Caring For Your Wrap

If your wrap is dried, cracking or fading – you aren’t  taking care of it properly!  It doesn’t take much to properly care for a wrap.  Following some simple steps can multiply the life of your wrap project.

Care  for your wrap like you would any fine paint finish by using  high-quality products designed specifically for vinyl care. Like the  rest of your vehicle, your wrap requires regular cleaning and  maintenance. Washing your wrap regularly and keeping it away from  potential pollutants will result in a longer-lasting, more vibrantly  colorful wrap.

Below are cleaning and  maintenance procedures that will help keep your wrap looking its best  and will allow you to get the full life out of your investment.

1. Keep it clean – any time dirt starts collecting it’s best to get it washed off. Keep a microfiber (or three) in your trunk.
2. Hand  wash once per week with mild detergent and clean water using a soft  microfiber sponge or cloth. After rinsing, minimize water spotting by  using a silicone squeegee or microfiber to remove water. Dry with a  clean microfiber cloth.
3. Test any cleaner on a small area before using on larger areas.
4. Help  protect your investment by using a wash/polish. If you have your  vehicle professionally detailed make sure they use a wax that is safe  for vinyl.
5. Let your wrap air dry or dry it with a microfiber cloth, rather than using high-powered air blower

1. Do  not allow corrosive substances to remain in contact with your vinyl,  make sure to clean any spills as soon as possible. Water almost always  contains some trace amounts of minerals like calcium or iron, salt or  air pollution. The longer they sit, the more they bond and wear away at  your wrap or clear coat.
2. Do not use automatic car washes that  use bristles or high-pressure water sprayers. If you purchase a wrap  from Graphic Creations, doing so can result in your warranty being voided.
3. Do not use a buffer when applying wax/polish to your wrap.
4. Do  not use standard wax/polish on any matte or textured finish. The  chemicals in most standard wax products can eat away at vinyl.
5. Do  not use rear windshield wipers or rear defrosters on perforated window  graphics unless absolutely necessary. Do not roll down any window that  has perforated window graphics, as this can damage your graphics.

Spot  clean small, isolated stains using isopropyl rubbing alcohol. Avoid  using tire dressing to spot clean, as it can splash and stain the wrap.  Rinse with cool water after cleaning and make sure not to wipe the wrap  when it’s hot as this can distort the vinyl and cause wrinkling.

If  you spill gas or fuel on you wrap, wipe it off as soon as possible with  a towel or paper towel at the gas station. Hand wash the area  thoroughly once able – if you let the spill stay on the wrap too long,  it will damage the vinyl.

Soak tough  stains with warm, soapy water to loosen contaminants. For more stubborn  stains, like tree sap, use denatured alcohol, or two parts isopropyl  alcohol to one part water. Make sure to test any solutions you plan to  use on stains on a small area that isn’t noticeable. Do not use solvents  or oil based cleaning products on your wrap.

It’s  best to park your car in a covered area like a garage or under a  shelter. Over time, continual exposure to sunlight, rain, smog and  pollutants can degrade the wrap on the roof, trunk lid and hood.  Pollutants collect on these flat areas and are intensified by UV ray  exposure. So, look for shade when parking outside for an extended amount  of time.

Graphic Creations offers a  variety of wrap care products manufactured by Croftgate USA that will  clean, seal and protect your wrap as well as take care of the rest of  your vehicle’s needs (tires, paint, etc.). All of the products we carry  are waterless which makes spot cleaning on the go incredibly easy.

One of those products that we highly recommend is Wrap Care: After Care - JP  because it is specifically designed to clean and add a protective  coating to vinyl wraps. This particular product is for gloss wraps,  which include all full print, textured (carbon/brushed metallic, for  example) and chrome wraps. We also sell After Care JP-Matte  for matte finishes. These products are also environmentally friendly.  They do not contain petroleum and have low VOCs, so they are really safe  to work with.

When a car leaves the  shop it looks superbly glossy and clean. But natural wear and tear from  Mother Nature and chemicals from the road can cause the wrap to look  dull and dirty over time. Once the dirt builds up on the lamination,  it’s almost impossible to get out.

To  prevent this, every two weeks spray After Care - JP on your car wrap  and use a microfiber towel to thoroughly and methodically clean the  surface. This will deeply clean the vinyl and get all the dirt and oil  off the surface. The spray leaves a wax-like coating on the surface,  which gives off a nice gloss and shine and keeps dirt and oil from  building back up on the material, which is critically important. If you  use this on a regular basis, your wraps will continue to look brand new  and the color will stay vibrant.

There  are a few products you should never use on your wrap, including: engine  degreaser, oven cleaner, oil-based solvents, kitchen and bathroom  cleaners, orange oil, or solvents.