How to Clean & Maintain Your PPF

How To Do I Maintain Paint Protection Film (PPF)?

Whether you just purchased a new vehicle, have gotten your dream luxury vehicle ot sports car, or are simply looking to protect your daily driver from everyday weather-related elements and road debris, PPF is an exceptional option. When a high-quality film is installed by experienced professionals like our team here at AFS along with proper care and maintenance, paint protection film will last for the long haul. However, it is essential that you properly take care of and maintain your PPF to ensure it stays looking its best and provides the best paint protection for your vehicle.

Clean Gently and Hands-Free

When cleaning a car that has PPF, your best option is to do it as hands-free as possible. The less pressure you put on the PPF, the better it will look over the long run. You may have to scrub off some of the dirt and debris during the cleaning process. If you do, then use a gentle sponge or rag to do so. Avoid abrasive cleaning products at all costs to protect the PPF. This also means using non-abrasive cleaning chemicals that can scratch the surface of your PPF even if you are not scrubbing it. Otherwise, the cleaning process is the same for a car without PPF.

Rinse First

Always start car cleaning with a rinse. All of the loose dirt and debris should be washed away. Fortunately, you don’t have to worry as much about water marks and streaks as it dries. Most types of PPF are hydrophobic, meaning water doesn’t stick to them very well. In most cases, it will slide right off. At this stage, you can use a low-pressure water source if you want to since you’re just trying to get all of the loose stuff off. However, you will see better results with a pressure washer. Make sure that you are not using too much pressure as you want dirt to come off, not slide along the PPF and cause damage. You also don’t want to damage the PPF by spraying it too hard.

Use a Foaming Soap

Next, use a foaming soap to clean your car. If you have a pressure washer with a foam sprayer or bottle attachment, this is the best option. That way, you don’t have to scrub the car to apply the soap, limiting any potential scratches from leftover dirt. Using a foaming soap helps lift things off of the PPF. Even without scrubbing, a good foaming soap can lift dirt right off of the PPF and wash it away.

Rinse Top To Bottom

After that, rinse the car again with a high-pressure hose or pressure washer from top to bottom. The added pressure will wash everything except the PPF away, leaving a clean finish. Make sure that you rinse your vehicle from top to bottom. That way, you are not washing soap and dirt back over parts that you have already cleaned.

Blow Dry or Dry With a Soft Towel

Finally, blow dry your car. Using a leaf blower or other air blower is an effective way to get all of the water off. It also prevents rubbing, which can scratch the finish. Again, start from top to bottom. It should be easy to do since the PPF will make the water fall off easily. If you don’t have a blower, then you can use a soft towel. Clean microfiber towels are the best option for this since they won’t scratch and they absorb a lot of water before becoming completely saturated.

Check the Edges

When you are done cleaning your car, do a thorough visual check to make sure everything is the way that it should be. Make sure that you also check the edges of the paint protection film (PPF). One of the biggest maintenance issues for PPF is tearing or lifting at the edges, which lets dirt and water get under the PPF. Over time, the edges of the PPF are the most likely to wear out first. Check to see if all the edges are still properly laid where they should be, and have any issues fixed as soon as possible. If you do notice any issues with your PPF, or you don’t have it yet, take it in for a professional wrap or repair. The sooner you deal with these problems, the less likely you are to have a bigger problem develop. Call Auto Film Specialists to schedule an appointment.