How to care for PPF after installation

Paint protection film doesn’t ask much of you once it’s on. There’s still one rule for the first week, and a few habits that keep the film looking clean for years. This is the same rundown we give customers when they pick up their car.

Don’t wash it for the first week

Fresh film is still settling in. Hold off on washing the car for a week after you pick it up. That’s the one rule for week one.

After that, hand wash

From week two on, hand washing is the way to go. If you use a pressure washer, keep it off the edges of the film. We remove parts and wrap the film behind the panel edges so there’s very little edge showing, but the edges are still the place to be careful.

Water beading on the hood of a dark car with paint protection film and ceramic coating

Get bird droppings and bugs off early

Left sitting, bird droppings and bug splatter leave marks on the surface of the film. The film is taking the hit so your paint doesn’t have to, but it lasts longer when it’s kept clean. When you see it, wipe it off. Don’t wait. After a summer highway drive, give the front bumper and mirrors a quick look.

Go easy on tire shine

This is the one most people miss. Tire shine slings off the tire while you drive, lands on the film and stains it over time. If you take the car to a car wash, ask them to rub the tire shine in instead of spraying it on.

Light scratches take care of themselves

Wash swirls and light scratches aren’t something to worry about. Film with a self-healing top coat levels itself out with heat from the sun or warm water.

Ceramic coating on top makes it easier

A ceramic coating over the film keeps water and dirt from sticking, so the car is easier to keep clean. The film stops the rocks and the coating handles the grime. You don’t need it, but a lot of our PPF customers do both together.

PPF care at a glance
When	What to do
First week	No washing
After that	Hand wash, keep the pressure washer off the film edges
Whenever you see it	Get bird droppings and bugs off, don’t let them sit
Every car wash	Ask them to rub tire shine in, not spray it on
One month after pickup	Free inspection with us
Once a year after that	Free inspection with us

Come back at one month, then once a year

We do a free inspection one month after pickup, and once a year after that. The warranty is three years on our workmanship and ten years from the film manufacturer. If anything looks off between visits, send us a photo.

What the warranty covers
Service	Covered
PPF	3 years on our workmanship, 10 years from the film manufacturer
Vinyl wrap	3 years, bubbling and peeling only, not fading or discoloration
Ceramic tint	Lifetime
Inspections	One month after pickup, then yearly, on every service

Common questions

Can I take it through a car wash?

We recommend hand washing. If someone else is washing it, tell them two things: keep the pressure washer off the film edges, and rub the tire shine in instead of spraying it.

What’s the warranty on PPF?

Three years on our workmanship and ten years from the film manufacturer. Free inspections at one month and every year after are part of it.

Is the care the same for a vinyl wrap?

Yes. No washing for a week, hand wash after that, keep the pressure washer off the edges, get bird droppings and bugs off early, and go easy on tire shine. One more for vinyl: park in the shade when you can.

Is PPF worth doing before winter?

Yes. We covered that in why to get PPF before a New Jersey winter.

Questions about caring for your film, or want to set up an inspection? Text or call us at (201) 379-0902, or stop by the Hackensack shop.

Source: illmatic Wraps, Hackensack NJ. Warranty terms, turnaround times, inspection schedule and care instructions on this page are our own shop’s, confirmed with our install team. Last reviewed September 2026.