Can You Run a Wrapped Car Through the Car Wash?

You may ask if you can run a wrapped car through the carwash. The answer may surprise you!

You’ve finally made the move to get your vehicle wrapped and your business is booming. Lots of new leads are coming in each and every day now that you have turned your vehicle into your own mobile billboard. Could you have imagined how much buzz that awesome design would generate?

Las Vegas is the perfect place to maximize this kind of advertising and you are ready! And, the color, design, and eye-catching graphics of your vehicle wrap are really getting you noticed!

Vehicle wraps are one of the most popular and cost-effective ways to advertise your company or business. And, there are so many choices for how to wrap your car. Full vehicle wraps really pop as they take advantage of every square inch of your vehicle, while partial wraps can give your car a great new look while communicating a direct message. The key is to make sure your wrap matches your business’ style and personality so that you can show this to the world.

Our crew here at Team Acme has wrapped numerous vehicles. We often get asked about the best way to keep them clean.

How Best To Clean Your Vehicle Wrap

Vehicle wraps are extremely easy to clean and care for. Possibly the best way to clean your wrapped vehicle is by hand in your own driveway using warm, mild soapy water and a sponge. You will be amazed at how well your wrapped car will look after just a regular hand wash.

If needed, you can also go through an automatic car wash – just be careful not to allow the automatic wash to use the automated brushes. Also, be aware that touchless car washes often use strong chemicals that can break down the wrap material.

In addition, you should also try to avoid the waxing options at the automatic car wash if you’re unsure whether the wax is petroleum-based, as this can actually cause damage to your wrap. The best thing about wraps, however, is their self-healing properties. Small surface scratches will disappear in the hot Nevada sun.

Can Wraps Be Easily Removed Or Replaced?

Another really positive thing about vehicle wraps is that they can be removed and replaced at any point. So, if your logo, colors, or branding changes, it’s no problem. You can simply replace the vehicle wraps on your fleet.

Removing your wrap causes little to no damage to your vehicle and leaves the resale value of the vehicle as high as possible. So, what do you have to lose?

However, you might want to be at least a little cautious when going through a car wash so that you don’t run into any sort of unexpected situation. Try out some of these tips to keep your wrapped car looking sharp over a long period of time.

Can You Go Through A Carwash With A Wrapped Car?

In general, vinyl-wrapped cars can go through an automatic car wash without any problems, but that doesn’t mean you’ll want to risk it. Strong jets of water, like those used in most garden variety automatic car washes, can create nasty pits and scratches all over the vinyl. Rips and gaps might start to form if you do this repeatedly.

The good news is that vinyl wraps clean quite effectively without the use of automatic car washes, which makes them more or less unnecessary if you’ve already had your car done with a wrap in this way.

Can A Vinyl Wrap Go Through A Carwash?

This is a similar question due to the fact that the wrappings that are normally used for automobiles are made from a vinyl material that comes printed with artwork or coloring on it. Chances are that people won’t experience any negative effects of running their wrapped vehicle through a car wash, provided that the wrap was installed properly. Automatic car washes do tend to be extremely rough, however.

That’s especially true of standard consumer-grade ones that you’d see at pretty much any bigger gas station in the greater Las Vegas metro area. These are potentially going to be quite rough, which is somewhat ironic since you’re dealing with a desert area where water should be relatively scarce.

Though these shouldn’t actually remove a vinyl wrap, especially if it was installed by someone like our crew here at Team Acme. They should take the time to ensure that everything is fitted correctly for the vehicle in question, we still don’t recommend it.

How To Wash A Wrapped Car

Hand washing your vehicle with a mild detergent or soap is usually all you need to do in order to get a car with a vinyl wrap clean. It usually doesn’t take as long as cleaning a car that hasn’t been wrapped. The slick surface of the vinyl makes it much easier to simply get any dirt or debris off. This is good news for those dealing with a lot of extra sand as a result of the Las Vegas metro’s desert climate.

Can You Go Through A Carwash With Decals?

Decals might stay on through an automatic car wash, but we really wouldn’t recommend it. Since decals have at least some backing that’s similar in construction to paper, there’s a good possibility that they could come apart. The top layer, where they’re printed, might also eventually come apart.

Cars that have decals on them need to be washed a bit more carefully so that the artwork doesn’t peel off.

Trust Team Acme, Las Vegas’ Vehicle Wrap Expert, With Cleaning Solutions

Team Acme has been installing eye-catching vehicle wraps for our customers for more than a decade. We use only the highest quality adhesive products that can be removed when you are ready for a change.

Conveniently located just off of the 215 Freeway in Henderson, NV, contact us today to get more information about the installation or routine maintenance for your next vehicle wrap. Our design team can help you match the personality of your business with a wrap for your cars and our installation team can get your car ready in just a matter of a few days! Feel free to request a free vinyl vehicle wrap quote online.