Aqua Coat Do's & Don’ts

There's no denying that Aqua Coat Hydrophobic Rinse Aid is one of our most popular, not to mention most user-friendly, detailing products. We are however asked a lot of questions about the best time, and best way, to apply. Well, we've put an almost ridiculous amount of research and development into refining Aqua Coat, so here's a few simple dos and don'ts to help you get the ultimate in bubblegum-scented, hydrophobic performance.

Do… Use For Maintenance Washes

And not for full detail. Aqua Coat is intended to bestow your car with a layer of Si02 for a quick and easy top up in protection and enhanced water beading. There is no need to polish and wax for the hydrophobic solution to form an effective, long-lasting barrier to the elements. But, if your paintwork does need decontamination and correction, simply carry out these procedures and save your Aqua Coat for future maintenance washes.

Don't… Dry Before Application

But do thoroughly wash your car first and dry after. Always start with a clean, wet vehicle, applying Aqua Coat immediately after rinsing off your contact wash. Aqua Coat doesn't require any curing time, so it's important to rinse the product immediately after application - it is a hydrophobic rinse aid, after all. After your final rinse, completely dry the vehicle with a soft drying towel or microfibre cloth, even if you live in a soft water area. This ensures that the product won't quick dry and leave streaks or spotting.

Do… Use On All Exterior Surfaces

Aqua Coat is designed to be used over the entire vehicle, including wheels, trim and glass. It can also be used on more targeted areas, like the engine bay and the underside of your bonnet. The key is to be quick to apply and rinse, and to use the product sparingly. Don't waste your cash by spraying on too much product. Less is more with Aqua Coat, and a light mist over the majority of the vehicle will be sufficient. Don't worry about coverage, because the solution will spread over the rest of the vehicle while you rinse from the top down. You can actually see it working.

Don't… Use In Direct Sunlight

Rinse aids aren't designed to be allowed to dry naturally, and using Aqua Coat in direct sunlight, hot weather, or when the car is still warm from any enthusiastic driving, will only accelerate the drying process. Then again, you should never wash your car in these conditions anyway, right? Even if left to dry, Aqua Coat won't harm your vehicle, any residue can be immediately buffed out using our Tripple car polish. But, to avoid streaking and spotting in the first place, just don't let it dry.

Don't… Use Immediately After Waxing

Hard waxes work by filling the pores in the paintwork to create a smooth slick surface, we call this levelling the optical finish. Conversely, Aqua Coat is engineered to bond to the paint on a molecular level, and then expand to form a layer of protection which lasts up to 3 months. When applied to a freshly waxed surface, essentially the car wax will attack the bonding process, and the Aqua Coat will try to squeeze the wax from the pores on expansion. With this in mind, save your product for at least three or four washes after waxing.

Do… Marvel At The Results

Aqua Coat is one of few detailing products on the market where you can actually see it working during the application stages. It's easy to observe the difference in water behaviour between the first rinse (after your contact wash) and the second (after applying Aqua Coat). And even more obvious when you've dried the vehicle after. Don't believe us? This video tells you everything you need to know…