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Tips to protect the Decal Vinyl Wrap

  • By QB Technical Support
  • June 27, 2024

Maintenance After Installing Vinyl Wrap

Properly clean your vehicle, starting with a gentle rinse. Focus particularly on areas adorned with decals and graphics. It’s advisable to use a hose equipped with a nozzle spray attachment for rinsing, ensuring not to aim directly at the edges of the decals to avoid lifting them. This will help eliminate any accumulated dirt, debris, and dust.

Next, gently wash the decal-covered areas using a soft sponge or cloth and soapy water. Prepare this by mixing a non-abrasive detergent with clean water—common dish or laundry detergents are suitable, provided they contain no alcohol or harsh chemicals that might harm the vehicle.

After thoroughly washing, rinse the vehicle again to ensure all detergent is removed. Finish by drying the vehicle, especially around the decals, with a soft microfiber cloth to prevent water spots and residue.

How to Clean Vehicle Window Decals

To clean a window decal, please remember to handwash soap only. Using tools like a squeegee or power washer can damage the graphics or lift them off of the surface. Basic soap mixtures are ideal detergents for washing window decals. Besides cleaning the vinyl decals softly, don’t rub the decals too hard, as this can cause them to peel.

Restoring Vehicle Vinyl Decals

Regardless of the vinyl material’s durability, it’s inevitable that the dyes will degrade and break down over time due to exposure to sunlight and harsh weather. This degradation happens as the oils in the vinyl either evaporate or leach out of the plastic, causing the dyes to deteriorate at varying rates and times.

When vinyl decals age, they may oxidize, leaving a chalk-like white residue that can dull the colors and give your image a bleached appearance. Knowing how to clean and rejuvenate these decals is essential.

To revive your vinyl decals and restore their vibrancy, you’ll need a vinyl restorative product. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1

Clean the decal with a lint-free cloth and soapy water to remove any dirt. For mold or mildew on the vinyl graphic, use a cleaner containing sodium percarbonate. Avoid using a scrubbing pad or rubbing too vigorously, as this could harm the decals.

Step 2

After cleaning off dirt and mold, rinse the decals thoroughly with water and allow them to air dry.

Step 3

Re-clean the area with isopropyl alcohol (70% industrial alcohol: 30% water) and wipe it dry to ensure the surface is completely clean.

Step 4

Apply a vinyl restorative product using a cloth, brush, or spray device, following the manufacturer’s application guidelines.No matter how durable the vinyl material is, it’s natural for the dyes to begin to deteriorate and break down over time. And unavoidable, vinyl will break down and become dry due to sun-light exposure and inclement weather. This occurs as the oils that go into the vinyl either volatilize or seep out of the plastic. Along with the oils vaporizing, the dyes will also break down at different times and rates.

When a vinyl decal is aging, it may undergo oxidation that generates a white residue that appears chalk-like. This residue can obscure the color of your decal and make your image look bleached. Therefore you’ll want to know how to clean them and restore their color.

Restore Vinyl Decals With Buffing

Restore Vinyl Decals With Buffing

This method is only workable for glossy finish vinyl decals. First, cover the area next to the old decal to prevent it from being polished. Then apply some non-aggressive polish and gently polish the vinyl surface. Do KEEP THE TOOL MOVING cause staying in one spot will cause heat, which is the worst enemy of vinyl. You may need to do a couple of paths until the vinyl decals surface becomes glossy again.