Car wrap care: washing, stains, winter

In short: A wrap is best washed by hand, with a mild cleaner, plenty of water and a microfibre cloth. It stays unwashed for the first 48 hours after installation. After that, Avery Dennison, for example, recommends cleaning it at least once a month. Bird droppings, insects, tree sap, tar and fuel should come off as quickly as possible. A pressure washer is allowed, at a distance and not at an angle on the edges. Brush car washes, solvents and abrasive cleaners damage the film.

The good news: a wrap needs less effort than paint that is regularly polished and sealed. But it forgives different mistakes. The information here comes from the care instructions of the film manufacturers Avery Dennison and 3M. For your film, the instructions of its manufacturer apply.

The first 48 hours

After installation, the adhesive needs time to bond with the surface. In its technical bulletin on care, Avery Dennison states that the film should not be washed within the first 48 hours. After that, the manufacturer recommends cleaning at least once a month, more often if heavily soiled.

Washing correctly

1. Rinse first: rinse off loose dirt particles with plenty of water before a cloth or sponge touches the film. Otherwise they rub over the surface like sandpaper.
2. Clean gently: a diluted, non-aggressive cleaner. Avery Dennison states a pH range of 3 to 11, i.e. mildly acidic to mildly alkaline.
3. From top to bottom: with a microfibre cloth or wash mitt, without pressure and without scrubbing.
4. Rinse thoroughly: rinse off cleaner residue completely and do not leave the product on longer than its manufacturer states.
5. Dry: with a clean microfibre cloth so that no water spots remain.

Pressure washers: the limits

Many people wash with a pressure washer at a self-service wash bay. That is possible with film if the limits are right. Avery Dennison states in its bulletin:

Value	Limit
Pressure	max. 80 bar
Water temperature	max. 70 °C
Nozzle distance	min. 75 cm
Angle	as perpendicular to the surface as possible

The manufacturer explicitly warns: jets aimed at an angle at the edges can lift the film, and steam cleaners should not be used because the heat can affect adhesion. The pressure of the equipment at the wash bay is often not stated. So when in doubt: keep more distance.

Car wash

Brush car washes are not recommended for wraps. In its care instructions, 3M states that brushes can scratch the film, cause it to fade and lift edges. According to 3M, polishing wax does not belong on matte or textured film, so no wax programme either. Hand washing is and remains the gentlest option.

Remove stains immediately

Some types of dirt attack the film if left on for a long time:

• Bird droppings and insects: remove as soon as possible. Soak dried-on dirt with water first; do not scrape it off.
• Tree sap and tar: also remove quickly. Film manufacturers offer their own cleaners for this.
• Fuel: wipe off spilled petrol or diesel immediately when refuelling. 3M points out that fuel can attack the film and adhesive.

Solvents and abrasive cleaners are off limits. They can damage the film and print. Always test a new product on an inconspicuous spot first.

Polish, wax and sealant

Gloss film is not polished like paint. Polish contains abrasives, and manufacturers advise against abrasive cleaners. There are special sealants for films, which manufacturers such as Avery Dennison offer for their films. On matte film, wax is completely off limits because it leaves glossy patches. What else applies to matte film is covered in the article matte car wrap.

In winter

The manufacturers' instructions do not give separate rules for winter. In our view, three points matter:

• Wash off road salt regularly: salt and dirt form a layer that acts like an abrasive at the next wash. Rinse thoroughly first.
• Remove snow gently: do not use an ice scraper or a hard brush on the film. Rather push snow off with a soft broom.
• Keep an eye on the edges: if an edge lifts, water and salt get underneath. Better to have it reworked early.

The lifted edge

The case is made up, but typical. A wrapped company vehicle is washed every week at a self-service wash bay, with the pressure-washer jet passing over the vehicle's edges at close range. After a few months, a film edge on the tailgate is sticking out, and dirt collects underneath.

Often the edge can be reworked as long as it is clean and the film has not torn. More important is the cause: more distance, jet perpendicular to the surface instead of at an angle on the edges. Then the film holds even with regular washing at the wash bay.

Conclusion: little effort, the right rules

A wrap is easy to care for if you avoid a few things: brushes, harsh cleaners, pressure washing at close range and dirt left on for a long time. How long a wrap lasts overall is covered in the article how long does a car wrap last?.

After installation, ask for the care instructions from the manufacturer of your film. More on our page vehicle graphics & wrapping; questions are welcome via contact.

All topics around car wrapping at a glance: wrapping a car: the complete guide.

Frequently asked questions

When can I wash a wrapped car for the first time?

In its care bulletin, Avery Dennison states that wrapped vehicles should not be washed within the first 48 hours after application. After that, the manufacturer recommends cleaning the film at least once a month. For your film, the information from its manufacturer applies.

Can you wash a wrapped car with a pressure washer?

Yes, with distance and care. Avery Dennison states limits of a maximum of 80 bar, a maximum water temperature of 70 °C and a minimum distance of 75 centimetres, with the jet as perpendicular to the surface as possible. Jets aimed at an angle at edges can lift the film, and steam cleaners should not be used at all.

Can a wrapped car go through a car wash?

Brush car washes are not recommended for wraps. 3M states that brushes can scratch the film and lift edges. Hand washing is the gentlest. Matte film has additional rules, such as no wax.