Businesses who travel to events, deliver products, or offer on-site services need a car that reflects their brand. When your team arrives, everyone will know who they are. When you drive around town, the vehicle’s design will remind people of your business.
A vinyl wrap is the best way to become a notable business within the community. However, you have to know how to maintain and care for the custom vinyl wrap to keep up a professional image.
Let the Vinyl Settle In
The first few days after a wrap installation are the most important for its long-term durability. The vinyl’s adhesive needs time to fully cure and create a strong bond with the vehicle’s paint. This process typically takes five to seven days.
Patience is the best strategy during the first week. As it cures, resist the temptation to wash the vehicle, even if it picks up some dust on a jobsite. Washing it too soon introduces moisture that interferes with the adhesive. You don’t want the edges to lift or bubbles to form.
The Best Cleaning Method: Handwashing
For a busy company, finding time to wash vehicles is a challenge, but a consistent cleaning schedule is necessary for wrapped fleet vehicles. Dirt, road grime, and pollutants left on the surface will degrade the vinyl film over time. Handwashing is the safest, most effective cleaning method.
Rinse the vehicle to knock off loose debris, so you don’t grind abrasive particles into the wrap with the wash mitt.
Next, use a pH-neutral automotive soap and a soft microfiber sponge. Harsh detergents or degreasers will strip protective layers from the vinyl and cause it to become brittle and faded.
Air-drying allows water to evaporate, leaving behind mineral deposits that create unsightly water spots. If left to bake in the sun, these spots will etch into the vinyl, permanently damaging your mobile advertisement. After the final rinse, dry the vehicle with a clean microfiber towel or a silicone squeegee.
Why Automatic Car Washes Are Less Than Ideal
The speed of an automatic car wash tempts business owners on a tight schedule, but the convenience comes at a high cost. Car washes that use large, spinning brushes that scratch, dull, and tear at the edges of a vinyl wrap.
Even touchless car washes pose a significant threat. They rely on high-pressure water jets and harsh, acidic chemicals to clean. The powerful jets force water under the seams of the wrap, which might cause bubbling and peeling. The strong chemicals accelerate color fading, thereby diminishing the impact of your branding. Protecting your investment in custom vehicle wraps means skipping the drive-through wash and sticking to handwashing.
Tackling Tough Contaminants on the Job
Work vehicles encounter all sorts of difficult messes, from splattered bugs on the highway to bird droppings at a client’s location. These substances are acidic and will eat through the film. Spot-cleaning these messes as soon as they appear is crucial.
Keep a small cleaning kit in each vehicle, including a spray bottle of water and a few microfiber cloths. For fresh bird droppings or bug splatter, spray the area with water to soften the mess before gently wiping it away.
Fuel spills at the gas pump are another common issue. Gasoline is a solvent that will dissolve both the vinyl and its adhesive. Wipe up any drips immediately with a paper towel and rinse the area with water as soon as possible to prevent permanent staining and damage.
Parking and Protecting Your Brand Ambassador
How you store your vehicles has a direct impact on the lifespan of their wraps. The number one enemy of vinyl is UV radiation from the sun. Constant exposure, especially on flat surfaces like the hood and roof, causes colors to fade and the material to become brittle and crack.
Whenever possible, park your fleet indoors or under a covered structure. If you have to store the vehicles outside, choose shaded spots. Be mindful of parking under trees, as they can drop sap and pollen, which also damage the wrap.
Waxing a Vinyl Wrap
Protective coatings behave differently on vinyl than they do on paint. For gloss-finish wraps, a high-quality liquid synthetic wax or spray sealant can add a valuable layer of UV protection and make future cleanings easier. Avoid paste waxes, as they tend to build up along seams and create unsightly white lines.
Matte and satin finish wraps have different requirements. You should never apply wax or polish to these surfaces. These products will fill in the unique texture of the film, creating shiny, uneven patches that ruin the intended look. Instead, use cleaners and detail sprays formulated specifically for matte finishes to preserve their nonreflective appearance.
Recognizing When It’s Time for a Refresh
A worn-out wrap reflects poorly on your brand. Even with perfect care, a vinyl wrap has a finite lifespan. Three to five years is the average duration. As a business owner, you should regularly inspect your wrapped vehicles for signs of aging to recognize when a replacement is necessary.
Look for small cracks on the hood, roof, or other sun-exposed areas. Cracking indicates that the vinyl is brittle. Faded or discolored graphics and peeling edges around the wheel wells and bumpers are signs that it’s time for a refresh.
Addressing these issues by scheduling a removal and replacement will prevent damage to the underlying paint and keep your brand looking its best.
Keeping Your Mobile Marketing in Top Shape
A wrapped vehicle is a powerful tool for attracting new customers and reinforcing your brand’s identity in the community. Its appearance directly reflects the quality and professionalism of your business. By integrating simple, consistent cleaning habits and protective measures into your fleet management routine, you can extend the life and impact of your vehicle graphics.
Treating your wrap with care ensures it continues to be a vibrant, head-turning advertisement for years. When you’re ready to update your branding or need expert advice on how to maintain and care for your wrap, trust the professionals. Contact Sign-On Signs today to discuss your next project and keep your fleet looking sharp on the road.