Congratulations! You’ve finally wrapped your vehicle. Whether it’s on a car, truck, or boat, all vinyl wrapping needs proper care and maintenance to maintain its beautiful finish for years to come. Now, you’re probably wondering what the difference between maintaining a regular vehicle and a wrapped vehicle is. Unless you’re one of the few people meticulous enough to regularly clean your vehicle and keep it as pristine as the first day of purchase, there’s a lot of differences so listen up.
Washing a Vinyl Wrapped Vehicle
With great wrapping comes great responsibility.
Though most of us don’t clean our vehicles regularly, vinyl wrapping requires special attention to maintain its glossy or matte finish for as long as possible. If you live in an area that is exposed to a lot of pollutants, such as a busy city, you should consider washing your vehicle at least once a week. Otherwise, wash your vehicle as soon as it appears dirty; the longer dirt and other impurities sit on the wrapping, the harder they will be to remove, which can ultimately damage the vinyl underneath.
Even though you’re used to the quick and easy process of driving through a car wash, some cleaning agents and brushes used in these venues can be harmful to the vinyl surface. We recommend starting off by removing as much grime as possible with water. Then you can go in with a non-abrasive soap such as 3M Car Wash Soap 39000 or whatever was recommended to you by your technician. Dry the car off with a clean microfiber cloth and drive off on to your next adventure.
Keep in mind that some contaminants could be harder to remove than others. Bird droppings, tree sap, and insects should be soaked in hot water for a few minutes before continuing with the regular cleaning routine. This type of grime should be removed immediately because it will only harden with time. If you have any problems during the cleaning process, you can always give Full Throttle Wraps, your leading car wrapping service in Philadelphia, PA and surrounding areas, a call at 484-321-8284.
Avoid These Products Under All Circumstances
- Abrasive brushes or detergents
- Oil-based solvents
- Home cleaners
- Polishing or wax products on matte finishes
- Pressure washers above 2,000 psi
- The sun while cleaning
We hope you enjoy your newly wrapped vehicle as much as we enjoyed working on it. Check out our website to see new car and boat wrap designs created right in Baltimore County, MD, and surrounding states. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions, concerns, and comments.