Car Wash and Wrap Maintenance

After a new vinyl wrap is installed, it is ideal not to wash the car for 2-3 days to allow the material and its adhesion to strengthen. Washing too soon can result in edge lifting in your new wrap.

It is essential to wash your wrapped car regularly to keep it clean and looking spectacular!
This will not only help it keep a dazzling appearance, but also prolong the wrap’s life.
If driving around places with high elevation, congested urban or industrial areas, you may need to pay close attention to regular maintenance.
As UV damage, smog, or pollutants are elevated in these areas, the durability of the film could be shortened if the wrap is not well maintained.
There are several ways you can wash and maintain a wrap properly. Before you try them, make sure you understand, and carefully read the following.

Caution

Automatic wash is not the best method of cleaning a car, but it can be acceptable if there are no other options available. Automated brushes in a wash can be destructive, as the brush might catch the edge of the film resulting in damage marks, lifting, or dulling the film surface.
Wax and Polish. It is safe to skip the wax and polish option at the car wash as most waxes may contain petroleum distillate which will damage the film. It may be okay for some films, but you need to make sure the wax does not contain such ingredients.
Do not wax and polish your matte film. This will result in filling in the texture with shiny spots on your wrap.

Here are some safe ways to wash a Wrapped car:

Hand Wash

Not only is this an old fashioned way, it is the best method when maintaining your wrap.
Simply pre-rinse your vehicle before you do anything. This helps avoid accidental scratches on the surfaces.
Use a sponge to wash with mild soapy water solutions. It is recommended to start from the top to the bottom of your vehicle.
Do not scrub if it isn’t necessary because abrasion could occur.
When the washing is done, rinse the wrap thoroughly with clean water.
Let the film dry naturally. You can also grab a silicone squeegee to remove access water to avoid spotting.
Use a microfiber towel or a soft non-abrasive towel to finish drying.
TIPS: Be careful when cleaning the edge to avoid lifting!
Do not use detergent with abrasive components, strong solvents, or any alcohols.
Always test detergents before using.

Waterless Wash

When your car is not too dirty, waterless is an excellent method!
Those related products will keep the gloss level and performance of your wrap well maintained!
But make sure you test them before you widely use any of those products on your vehicle. It could be disastrous if the product contained wax, therefore leading to glossy spots all over your film!

Automatic Car wash

As Mentioned before, no brushes, and no wax (which contains petroleum distillates).
Spray is acceptable, although as mentioned previously, an automatic car wash is not the best choice compared to hand wash.
After the wash, let it dry naturally, or dab it with a dry microfiber towel.

Pressure wash

This should be your last resort when no other methods can work. Using a pressure washer might result in negative effects occurring on your wrap including edge-lifting, and face degradation!
Please be extremely careful and cautious if you decide to use this method.
Water pressure must be below 1200 psi (8-bars, or 84 kg/cm2)
Water temperature below 80 or 180F
The nozzle must be at at least 12 inches away from the edges.