Aftercare

Your tint, film, coating or wrap needs a little care while it cures. Find the service you had done below, follow the timings, and it will look right for years.

WINDOW TINT AFTERCARE

Do not roll your windows down for 3–5 days. Not even a crack.
Haze, cloudiness and small water pockets are normal. That is moisture drying out from between the film and the glass, and it can take up to 30 days to clear completely.
Wait 5–7 days before cleaning the inside of your glass.
Clean with an ammonia-free glass cleaner and a soft microfiber cloth. Spray the cloth, not the glass.
Do not stick a dash cam, toll tag or suction mount directly to the film for the first 7 days.
Never use ammonia-based cleaners, paper towels, abrasive pads or razor blades on tinted glass, and do not scrape ice off it.

PAINT PROTECTION FILM AFTERCARE

Do not wash the vehicle for 14 days.
Cloudy patches and small bubbles are normal — that is installation fluid working its way out through the film. Allow up to 30 days to clear.
Hand wash with a pH-neutral car shampoo. No automatic car washes with brushes.
Keep a pressure washer under 2,000 PSI and at least 12 inches away. Never aim it directly at a film edge — that is how film lifts.
Remove bugs, tar, sap and bird droppings quickly. The acids can stain the film.
No clay bar, cutting compound or abrasive polish on the film.
If an edge lifts, do not pick at it. Bring the vehicle to us.
After a repaint, paint needs 60–90 days to cure before film can be installed.

CERAMIC COATING AFTERCARE

Keep the vehicle completely dry for 24–48 hours. No rain, no hose.
Do not wash it for 7 days. The coating reaches full cure at seven days.
After that, wash every one to two weeks — two-bucket hand wash, pH-neutral shampoo, clean microfiber mitt.
Wash in the shade and dry immediately. Water left to dry on the surface can still leave mineral etching.
Use XPEL maintenance products. Do not put wax, sealant or polish over the coating — it masks it rather than helping.
Never use an automatic wash with brushes. It is the single biggest cause of coating damage.
Rinse bird droppings, sap and bug splatter off the same day.
A coating is chemical and UV protection plus much easier cleaning. It will not stop rock chips or scratches.
Would rather we handled it? Maintenance washes are $59.95, exterior.

VINYL WRAP AFTERCARE

Do not wash the vehicle for 7–10 days, and hand wash only after that.
Use a pH-neutral car shampoo, wash top-down and rinse thoroughly.
Keep a pressure washer under 2,000 PSI, water below 140°F, and at least 12 inches away. Never spray directly at seams or edges.
Get bugs and sap off as fast as possible. Do not let debris sit on the vinyl.
Wipe fuel spills off immediately — fuel breaks vinyl down fast.
On matte and satin finishes use a matte detail spray or plain soap and water. Never wax or polish them.
No solvents, degreasers, bug-and-tar remover or citrus cleaners.
Park in shade or under cover where you can. Sun exposure causes premature failure and discoloration.

SOMETHING NOT LOOKING RIGHT?

Do not try to fix it yourself — especially a lifting film edge or a mark on a fresh coating. Call us at (210) 939-9308 and bring the vehicle in. Caught early, it is almost always an easy fix.