PPF Aftercare
Your paint protection film is installed. Here’s how to look after it so it keeps protecting your paint for years. Remember: PPF is paint protection, not paint perfection. It takes chips and scratches so your paint doesn’t, and a little care keeps it doing that.
The one rule that matters most
Don’t wash the car for 7 days. Don't press on any bubbles.
7 Days
Let the film cure. Don’t wash the car yet, and leave the edges alone.
While it cures
Small moisture pockets or a slight haze are normal and work themselves out as the film cures.
Every wash after
Hand wash with a pH-neutral car soap, and keep high pressure away from the film’s edges.
01
The first days
Small moisture pockets or a slight haze in places are normal while the film bonds to the paint. They work themselves out as it cures.
Don’t press on any bubbles.
Leave moisture pockets alone; they clear on their own as the film cures. Pressing on them can push moisture under an edge or mark the film. If any are still there after the curing period, we’ll take care of it.
Wait at least 7 days before the first wash. We’ll tell you exactly how long for your film when you pick up the car.
Avoid pressing on, pulling at or cleaning along the film’s edges while it cures.
02
Washing your car
How you wash matters more than how often. A careful hand wash is the safest way to keep the film clear and its edges down.
Rinse the whole car to knock off loose dirt and grit before anything touches the film. Rubbing a dry, dusty car pushes dirt into the surface instead of lifting it off.
Let foam dwell on the car to loosen and lift dirt, so less of it is left to wipe off.
One bucket of soapy water, one of clean rinse water, ideally with grit guards at the bottom, so the mitt is rinsed clean before it goes back on the car.
Work from the top of the car down so the dirtiest panels are washed last. If a mitt touches the ground, swap it for a clean one.
with clean microfiber towels, and avoid washing in direct sun so water doesn’t dry on the surface.
If you use a pressure washer, keep it well back from the film and never aim it at an edge, which can make the film lift.
03
Why pH-neutral soap matters
The soap you use is one of the most important parts of aftercare. Use a pH-neutral car soap every time you wash.
A pH-neutral car soap lifts dirt without stripping the film, or any sealant or coating on top of it.
Dish soap is made to strip grease, and it can strip the protection on your car too. Household cleaners aren’t made for automotive finishes either.
Film manufacturers advise against strongly alkaline, acidic or alcohol-based cleaners, which can permanently damage the film. Touchless car washes rely on exactly these kinds of strong chemicals.
The minerals in ordinary tap water leave water spots, and those spots can etch into the finish if they’re left to dry. Dry the car completely after every wash.
04
Avoid
Automatic brush or tunnel car washes
Touchless automatic washes, which rely on strong chemicals and high-pressure water
Dish soap, household cleaners and solvents
Strongly alkaline, acidic or alcohol-based cleaners
Letting bird droppings, bugs, sap or hard water spots sit; remove them as soon as you can
Abrasive pads, compounds and unapproved chemicals on the film
Old towels and squeegees, which drag leftover grit across the surface
Pressing on or trying to push out bubbles
Picking at or trying to fix a lifted edge yourself
05
Good to know
PPF is self-healing; warm sun or warm water helps light swirls disappear. Deeper scratches and lifted edges don’t heal, so they need a look from us.
makes the film slicker and easier to wash. The order matters: film first, then coating. Ask us about adding it.
It won’t prevent dents, deep gouges, or damage that cuts through the film.
Film warranties cover film that was professionally installed and properly maintained. The habits on this page keep both the film and its warranty in good shape.
06
When to call us
Call us if an edge starts to lift, if haze or bubbles haven’t settled after the curing period, or if the film is damaged. We’ll take a look.
Want it washed properly without thinking about it?
Our detailing memberships are done in our indoor wash bay by the same team that installed your film.
Indoor wash bay
Filtered water
pH-balanced
For more detail, read how to care for PPF.