How to Care for Paint Protection Film (PPF) in Central Florida - Pro Tint of Orlando

How to Care for Car Paint Protection Film (PPF)

3M PPF – Self-Healing Protection

By making the decision to install 3M Paint Protection Film (PPF) for your car in Orlando, Florida, you’re taking a significant step in preserving the appearance of your vehicle.

3M PPF is designed to shield your car’s paint from scratches, rock chips, road debris, and environmental elements like love bugs, bird droppings or tree sap. It is also self-healing, which means it will heal itself in the sun after being exposed to light scratches.

However, proper maintenance is key to ensuring that the film continues to provide maximum protection and retains its clarity over time.

In this blog post, we’ll walk through essential care instructions for your 3M PPF, with a focus on the best washing practices and tips for using the proper tools and cleaning products to preserve the integrity of the film for years to come.

Understanding PPF Care: General Guidelines

3M PPF is a durable, 8-mil thick transparent film that is designed to act as a barrier between the elements and your car’s paint. However, while it’s highly resistant to scratches and chips, it’s not impervious to wear and tear, or improper maintenance.

To keep it in top shape, here are a few general rules of thumb:

  • Avoid Harsh Chemicals: Use only pH-balanced car shampoos and cleaning products specifically designed for automotive finishes. Harsh chemicals or cleaning products with high acidity can damage the film and compromise its protective properties. You can also use 99% isopropyl alcohol on especially tough spots.
  • Keep It Clean & Remove Debris: Regular hand washing is important to avoid contaminants like dirt, bird droppings, bugs or tree sap from sticking to the surface. But you must wash it the right way to ensure you’re not inadvertently damaging the film.
  • Don’t Use Abrasive Materials: When washing or drying your car, avoid anything abrasive, such as rough sponges, brushes, or towels. Use clean microfiber cloths or soft, non-abrasive mitts to ensure that the film stays intact and scratch-free.

Automatic Car Washes and PPF: A Bad Idea

Automatic car washes, while convenient, can easily damage any brand of PPF. The brushes and rollers in these machines are rough on your car’s surface, leaving deep scratches and swirls on the film – just like they do for normal car paint. The dirt they carry in them from being used over and over again tends to etch into the film, as well.

In the worst case scenario, automatic car washes can even lift up the edges of the film and allow water to enter. This will lead to adhesive failure, and the panel will have to be replaced by your installer.

Touch-free car washes may seem like a safer alternative, since they don’t use hard brushes and automatic rollers. However, they are also going to cause problems for a car treated with paint protection film (PPF).

With touch-free car washes, they use high-pressure water jets to assist in cleaning the vehicle. At such strong forces, the water can easily get under the edges of the PPF and cause the film to lift up and delaminate over time.

Additionally, the soaps and detergents are not recommended to use on a vehicle that has PPF or ceramic coating applied. Petroleum and resin-based products can damage the surface of the film, and there is no way to know for sure that the car wash company is using them or not.

Best Practices for Using Pressure Washers on PPF

If you prefer washing your car with a pressure washer, there are several things you can do to protect your PPF and ensure you’re not causing any harm to the film:

  • Maintain Safe Distance: Keep the pressure washer nozzle at least 4–6 feet away from the car’s surface to prevent damage to the film. A direct blast from too close could peel the film or cause it to stretch and distort.
  • Use the Right Pressure: Many modern pressure washers offer adjustable pressure settings. For PPF, you want to use a setting that’s gentle but still effective at removing dirt and grime. Too much pressure can stress the edges of the film, leading to peeling or bubbling.
  • Gentle Spray Patterns: When using a pressure washer, avoid using a direct, concentrated spray on the edges of the PPF, as this can cause lifting over time. Use wider spray patterns to diffuse the force of the water, reducing the chance of damage.
  • Pre-Wash and Rinse: Before applying a pH-neutral soap, it’s a good idea to pre-rinse your vehicle with the pressure washer to loosen dirt and debris. This reduces the need for aggressive scrubbing and minimizes the risk of scratching the surface of the PPF.

Drying Your Car Safely to Avoid PPF Damage

After washing, you’ll want to dry your car immediately to prevent water spots from forming. For cars that have PPF installed, proper drying is especially important to avoid any damage to the film.

Here are a couple of suggestions:

  • Microfiber Towels: Always use a clean, soft microfiber towel to dry your vehicle. Microfiber absorbs water without scratching the surface.
  • Blower Drying: Some people use a car dryer or air blower, which works effectively to remove water from crevices and edges without touching the surface. It’s best to avoid directing concentrated, high-pressure air at the edges of the film. This can cause it to lift up from the surface.

Removing Contaminants and Stains from PPF

Sometimes, contaminants like bird droppings, tree sap, or bug splatter can get stuck on the PPF. If left for too long, these can stain or damage the film. Here’s how to handle them:

  • Remove Debris ASAP: Remove dirt and acidic contaminants as soon as possible to avoid long-term damage. Use a microfiber towel dampened with water or 99% isopropyl alcohol for especially tough areas. You can also soak the spot in a pH-neutral soap for a few minutes before gently scrubbing it.
  • Avoid Direct Sunlight: Don’t wipe or clean the PPF in direct sunlight or when the film is hot. The adhesive in the film is more susceptible to damage when it is at a high temperature.
  • Don’t Scratch Your PPF: When cleaning stubborn spots, don’t use sharp tools or scrub aggressively. Never use brushes, paper products, or terry cloth to clean a vehicle that has paint protection film applied to it. These products can dull the surface or even damage it in some cases. Always use clean microfiber cloths or mitts to gently dry the vehicle.

How to Remove Scratches for Self-Healing PPF

If you want to remove a light scratch on your 3M Paint Protection Film, remember that it has self-healing abilities. The easiest way to do this in Central Florida is to leave it in the sun for about 30 minutes.

The heat will activate the film’s self-healing properties, returning it to its original shape and filling in any scratches. This is the reason why we don’t recommend cleaning PPF in direct sunlight.

If you’re in a colder area, or not able to park your car in direct sun for a long enough period of time, there are two ways to induce this process without using the sun’s heat.

The first method is by using a blow dryer or heat gun to apply a moderate, even amount of heat to the affected area until the scratches go away. The tip of the heat gun or blow dryer should be at least 4 inches away from the film to avoid burning it, and set to the lowest setting possible.

The second method is by heating up water to about 120 degrees, and pouring it over the film to warm it up. Both of these methods work when it is chilly outside, when your car won’t get warm enough in the sun to activate the self-healing abilities of your PPF.

More Tips & Tricks for Cleaning Cars with PPF

  • Don’t wash your car until at least 7 days after the PPF was installed
  • After installing 3M PPF, get your car ceramic coated for additional protection
  • Remove bird droppings, tree sap, love bugs and other debris as soon as possible
  • 99% isopropyl alcohol can help to clean tough spots
  • Avoid cleaning PPF in direct sunlight
  • Always use clean microfiber towels to pat dry
  • If you must use a pressure washer, use the lowest PSI possible and avoid spraying the edges
  • Do not attempt to pick at the film’s edges
  • To remove light scratches, use a blow dryer or heat gun on the lowest setting to gently apply to heat to the film, or leave the vehicle out in the sun
  • Never use powered buffers or polishing equipment on PPF
  • Don’t use harsh powder detergents or dyed sealants as they can dull the PPF’s appearance
  • Hand washing and detailing is the best way to avoid damage to the film

Get 3M Paint Protection Film for Your Vehicle in Orlando, Florida

3M Paint Protection Film (PPF) is one of the most effective ways to protect your car’s exterior from road hazards as well as the elements. It is highly durable, self-healing, and lasts up to ten (10) years when professionally installed by Pro Tint of Orlando. We have gloss, matte, and colored PPF films available.

Getting PPF or Clear Bra applied to your vehicle can help prevent damage to your car’s paint caused by rock chips, bugs, bird droppings, tree sap, UV rays, and more.

To learn more about 3M Paint Protection Film, Window Tinting, Vinyl Wraps or Ceramic Coating, contact Pro Tint of Orlando.

We are Central Florida’s most-awarded 3M Pro Shop Dealer, and have been awarded #1 Automotive Window Tint Dealer in the U.S. by 3M.

Call us at (407) 841-2123 or email us at [email protected] – we’re open 7 days a week.

Contact Pro Tint of Orlando