WRAPS - Handwash only?

[aquaman811]

Ok, so here’s a new topic. Can wraps only be washed by hand?! For what will most likely be a workhorse truck for many, I have little time to hand wash my vehicle. There are very few self service car washes around now, so therein lies the conundrum. Thoughts?

 

[AeroWolf]

I have seen some sites say touchless car washes can be vinyl wrap friendly. Avoid super high-pressure water jets and motor driven fast spinning brushes that are more likely to catch and tear at the wrap.

Hand washing is generally the best car washing method for any vehicle surface.

 

[Auer]

I have seen some sites say touchless car washes can be vinyl wrap friendly. Avoid super high-pressure water jets and motor driven fast spinning brushes that are more likely to catch and tear at the wrap.

Hand washing is generally the best car washing method for any vehicle surface.

But the undercarriage wash is very useful in salt zones tho.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

I have seen some sites say touchless car washes can be vinyl wrap friendly. Avoid super high-pressure water jets and motor driven fast spinning brushes that are more likely to catch and tear at the wrap.

Hand washing is generally the best car washing method for any vehicle surface.

I was just thinking about this when driving the X5 through for its “premium” wash….would pressure washer on “soap” mode work?

I’m not paying $32.99 for something that will destroy the wrap quickly, for example.

 

[AeroWolf]

I think soap is a valid concern. Most carwashes are setup with soaps meant for typical paint and clear coat finishes. Vinyl wraps may require a more specialized soap formula to avoid adverse reactions.

Touchless with multiple low-pressure rinse cycles may be the only way to go for wrap regarding automated car washes.

Definitely keep pressure washer on low setting and 2 feet away.

 

[FloppaEnjoyer8067]

But the undercarriage wash is very useful in salt zones tho.

something like this is a life saver. My water line runs through an uninsulated garage, so it’s kind of annoying to turn on/off in the winter, but it’s how I clean my cars in the winter

 

[KevinRS]

Will have to see what the recommendations are. Surely lots of people have "work" wraps on vehicles they aren't going to bother hand washing, and wrapped fleets would seem to be a big target here.

 

[Luxrage]

I think soap is a valid concern. Most carwashes are setup with soaps meant for typical paint and clear coat finishes. Vinyl wraps may require a more specialized soap formula to avoid adverse reactions.

I had a sticker on the back of my Element that, after two trips to the local touchless in my area, was completely bleached white. There's definitely something in those formulations that can cause problems.

I've got one of those undercarriage adapters for my pressure washer, it works pretty well.

 

[EV Trek]

I had a sticker on the back of my Element that, after two trips to the local touchless in my area, was completely bleached white. There's definitely something in those formulations that can cause problems.

I've got one of those undercarriage adapters for my pressure washer, it works pretty well.

Was that a vinyl sticker or printed sticker? The ones with pictures printed on vinyl are not very durable to car washes. I have had cars with vinyl stripes that did very well in car washes. I also have my EV Trek decal on the back window on my Equinox EV for over two years and it is still holding up after a bi weekly car wash and sometimes a weekly one in the winter. Much also has to do with the quality Vinyl used.

 

[kvermeer]

Will have to see what the recommendations are. Surely lots of people have "work" wraps on vehicles they aren't going to bother hand washing, and wrapped fleets would seem to be a big target here.

The wraps on fleets are a great point. I think there are two very different camps in the wrap business:

1. Enthusiasts with exotic matte chrome flip wraps that cost more to purchase and install than most of the beater cars I've bought over the years. These guys love their cars, they're out in the driveway every weekend just staring at them and lovingly, gently massaging a PH-balanced shampoo into their wrap, followed by ceramic conditioner to make it shine.

2. The technician who has to drive around a woefully underpowered Transit Connect loaded with 1500 lbs of pipe fittings and water softeners. This man is not as cheerful as the cartoon plumber with a pipe wrench on his shoulder, he does *not* care about the wrap.

The Slate is a 3rd camp: people who are accustomed to a painted work truck. Sometimes we blast it with a pressure washer while we've got the hose hooked up and the pump running, sometimes we'll take it through a carwash, but most of the time it's just a truck.

I suspect that the reason group 2's graphic wraps look as good as they do is that the business considers the wrap a marketing expense, and can hire someone to hit down all the work vans with a bucket of soapy water and a mop, followed by a rinse from the hose, and do that once a week. I know my old Ranger went a lot longer than a week between washes from time to time... I'm no expert, but I expect consistency is going to be key!

 

[RedJoker]

Bold of you to assume I ever wash my vehicles. (Other than leaving them out in the rain, of course.)

 

[Doctors Do Little]

Bold of you to assume I ever wash my vehicles. (Other than leaving them out in the rain, of course.)

Just rub up against it in concentric motions with your shirt from time to time?

 

[Shay]

I have had wrapped cars that I routinely ran through a car wash. It really was never an issue.

 

[AZFox]

Bold of you to assume I ever wash my vehicles. (Other than leaving them out in the rain, of course.)

If my vehicle is outside when it rains I've been known to go out and wipe the wet vehicle with a microfiber cloth and let the rain rinse it. Free car wash! Sometimes with spot-free rinse if it rains enough.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

If my vehicle is outside when it rains I've been known to go out and wipe the wet vehicle with a microfiber cloth and let the rain rinse it. Free car wash! Sometimes with spot-free rinse if it rains enough.

Is that theory or IRL? Cuz, AZ and stuff?