Caring for Your Paint Protection Film
Protect the investment — simple habits that keep your paint protection film performing for years.
Protect the investment — simple habits that keep your paint protection film performing for years.
Your film needs time to fully bond and outgas. Don't wash the vehicle for at least 7 days after installation, and avoid pressure washing entirely during this period. You may notice small moisture bubbles or slight haziness under the film in the first one to two weeks — this is normal and disappears as the remaining moisture evaporates. If anything still looks off after two weeks, call us and we'll inspect it.
Hand wash with a pH-neutral car shampoo and the two-bucket method — exactly the way we wash vehicles in the studio. Keep automatic brush washes away from your film permanently; touchless washes are acceptable once the film has cured. If you use a pressure washer, stay at least 30 cm from the surface and never aim the jet directly at film edges, where it can lift the material.
Light swirl marks and fine scratches in XPEL Ultimate+ heal with heat. On a warm sunny day they'll disappear on their own; in winter, a gentle pass with warm water or a heat gun on low (kept moving, at a distance) does the same. Deeper gouges that penetrate the top coat won't self-heal — have us look at them, as single panels of film can be replaced.
Skip waxes containing dyes or heavy petroleum solvents, aggressive degreasers and abrasive polishes — they can stain or dull the film. Don't pick at edges, and remove bug splatter, bird droppings and tree sap promptly; left baking in the sun, they can mark any surface, film included. In winter, rinse road salt off regularly rather than letting it accumulate.
A ceramic coating applied over your film adds gloss, makes washing noticeably easier and helps contaminants release before they can stain. Most of our PPF clients add it — if you didn't at installation, it can be added any time after the film has cured.
Quick answers about paint protection film care:
Call or message us — aftercare support is part of the service.
