How To Wash A Vehicle with a Vehicle Wrap

•  Wash graphics and vinyl film with a mild detergent like Dawn, Joy or Ivory and test a small portion of the cleaning solution before applying to the entire vehicle.

•  Clean from top to bottom and rinse with clean water

•  Both air-drying or using microfiber cloth work nicely

•  Pressure washing is only recommended when no other cleaning method is available. Make sure the water temp. is between 67 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit and spray at a 45° angle. Keep the spray nozzle at least 15 inches away from the vehicle. The water pressure psi should be no more than 800. Don’t spray longer than 30 seconds at a time.

•  Spot clean hard to remove spots using a microfiber cloth and isopropyl alcohol or use a citrus-based cleaner.

•  If hand washing, recommended supplies include a garden hose with spray nozzle attachment, clean bucket, mild detergent, soft cotton rag or microfiber sponge and dry microfiber rags for drying. Clean from top to bottom and be sure to rinse thoroughly with clean water.

•  If taking the vehicle to an automatic car wash, ask the owners if the cleaning solution has a pH of three to eleven

•  Ask about brushes — how soft are they and are they non-abrasive to ink and PVC surfaces?

•  Ask if the spray pressure is 1,000 psi or less

• Make sure the car wash cleaning solution doesn’t stay on the vinyl or graphics longer than 60 seconds.

•  For difficult stains, use isopropyl alcohol and a clean, soft cloth

What to Avoid on Your Vehicle Wrap

Avoid using car wash brushes because they can trap dirt and rocks in their teeth and can cause scratching on your wrap. Sometimes these scratches can even extend to damage on your paint job.

We suggest avoiding commercial car washes altogether. The high pressure of soap and water combined with the brushes used in the car wash process  increases the chances of damage being done to your vehicle wrap.

What About Wax?

We advise that you refrain from applying any carnau-based wax or any other type of polish on your vinyl wrap. These types of products will sink into your wrap job and result in the quick deterioration of your vinyl film.