Once you’ve hired a sign shop to install your vehicle wrap, you don’t have to do anything else with it, right? Unfortunately, it is not that simple. Much like the rest of your car, vinyl wraps require regular maintenance and cleaning to be effective. Keep your vehicle away from potential pollutants and wash your wrap on a regular basis for a vibrant, long-lasting color. To keep your wrap looking its best for many years to come, All Star Signs has put together this guide on how to take care of your vehicle wraps in San Marcos CA.
How Should You Wash Your Wrap?
If your vehicle is exposed to a lot of pollutants or dirt, you should wash your wrap once a week or potentially more often. There are a number of car wash soaps and waxes that are specifically designed for use on wraps. We can make recommendations based on the vinyl used for your vehicle. Additionally, any good brand of gentle automotive detergent will work. Always wash your wrap with a clean, soft cloth or nice automotive sponge. Use a chamois or silicone squeegee to remove water and minimize water spotting. And, clean microfiber cloth is ideal for drying.
Though hand washing is more thorough and safer, you can take your wrapped vehicle through an automated brushless car wash. You should avoid brush car washes because they may be too rough on the vinyl film, which can cause lifted edges and peeling. Your wrap should be safe in a car wash that uses a water spray and no brushes.
You can pressure wash your vehicle wraps, but you should not go above 2,000 psi. Keep the water temperature below 140 degrees Fahrenheit, and use a spray nozzle with a 40-degree-wide angle spray pattern. Also, the spray nozzle should be kept at least a foot away from the edge of your vehicle.
What Do You Do about Insects, Tree Sap, Bird Droppings, Etc.?
Immediately clean difficult stains, such as bird droppings. If you let them sit for too long, they may damage your wrap permanently, and they will be tougher to remove. Loosen the contaminants by soaking the affected area in warm, soapy water for a few minutes. Then, rinse completely, and dry the area with a microfiber cloth. Use two parts isopropyl alcohol and one part water or denatured alcohol for the more stubborn stains. Make sure the cleaner will not harm your wrap by testing the solution on a small area that is not easily noticeable. Oil based cleaning products and solvents must be avoided.
If fuel or gas splashes onto your wrap, you should immediately wipe it away and hand wash the affected area. You will degrade the vinyl if you let the spill stay on the wrap for too long. Until you can get home to do a more thorough job, a quick wipe with a wet gas station paper towel should be enough to keep the spot clean.
This is just a little crash course on how to take care of your vehicle wraps in San Marcos CA. For more tips and points, contact the friendly professionals at All Star Signs for a free consultation.
