Vehicle wraps (also called car wraps) are among the smartest and most cost-effective ways to advertise a business. Research by the American Trucking Association (ATA) revealed that over 90 percent of people notice vehicle wraps, the Traffic Audit Bureau for Media Measurements found that a vehicle wrap can generate as many as 70,000 impressions in a single day, and 3M crunched the numbers and discovered that business would need to have to spend a whopping $130,000 in advertising in order to get as much exposure as a vehicle wrap that cost well under $5,000.
So yes, vehicle wraps are a wise advertising decision and generate remarkable results and ROI. However, it is also important to keep them looking new — since a dirty, faded or peeling, a vehicle wrap is not going to make a good impression ( to put it mildly ). To make sure that your vehicle wraps consistently look as flawless as the day you had them installed, here are some do’s and don’ts:
Vehicle Wrap Maintenance: DO’s
- Have your vehicle hand washed with mild detergent and clean water, and always use a soft microfiber cloth or sponge.
- Dry your vehicle with a clean microfiber cloth.
- To deal with small isolated stains, use isopropyl rubbing alcohol, and then rinse with cool water ( never hot ).
- For stubborn stains like tree sap and tar, soak first with soapy warm water, and then use denatured alcohol.
- It’s a good idea to park your vehicle under a shelter or in a garage, as this will protect the wrap ( and the rest of the vehicle ) from pollutants, smog and UV rays.
Vehicle Wrap Maintenance: DONT’s
- Do not take your vehicle through automated car washes. The harsh bristles, higher pressure water sprayers, and hot air dryers are all bad for your wrap.
- Never use harsh products like the household kitchen or bathroom cleaners, or products containing orange oil.
- Clean any spills, such as gas, oil or other fluids as quickly as possible.
- Never use conventional waxes or polishes. Ironically, the chemicals in these products are harmful to your wrap and, frankly, for your car in general.
- If any of your windows have perforated window graphics, then keep your window up at all times.
The Bottom Line
With a little care and maintenance, your vehicle wrap ( or wraps if you have more than one ) will look beautiful, command attention, generate visibility and attract new customers to your business year after year!
