5 Tips for Maintaining Cars With Paint Protection Film
There are a number of things to consider when washing your car with ceramic coating or paint protection film. Proper washing technique can lengthen the life of your ceramic coating and paint protection film, while poor washing technique can significantly shorten their life.
Here are some guidelines to keep in mind.
1) Don't Wash Your Car Immediately After Installment
If you just had a ceramic coating or paint protection film installed, it's a good idea to wait about seven days before you wash it. This will allow the ultra-premium ceramic coatings and paint protection film products to cure (harden) a little before you wash.
ceramic coating and paint protection film products are designed to be long lasting. However, they will last a lot longer if they don't get washed immediately. So take it easy and let the sealant or film cure for a couple of days, before you give your car a wash.
As a general rule, it's a good idea to wash your car every week. If you have a car with protection, you might be able to go a little longer.
2) Don't Use a Pressure Washer on the Edges
Some of the more modern, pressure washers have a lot of power. The pressure washers with a large fan at the front can blast water off the surface of your car pretty hard. And, as you might imagine, blasting water off the surface of your car can cause problems.
If you blast the edges, you can cause the film to break loose. The edges of the ceramic coating and paint protection film need a little extra care when you're washing.
3) Remove Droppings as Soon as Possible
If you have an SUV or truck, you probably have to deal with a lot of mud and dirt on the bottom of the vehicle.
The bottom of your vehicle can get really dirty. And, once it builds up, it can be really hard to remove. That's why you need to keep an eye on your car and clean off mud, dirt and droppings as soon as they start to collect.
If you let too much dirt and grime build up, it can start to sluff off your car, and damage the ceramic coating and paint protection film.
4) Apply Premium Sealant
A wax coating is not enough on its own to protect your vehicle's paint finish. Wax is good as a quick fix, but it doesn't last. And, over time, the wax coating can wear off and allow the paint underneath to begin to fade and suffer in quality.
That's why you need to apply a premium sealant to your paint. A premium sealant will provide a layer of protection and will make your vehicle's paint finish a lot less likely to be damaged by the elements.
5) Don't Use Powdered Buffer
Another thing you need to avoid is using a powdered buffer on your vehicle. It may seem like a good idea, but if you do that, you will end up scratching your paint finish.
At the same time, it could be dangerous to use a powdered buffer when you wash your car at home. A powdered buffer can get dust and other particles into your vehicle, which can be really bad for your paint finish.
Conclusion
If you want to prolong the life of your ceramic coating and paint protection film, you need to do a little bit of extra work. However, if you do that, you can make sure that your truck or SUV stays looking good for a long time.
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We specialize in window tinting, paint protection film (PPF), ceramic coating, paint correction, and vehicle wraps. Whether you’re looking for heat rejection, gloss enhancement, or full protection, we’ve got you covered.
Absolutely. Many customers drop off their cars before work or leave them overnight. Just let us know what works best for your schedule and we’ll accommodate.
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Yes — we recommend giving your car a basic exterior wash before your appointment. This helps us avoid rubbing dry dirt or dust into the paint when working on your vehicle, which can cause scratching. It also makes it easier for us to get great photos of your car when it’s all done!
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