Caring for Your Vehicle Wrap
How long does a vehicle wrap last?
Okay, so you just got your vehicle wrapped, and now you want to make sure it always looks as good as the day you brought it home. More importantly, you want to make sure it lasts as long as it can. So how do you go about that? By caring for your vehicle wrap! It is recommended that you wait for the first two days after your vehicle is wrapped, and then after the initial 48 hours, you continue washing it every two weeks, or at least whenever it appears dirty. The longer you leave dirt and other contaminants on your vehicle wrap, the harder it is to remove.
Depending on the grade of material chosen will effect how long your vehicle wrap will last. Intermediate grade vinyls can have a life span of about 1-3 years but with proper care it can still look good beyond that. If you try to remove it after the 3 year mark the removable adhesive properties start to fade, making it harder to remove. High performance grade vinyl can have wraps that last 3-5 years, but with good maintenance can last past 7 years!
How do you clean a wrapped vehicle?
It doesn’t take much to maintain your vehicle wrap. If you follow the proper maintenance care, your vinyl vehicle wrap will last for several years. Proper vehicle wrap care will keep your wrap looking as good as the day you first brought it home. If you would like to learn more about maintaining your new vinyl vehicle wrap, please do not hesitate to contact us. You can call the Slicks Graphics team directly at 215-736-8000 or email us at info@slicksgraphics.com.
Step 1
The best way is to wash your vehicle wrap by hand, with a hose and a mild soapy water solution. When choosing your detergent, it is important to avoid any strong soluble solutions, alcohol, or abrasive components. Use a mild car cleaning detergent, with a pH balance between 5 and 9, mixed with water.
Gently wash your vehicle: Using a mild soapy water solution and a soft microfiber towel cloth, start from the top of the vehicle and work down. Try to avoid any excessive scrubbing.
Step 2
Step 3
Rinse: After washing, rinse your vinyl vehicle wrap thoroughly with clean water.
Let the wrap dry naturally: If you are concerned with water spots, use a silicone squeegee to remove the water. Follow by drying with a non-abrasive towel or microfiber cloth.
Step 4
Trouble Spots?
Have a difficult spot? It is still easy to take care of! For difficult spots, soak the contaminants with very hot, soapy water for a few minutes. Afterwards, rinse the spot thoroughly and let it completely dry. Be careful not to use any rough scrubbing or tools on hard spots, as it will risk scratching the film. 3M, the makers of the vinyl we use, has a video on caring for your vehicle wrap – give it a watch! They also made a PDF file that goes into more details on caring for a wrap made from their vinyl specifically.