Revolutionizing Your Brand with Custom Vehicle Wraps
December 16, 2023
How to Wash a Car Wrap – And Maintain It
Car wraps are a modern way to customize your vehicle that has become widely available for privately owned cars only in recent years. This technology has introduced new necessary car care methods that differ from traditional paint. It's important to learn how to wash a car wrap correctly and maintain it for years to ensure durability and longevity.
If you're looking to maximize the lifespan of your car wrap, consider applying a high-quality ceramic coating on top of the wrap. It can help maintain the wrap's appearance while protecting against damage from the elements.
Table of contents
- How to Wash a Car Wrap – And Maintain It
- What is the Purpose of a Car Wrap?
- Why Extra Care for a Car Wrap is Essential
- The Difference Between a Vinyl Wrap and Car Paint
- Car Wrap Vinyl Surface Protection
- Tips for Washing a Car Wrap
- Why Automatic Car Washes and Car Wraps Don’t Mix
- Wash a Car Wrap Using the Two Bucket Method
- Can You Apply Car Wax to a Car Wrap?
- Why a Ceramic Coat on Your Car Wrap?
- What Makes Ceramic Pro 9H the Best Ceramic Coat for Vinyl
- Why It’s Important to Protect Vinyl Wraps
- Wrap Safe Products
What is the Purpose of a Car Wrap?
Vinyl car wraps are ideal for temporary use and normally come with a manufacturer warranty ranging from 2-10 years. Although a wrap can last for years when properly maintained, it is important to note that the vinyl is not as durable as paint. However, with the right care, your vinyl car wrap can maintain a fresh and stylish appearance. So, protect your vehicle with a vinyl car wrap and enjoy the flexibility it offers.
Why Extra Care for a Car Wrap is Essential
The proper care of your vinyl car wrap is a crucial step in maintaining its longevity. With the right care, you can extend the life of your wrap by several years. It's important to note that there is a difference between proper care and extra care. Don't skip the extra, as it can make all the difference in preserving the appearance of your vehicle wrap.
The surface of vinyl in a car wrap is similar to plastic. Many modern paints use a urethane base. It's worth noting that despite their plastic-like qualities, urethane and polyurethane are not technically plastics. They are flexible polymer molecules, better described as elastomers.
As a result of these qualities, vinyl can be more prone to scratching than a harder surface like glass. Ensure you take the necessary steps to protect and care for your vehicle wrap so you can enjoy it for years to come.
The Difference Between a Vinyl Wrap and Car Paint
When it comes to vinyl wraps, many people wonder how they compare to traditional paint jobs. While vinyl can be a great way to change up the appearance of your vehicle, it's important to remember that the surface is much softer than paint. As a result, it's much easier to scratch or damage the wrap, leaving behind unsightly blemishes.
To keep your vinyl wrap looking its best, you'll need to take two key steps: protecting the surface, and washing it regularly. These are the same steps you'd follow to care for your car's paint job, but they're even more important when you're dealing with vinyl.
If you're interested in taking your vehicle's protection to the next level, consider our advanced paint protection film with instant healing abilities. With this technology, you'll enjoy unparalleled defense against scratches and other forms of damage.
And YES, you can wrap a wrapped car in paint protection film and ceramic coatings. There's layers to this.
Car Wrap Vinyl Surface Protection
To keep your car wrap in top condition, you need to protect it properly. That's why it's essential to plan for surface protection even before you have the wrap installed.
But what exactly is surface protection? Essentially, it refers to coating the wrap with a material that helps protect, clean, and maintain it over time. Just like paint, a slick surface makes it easier to wash, which means it's less likely to get scratched and damaged in your day-to-day driving.
There are many different types of coatings out there, from basic solutions to advanced ceramic coatings like the ones we offer here at Ceramic Pro. We'll be happy to recommend the best solution for your needs, but we want to give you a complete picture of your options first. That's why we've created this editorial guide to car wrap care.
We hope this guide will help you keep your car wrap looking great for years to come.
Tips for Washing a Car Wrap
Maintaining the quality of your car wrap is critical. Cleaning a car wrap is different from washing paint, and there are some important things to keep in mind. Firstly, avoid automated car washes and isopropyl alcohol. Instead, always use automotive-specific shampoo and a mild detergent. Also, do not use paint-removing nozzles or high pressure settings while pressure washing. Take your time to remove stubborn contaminants and use a clean microfiber cloth to detail small areas. Failure to follow these vital pointers may result in damage to your vehicle wrapping material, especially if you are not currently using a professional detailing type of wash method on vehicle vinyl substances.
For car enthusiasts who use the two-bucket washing method, you can continue to use the same technique for the car wrap maintenance. Conversely, if you do not possess a refined car care method and occasionally use automatic car washes, then consider adopting better car care practices.
Why Automatic Car Washes and Car Wraps Don’t Mix
To keep your car's exterior looking its best, you might be interested in applying a protective coating like a ceramic coating. While these coatings can provide a level of scratch resistance, we don't recommend relying solely on them to protect your car's finish when washing. Even for vehicles with regular paint jobs, using automatic car washes can be detrimental to your vehicle's overall health.
But when it comes to car wraps, we highly recommend avoiding automatic car washes altogether. Whether you have a Ceramic Pro coating or simply use a car wax, the top layer of vinyl on your car is still held on with adhesive. The high-pressure water jets and rotating brushes used in automatic washes can easily peel off corners of a car wrap, causing damage to your vehicle that protective coatings simply can't prevent.
To keep your car wrap looking as good as the day it was installed, the best course of action is to wash your vehicle by hand. And if you do use a pressure washer when washing, provide plenty of distance between the nozzle and the surface of the car to avoid peeling corners or damaging the vinyl entirely. Using a pressure washer is fine UNLESS you are irresponsible with it. Keep the nozzle at least 12 inches away and use one with a PSI under 2,000. High powered pressure washers can rip, tear, or partially remove a wrap which cannot be fixed or buffed out and will have to be replaced.
Wash a Car Wrap Using the Two Bucket Method
**Keeping your car wrap looking great requires proper care and maintenance.** Here's what we recommend:
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- **Use the Two Bucket Method.** Fill one bucket with soapy water (suds bucket), and another with plain water (rinse bucket). Dip your wash mitt or sponge in the suds bucket, then rinse it off in the rinse bucket before returning to the suds bucket.
- **Be Gentle.** Even though wraps are more resistant to light scratches than paint, you can still damage the surface with an abrasive sponge or mitt. Use a soft microfiber wash mitt, and avoid using any brushes, automatic car washes, or high-pressure sprays.
- **Wash More Often.** Because contaminants like dirt, bird droppings, and insect residue can stain or damage the wrap, we recommend washing your car wrap more often than you would wash a painted car. Ideally, you should wash it every two weeks, or at least once a month.
- **Dry Thoroughly.** After washing, use a microfiber towel or chamois to dry the surface completely. Avoid letting the car air dry, as it can leave water spots or mineral deposits that could harm the vinyl and are harder to remove.
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By following these tips, you can keep your car wrap in top condition and protect your investment for years to come.
Can You Apply Car Wax to a Car Wrap?
If you're looking to give your vehicle a modern update, protecting it with a vinyl wrap is a popular option. To maintain its longevity, it’s important to protect it against the elements.
The manufacturers recommend against waxes, however, there are some that are made safe for wraps. If you have a matte finish or stain wrap be very careful as these can discolor and harm the material permanently. Look for the section "Wrap Safe Products" for more info.
The most popular options for protecting a wrapped vehicle are quality synthetic wax or paint sealant. While they do look good, they offer no protection against surface scratches. To help reduce staining on your vinyl vehicle wrap, it’s important to remove contaminants quickly using a waterless wash, a vinyl-specific cleaning solution, and microfiber cloth.
It’s important to keep in mind that vinyl film is more porous than paint, which means it will absorb contaminants way more than paint will, whether you have a gloss wrap or matte wrap. The only scratch protection that a car wax or sealant can provide is during the washing process. Fresh wax on the surface means less aggressive washing which leads to fewer swirl marks.
The problem with waxes and sealants is that they're not durable. The protective coat begins wearing off after the first week, leaving your wrap exposed to the elements and susceptible to damage. Acidic contaminants like bug splatter, tree sap, bird droppings, pollen, and other difficult stains will eat right through the wax or paint sealant and tarnish your vinyl forever if left unattended.
To keep your vinyl vehicle wrap in top-notch condition, it’s important to invest in effective protection and maintenance.
Why a Ceramic Coat on Your Car Wrap?
Ceramic coating technology is a modern, more advanced alternative to traditional wax products. Opting for wax over ceramic coating for your car wrap simply isn't the best choice for long-term protection and maintenance. Unlike wax, ceramic coating provides superior benefits that are unrivaled. With ceramic coatings, you can enjoy optimal protection and maintenance for your car wrap.
There are dozens of "ceramic coatings" on the market but only a few are actually worthy of the money. We are a Ceramic Pro certified installer which means we have the training from the manufacturer to provide the best installation possible. We recommend using Ceramic Pro coatings, but we have other more budget-friendly options like Gtechniq's coatings which are just a step below Ceramic Pro.
What Makes Ceramic Pro 9H the Best Ceramic Coat for Vinyl
Our job as a business is to provide the best products for our customers which is why we promote the use of Ceramic Pro ceramic coatings.
Experience the power of nano-technology with Ceramic Pro 9H coating. It seeps into your vinyl wrap's pores, anchoring itself permanently to create a vibrant, long-lasting finish. Even when your wrap has fewer pores, Ceramic Pro still bonds effectively and beautifully. Enhance the look of your wrap with our revolutionary ceramic coating today!
Vinyl wraps require more protection than paint due to their porous and less dense nature. This is because the polymers that compose vinyl are more susceptible to wear and tear from stretching during manufacturing and installation. Fortunately, a professional ceramic coating like Ceramic Pro can help safeguard your car wrap. Applying Ceramic Pro PPF and Vinyl formula to your wrap will make it more resistant to scratches, UV rays, and dirt. With Ceramic Pro, you can significantly cut down on car wash time and ensure long-lasting protection for your investment. Plus, our formula is designed specifically to bond with car wrapping vinyl, so you can trust it to provide superior protection.
Why It’s Important to Protect Vinyl Wraps
Car wraps aren't just for private vehicles - they're ideal for fleet vehicles too. In fact, they were originally developed for commercial use! But if you have a fleet of 20 vehicles wrapped, then you want those wraps to look great for as long as possible. After all, these are vehicles that are driven daily and often exposed to the elements. That's where the ceramic coatings comes in. Not only can it extend the life of your wraps, it can also save your business money in the long run.
It's important to note, though, that not all vinyl wraps are the same. While some solid color cast vinyl wraps can be polished using paint compounds, calendared vinyl and printed wraps are not recommended for polishing. So unless you're familiar with the differences between these types of vinyl, we suggest that you leave the polishing to the professionals - otherwise, you risk permanently damaging your wrap.
Maintaining the quality of multi-colored layered wraps is important to ensure their longevity. Keep in mind that a wrapped car should be parked under shades since direct exposure to the sun can deteriorate the vinyl. While garaging your car is the best option, it's not always possible. However, coating the wrap with Ceramic Pro After Care can help refresh the surface of the ceramic coating and protect the underlying vinyl.
To ensure your car wrap lasts for years, it's essential to use the best and most durable coatings and establish a regular cleaning schedule. This will save you both money and time in the long run.
