How to Maintain Your Car's Paint Protection Film After Installation?

Paint protection film (PPF) or clear bra, covers the exterior of a car to safeguard the paint job underneath. Since PPF is a clear plastic coating, it does not affect the overall visual appeal of your car. Instead, it becomes a seamless part of your vehicle’s structure while giving its paint added protection against wear, tear, scratches, and scuffs. 

Due to the advantages of protecting any vehicle’s paint job, many car owners choose to apply PPF to their precious automobiles. This holds true for premium sedans, great convertibles, and luxurious SUVs alike. 

Remember that when it comes to the protective film, our experts can help you. Whether dealing with ceramic coating, applying clear paint protection film, or installing paint protection film, remember that our team at The Works Auto Center is here for your protective paint film needs.

You Need to Be Extra Careful Right After Installation

The maintenance process of your paint protection film begins right after it is installed on your car. They will assess the painted surface, install paint protection film, apply paint protection film, and protect against minor scratches.

One of the most essential yet easy-to-follow suggestions is not to touch your car right after installation. You should strictly observe this restriction for at least 48 hours after installing your PPF. But for best results, it is advised to not touch your PPF for around a week after it has been installed.

Let us look at paint protection films in a little more depth as there are quite a few details to learn about protective paint films, self-healing properties, stain resistance, and more.

Don’t Wash Your Car Shortly After Installation

The suggestion of not touching your PPF right after installation also extends to washing it. Applying water to a clear bra that has not been correctly fixed to the surface underneath could mess up the whole structure. This wastes your investment and leads to a painful film removal process that you spent a significant amount of money to install. 

When accounting for paint correction, rock chips, and more with paint protection films, remember to be gentle and use the right materials to preserve the PPF.

You should wash your car regularly at weekly or bi-weekly intervals to keep it in optimal condition and save it from dust and grime. This ensures that your PPF remains good as new while also helping your car maintain its picture-perfect shape for a long time.

Pay Special Attention While Cleaning Your Car

Using a microfiber mitt and cloth during your car wash routine is an easy tip to remember. But to take care of your PPF, you also need to follow some other best practices while cleaning your car. 

These practices include but are not limited to the following:

• You are maintaining some distance while using pressure washers. The recommended length is at least a foot. But you can also increase it further depending upon the type of space you are working with. 
• You are not directly spraying water at the edges.If you use a hose or a pressure washer to remove dust and grime with instant water pressure, you should be careful not to spray it over the edges. Instead, use a microfiber cloth to clean the fringes.
• You are wiping your car with a hydrated cloth. This practice allows you to wipe off specks of dust from your car easily. Alternatively, you can also pour water on the car and PPF before wiping it down with a microfiber cloth.
• Not washing your car under sunlight. Direct sunlight makes the PPF and the paint underneath it grow hot. If you wash your car or rub against the PPF, it could result in unsightly scuffs and harm the clear bra. 
• It cleans up bug splatter immediately. Bug splatter contains organic matter that is also acidic. This could break down the PPF coating and cause permanent damage in very little time. You can clean up bug splatter with the careful use of a microfiber cloth. 

Be Careful in Choosing the Cleaning Products You Use

When you have PPF on your car, you have to be mindful that your car’s paint now has an external agent on it that is made of vinyl. If you use any surface cleaning products harmful to plastic, they can easily break down your PPF and cause your investment to go to waste. 

Remembering this detail is the easy part. The trickier process is choosing products that are safe for your PPF as they effectively clean different contaminants.  By remembering the following suggestions, you can easily choose cleaning products that don’t harm your PPF.

• Please stay away from anything that has petroleum in it. 
• Don’t choose soaps with an abundance of harsh chemicals in them. 
• Look for cleaning products that have a neutral pH level (7).
• Avoid wax products that have dyes in them. 
• Search in the premium soap category to find suitable products. 

Don’t Hesitate to Ask Questions

Taking care of your car after PPF installation may sound daunting. But being mindful of a few points lets you master these requirements in no time. For optimal guidance, ask your auto detailing specialist about best practices that they recommend for your car’s PPF maintenance. You can also inquire about specific issues, such as the suggested duration between cleaning regimes.

By going the extra mile with PPF protection, you can safeguard your investment in the long run. This assists you in keeping your vehicle in top condition while saving you from unnecessary financial losses.



Our team can meet your precise paint protection film needs for ceramic coatings, matte paint, and superior protection.

Contact our team at The Works Auto Center today.