How to Take Care of Advertising Wraps

What are Advertising Wraps and Transportation Graphics?

At AP Graphics, we believe that there is no more effective marketing strategy for a business with a fleet of vehicles than transportation graphics. A transportation graphic can be as intricate as a full wrap to advertise your business, a professionally designed inlay, or even just cut lettering on the side of your vehicle. They’re the bold, in-your-face way to increase your company’s brand awareness without creating more work for your team.

But, like any other long-term marketing method, you’ll need to do some maintenance to keep it performing at its best. Keep reading to learn how to take care of advertising wraps and transportation graphics. We’ve broken it all down into a few things to do, and a few things to avoid.

Do: Keep Your Vehicle Squeaky Clean

Dirt and grime might not seem like a big deal at the time, but old debris can cause damage to transportation graphics. This is true for your vehicle’s paint job as well.  So, step number one to keeping your transportation graphic looking fresh is simply to wash it regularly.

Now, you want to make sure you use the right materials. Choose a gentle, non-abrasive cleaning agent when washing your wrapped vehicle and soft cloths or sponges. These gentle cleaning materials will help maintain the finish and integrity of the vinyl materials used to create your transportation graphic.

Make sure to rinse the vehicle thoroughly. No matter how gentle a detergent you use, dried soap can damage paint and vinyl alike!

Don’t: Use Brush-Type Car Washed

Taking your vehicle to the car wash is by far the easiest car washing solution, but businesses using transportation graphics and full advertising wraps need to be selective.

Make sure you are not choosing a brush-type car wash. The bristles could scratch your transportation graphic and cause the edges to lift or crack. Plus, if you use a brush-type car wash often, the detergents used can dull the wrap’s finish.

While we recommend washing the vehicle by hand, you can use a brushless car wash if needed.

Do: Store Your Vehicle Safely

Wraps help preserve your paint, but the weather will still cause wear and tear in due time. Lots of sunshine and exposure to ultraviolet light can cause notable fading to high-risk areas. These include the hood, trunk, and roof. So, store your wrapped vehicle in a covered garage whenever possible.

If you can’t keep your vehicle in a covered garage, parking under a shaded area will help. This protects the wrap from the sun in the daytime, and the rain at night. This is especially important in metropolitan areas where rain has a higher pH balance and can corrode surfaces over time.

Don’t: Use a Power Washer

Everyone loves pressure and power-washing videos. There’s something satisfying about blasting away layers of dirt in a second, but your vehicle’s transportation graphic just can’t take it. We STRONGLY discourage pressure washing a wrapped vehicle. The high water pressure, temperature, and angle of the nozzle can easily damage the wrap material by stretching it unnaturally and stripping away its finish. So, keep the pressure washer away for this project to preserve your investment.

Where To Find Professional Maintenance for your Transportation Graphic

Even if you take the utmost care of your transportation graphics, life happens. You might get a ding, dent, or even a scratch on your wrapped vehicle that will damage your graphic. If the worst happens, visit your local advertising wrap provider for repair and replacement.

AP Graphics is the leading provider of fleet graphics and maintenance in the Maryland-Virginia-Washington D.C. area. If you’re ready to upgrade your company branding with transportation graphics, let us know.