Installing PPF coating protects your vehicle from pollution, contaminants and other factors. It ensures the original shine and appearance of your car. The next step after installing PPF is maintaining it in a proper form.
The major question is: How do you clean and maintain your car’s paint protection? What are the methods to follow? Which products or procedures can damage or shorten the lifespan of your car? There are a lot of tips for maintaining PPF. It is a common myth that paint protection film maintenance is not necessary. However, it would help if you took care of PPF like you did of your car paint. Here, I will go through some tips for easy PPF Film cleaning.
Steps to follow
Regardless of the quality of the paint protection film, it requires regular washing.
Smart cleaning
It would be ideal if you forget about the abrasive commercial car washes. It would help if you did hand wash your vehicle or hire professionals. If your car detailer uses abrasive washing, you must visit them for less. Use the tips included.
- Remove dirt, tree sap or dead bugs immediately before they stick to your car surface. It would be easier to remove if they remain on the car surface.
- Use liquid thinner or rubbing alcohol for tough spots.
- Apply PH-neutral soap with a clean and soft microfiber mitt.
- Soak hard spots with water and soap solution for a few minutes.
- Dry your car’s surface with a clean towel.
- Avoid using brushes, terry cloth or paper products for proper cleaning PPF coated vehicles.
- Grime and dirt build up on the edges of the film. Pay attention to the edges.
Don’t touch PPF immediately after installation
PPF coating cures or settles within 48 hours of installation. We suggest you not touch your PPF during the curing time. If you agitate or wash the car right after installation, it can disturb the curing process. You must not drive your car during this time. Avoid putting pressure on the coating during the curing process.
Remove visible contaminants immediately
One of the important things that you can do with your paint protection film is to remove visible contaminants immediately after you see them. Leaving the contaminants like oil splatter, bird droppings, and mud on your car results in degrading or stained.
Use high-quality paint protection film cleaner to wipe off the contaminants. You can use isopropyl alcohol to remove stains caused by environmental elements.
Handle light scratches with care.
Drivers or car owners use paint protection film to prevent scratches. Some high-quality PPFs like Ultimate Plus and XPEL’s stealth PPF have self-healing properties. It means PPF saves your car paint but heals itself.
Due to the self-healing properties, the scratches on the PPF coating recover itself. The heat from sunlight causes PPF to recover itself and fill the scratches.
You can also pour hot water on PPF to speed up recovery. Keep the temperature of the water not above 120 degrees F. Don’t improve the car surface to warm more because it causes the PPF adhesive to loosen.
Detailing clay
Many car owners use detailing to keep the car paint smooth and sleek. It can remove overspray, rail and brake dust and contaminants. Detailing clay can remove the grime or other elements stuck to the car’s surface. However, it is quite tough on your car’s surface. You can feel it by rubbing it on your fingertips. Rubbing clay can damage the PPF surface. Auto Boss experts suggest hiring PPF detailers for claying as they have experience using the clay and don’t damage PPF coating.
Avoid pressure washing
Maintaining PPF requires prevention from getting off your vehicle’s surface. We suggest not using a pressure washer or high-pressure water source. If you cannot avoid pressure washing, keep it at a distance from PPF. Don’t get the edges of your PPF to touch with spray and water. The water can damage PPF from the edge, and it may peel away. Invest in high-quality, low-pH chemicals used in pressure washing. It can cause your PPF coating to dull and damage. Use shampoo or low-pH chemical soap with lubricants along with a microfiber mitt.
If you want to wax on your PPF coating, ensure it will not contain more than 5% Naptha or Kerosene; avoid waxing with dyes. You can choose from XPEL’s maintenance products. Car maintenance soaps, shampoos or wax can work on your car.
Besides maintenance tips, you can follow these proper cleaning PPF coating tips
- Apply wax regularly after every three months.
- Avoid pressure wash
- Never tear the PPF film from the edge.
- Avoid power polishing or buffers.
- After the car wash, use a soft mitt to dry the car surface; drying the car prevents water spots.
- Avoid PPF Film cleaning or drying it in direct sunlight, especially in summer.
- Avoid using dyed sealants and powdered detergent. Both of these things can cause fading.
- Don’t use resin-based or petroleum products
- Use PH-neutral products on PPF coating.
- Always prefer hand washing.
Conclusion
If you want to protect your car from the environmental effects:
- If you want to maintain PPF coating, use hand wash.
- If you choose pressure wash, ensure it should not be a contact wash.
- Select Auto Boss for maintaining and cleaning your PPF coating.
FAQs
Is it hard to remove the PPF coating?
Removing PPF coating is easy. You can heat it and peel it like a sticker. Avoid using abrasive or harsh materials.
Is maintaining PPF hard?
PPF is easy to wash and maintain because of contaminant resistance and smooth surface. Its self-healing properties reduce the scratches or swirls appearance in the film.
Is PPF coating dull?
PPF coating is transparent or matte; it will provide a glossy shine. Yes! Over time, it can reduce shine. You can improve its shine with car wash and waxing. You can combine it with ceramic coating as well.