Congratulations on your vinyl wrap! A vinyl wrap is actually not much different than paint, when speaking in maintenance terms. It is actually quite simple: wash, dry, and if you’re feeling saucy, some type of sealant.
You may be reading this and some questions pop into your brain like:
- Why did I see so many different choices of car soap?
- Can’t I just let it air dry in the sun?
- What the eff is a sealant?
Read on, and you shall find the answers to all your questions!
Isn’t it just a, one size fits all, situation with car soap?
I know some men can and sometimes will use a 3-in-1 soap for their face, hair and body, so this analogy is not the greatest, but think of it more like the selection of shampoos and conditioners for longer-than-buzzed-cut hair. There are so many different types, and it can be overwhelming and confusing and leave you questioning everything. “Hey honey, I know you said you wanted shampoo for volume, but what about frizz? Sulfate free? Safe for color-treated hair? Keratin friendly?” Do not be scared; picking out car soap is much easier than shampoo and conditioner.
It is ALWAYS recommended to use pH neutral car soap. pH neutral car soap gently cleans away dirt and road grime, without damaging your vinyl wrap, paint protection film, ceramic coating, or clear coat. A more acidic car soap, overtime with overuse, will damage, eat away, and stain your vinyl wrap. I wish that that was all I had to say about soap, but unfortunately, it is not. Wax in wash, ehh not great, but not the worst. If not fully rinsed off, the wax will leave a residue or little spots on the vinyl. It is best to use plain soap, and then add specific vinyl wax!
Do I really have to dry my car?
That’s a big YES. Always. If you do not dry your car, water spots are guaranteed to show up. A compressor works, leaf blower works if it is ceramic coated, and the ever so obvious, nice, soft and fuzzy towels. Make sure to remove any tags though, that is how scratches form! Also, never did I think I would have to say this, but DO NOT use a hair dryer.
Sealant? Wax? Ceramic Coating?
A ceramic coating on top of your vinyl is the most permanent option, but it is an investment. There are specific ceramic coating products that are made for vinyl and paint protection film that let the material self-heal. I recommend a trained installer, like there is at Evolve Graphics and Design, install your ceramic coating to ensure a perfect installation. Like how I just casually threw that in there?
If a ceramic coating is not in the cards, we will not take it personal! There is a product we would recommend 10/10 times, and it is a sprayable wax specifically for vinyl wrap. We use it at the shop and it can be used for gloss, satin and matte vinyl wraps. When you leave our shop, you can walk or drive over to Gliptone® across the street and ask for “Express-It Polish“. Hands down our favorite product for vinyl! It cleans and conditions the vinyl, while adding a layer of protection to help guard against cracking and fading from the damaging sun rays.
There is a reason there are “vinyl” specific products. Please do not use regular car wax.
Proper care matters
Without washing or proper care, your vinyl will look like it is cracking like an egg shell on a hard-boiled egg. Do not be a cracked hard boiled egg. Proper care matters.
