Yes. Use a touchless wash, or wash it by hand.
- Skip the brush wash. Brushes can catch a loose edge and dull the finish.
- Wait 24 hours after install before the first wash.
- Keep pressure washers away from the edges.
- This is advice from 3M, the maker of the IJ180 film we install. Here are the details, including road salt.
Touchless, brush or hand wash?
Hand washing is best. Our fleet graphics buyer’s guide says to use mild soap and water. It also says to avoid high-pressure car washes and harsh chemicals.
If you have to use a car wash, choose touchless. After the first 24 hours, 3M says to wash by hand or in a touchless car wash (3M Application: Vehicles bulletin).
Skip brush washes. 3M says brushes can catch a loose edge and dull the finish (3M Instruction Bulletin 6.5).
If your truck never gets a bucket and sponge, touchless is the practical choice.
Can you pressure wash a wrapped truck?
Yes, but stay within 3M’s limits. Too much pressure pushes water under the film. Then the film can lift or curl. 3M’s maintenance bulletin sets these limits (3M Instruction Bulletin 6.5):
- A nozzle with a 40-degree spray or wider, and a tip guard.
- No more than 1,160 psi (80 bar).
- Water no hotter than 140°F (60°C).
- Nozzle at least a foot (30 cm) away, pointed straight at the surface.
- Never aim at an edge.
If your crew washes trucks in the yard, tape this list next to the pressure washer.
Road salt: rinse first, then wash
3M says the film resists salt (3M IJ180 product bulletin). It also says to flush loose dirt off with clean water before you wash (3M Instruction Bulletin 6.5). In winter, that dirt is road salt and grit.
So in winter, the order matters:
- Rinse the whole truck.
- Wash gently with mild soap, top down.
- Rinse again.
- Dry it.
3M says drying prevents hard-water stains (3M Application: Vehicles bulletin).
Wrapping a truck in the cold, or removing an old wrap, is a separate question. We answer it in “Can You Get a Truck Wrapped in an Ohio Winter?”
What to keep off the wrap
- Strong solvents and harsh cleaners. Use a cleaner made for painted surfaces. 3M says it must be non-abrasive and solvent-free, and not strongly acidic or alkaline (pH 3 to 11).
- Hard scrubbing. 3M says to avoid scrubbing the film more than you need to.
- Wax on matte or textured film. 3M says don’t wax or polish matte, textured or other specialty finishes.
- Fuel. 3M says the film resists occasional spills. Wipe a spill off right away.
Walk the edges after a wash
Edges are the weak spot. Water gets under them. Brushes catch them.
After each wash, check for lifting edges. 3M’s bulletin says to repair, remove or replace anything damaged.
Our installers are 3M certified, and the training covers edge sealing. A one-minute walk-around is still worth it, especially in salt season. See a lifting corner? Call us before the next wash.
Good care helps a wrap last 5 to 7 years. See how long vehicle wraps last.
Need a hand with your fleet?
Is a corner lifting? Are your trucks due for new graphics? Send us the details or call 330-334-5060.
We’re on Seville Road in Wadsworth. We work with fleets across Akron, Medina and Cleveland. See how our fleet graphics program works.
FAQ
How soon can you wash a new wrap?
Wait at least 24 hours after install. 3M’s vehicle application bulletin says so. After that, wash by hand or use a touchless car wash.
Can you take a wrapped truck through a touchless car wash?
Yes, after the first 24 hours. 3M says to wash by hand or in a touchless car wash. Brush washes can catch a loose edge and dull the finish.
Can you pressure wash a wrapped truck?
Yes, within 3M’s limits. Stay under 1,160 psi (80 bar), with water no hotter than 140°F (60°C). Hold the nozzle at least a foot (30 cm) away. Never aim at an edge.