Wanna know how to keep your graphics looking new?
WASH BY HAND
Any time your vehicle starts to look dirty, we highly suggest washing your vehicle by hand to avoid damage and prevent the graphics from lifting. Excessive water pressure or aggressive brushes can cause your graphics to lift and fail prematurely, so use warm, soapy water with a soft sponge or cloth to get the job done.
We strongly discourage customers from using automated car washes. Most car washes are equipped with brushes that can lift graphics from your vehicle and potentially ruin them. These may also cause dulling and scratching of your graphics.
If you absolutely must use a car wash, go for a touchless one. These are usually water-based, and while a powerful stream could still damage your graphics, they are less likely to lift graphics compared to a car wash that uses brushes.
COVER YOUR VEHICLE
Prolonged exposure to the elements will do several things to your graphics:
- Fade the color of your graphics
- Crack the physical vinyl due to severe dryness
- Weaken the adhesive of the vinyl, resulting in lifting graphics
- In extreme cases, the adhesive can corrode the paint underneath the applied graphics, causing it to peel the paint off the vehicle upon removal.
If your vehicle lives in the city, rain and air pollutants can also cause damage to your graphics over time. When your vehicle isn't in use, be sure to park it in a garage, under an awning, or under a cover to best preserve the lifetime of your graphics.
WATCH FOR CONTAMINANTS
Some common road/outdoor contaminants will damage or weaken the integrity of your wrap if not dealt with in a timely manner.
These include:
- Fuel spills and engine fluids
- Tar and tree sap
- Bug splatter
- Bird droppings
If you come across any of these contaminants, clean them with warm soapy water and a microfiber towel. Be sure to test any cleaners on a inconspicuous area of your graphics before cleaning the affected surface to ensure your mixture won't cause damage to the graphics.
DON'T WAX MATTE OR TEXTURED VINYLS
We recommend against using wax on your wrap, but especially textured or matte vinyl wraps. These materials may lose their finish when wax is introduced to the surface. Also, traditional waxes that contain petroleum distillates can damage the integrity of vinyl itself by weakening the adhesive, meaning your graphics may not live up to their full potential. Other chemicals within the wax can cause discoloration, or leave behind residue in seams, edges, or in the texture of the vinyl.
If your vehicle is waxed by mistake, clean your graphics with soapy water, dry, then clean again with an isopropyl alcohol and water mixture (2:1 ratio) to remove the residue.
DON'T WAIT TO REPAIR DAMAGE
It takes three weeks for the adhesive on your graphics to fully develop, so during this period, if you see anything amiss, let us know!
Things to look for are:
- Bubbles (either underneath the graphics or in the laminate)
- Lifting or peeling edges
- Shrinkage/exposed adhesive
- Discoloration
- Unexpected texture
If you see any of these issues on your graphics, reach out to us via email at info@mainstreetsignsandgraphics.com or give us a call at (817) 548-4360.