Cleaning is an important step in protecting your car wraps. Clean car wraps are important for your branding, but they also help you stand out from the crowd and can help boost recognition amongst potential customers.
No matter what style of wraps you have, it’s a good idea for you to know how to properly clean your vehicle graphics with the following five steps…
1. Carefully remove dirt and debris with a soft brush
The first step when cleaning your vehicle graphics is to dust off the surface. You should use a soft-bristled brush to remove any dust, dirt or debris that has accumulated on the surface of the graphic.
Never use a sharp or abrasive material as it can scratch and damage your graphics.
2. Wash the vehicle with mild soap or detergent
In most cases, washing the vehicle with plain water and a mild soap or detergent will do the trick. Once you have washed the vehicle, use a clean cloth to dry it off.
Car wash soaps are specifically developed for cleaning cars and are safe for vehicle wraps. They’re formulated to be gentle on the paint, which is also important for vinyl graphics. Soaps that aren’t made specifically for cars can contain chemicals that will damage vinyl.
3. Rinse your car wraps thoroughly
After you’ve washed your graphics, rinse them thoroughly with clean water to remove any soap residue. Take care to rinse underneath the edges of the vinyl so no soap gets trapped there. If you leave soap residue behind, it may attract dirt and debris, which can cause staining – or worse – damage your vinyl wraps.
4. Be sure to dry your vehicle’s graphics after each wash
Drying your vehicle’s graphics after each wash is important to avoid water spots from forming and damaging the adhesive on the vinyl backing.
You may want to buy a squeegee for drying as a microfiber cloth might not be absorbent enough for water to evaporate completely. If water spots do form, try using rubbing alcohol with a microfiber cloth to remove them immediately.
5. Avoid automatic car washes
If you can, avoid automatic car washes. They tend to use harsh chemicals and they sometimes use brushes that can scratch the surface of your vehicle’s paint and graphics. If you do decide to use an automatic car wash, opt for the touchless kind if possible, which doesn’t use brushes or other abrasive materials.
Conclusion
If you want to make sure that your car wrap lasts as long as it possibly can under incredible conditions, it is important that you treat it with high-quality care from the moment that you purchase it.
Don’t get stuck with a car wrap that is scraped or faded. If you want to keep your car wraps looking great for years to come then contact us for a free consultation!