hard Deep Shine Paint Protection Water Beading Chemical Resistance Easy Application One‑Layer Car Coating Extreme Durability
Liquid
4.54.5 out of 5 stars (109)
100+ bought in past month
$89.99
TEC582 CERAMIC DETAIL SPRAY (1 Gallon) I use this all the time great on counters and appliances also. Or as a general interior exterior clean up.
Technicians Choice Ceramic Coating
$24.00 $12.00 per fluid ounce($12.00 / fluid ounce) This is the easiest and quickest to use and my go to for a quick recoat.
Once you use true ceramic and not the usual commercially available sprays, waxes you will not go back to wax.
Kochchemie Nms
Nano Magic Shampoo
https://kcxusa.com/collections/chemical-products/products/nano-magic-shampoo-1lMy vehicles bead better than this, also I have not seen these kind of results with this product.
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