Protected. Now Keep It That Way.
Proper aftercare helps preserve the appearance and performance of your Paint Protection Film, Ceramic Coating and Window Tint. Use this guide as a starting point — and when you're unsure, professional guidance is always the safest choice.
For PPF-protected vehicles, automatic wash brushes, moving equipment and close-range/high-pressure spray can catch film edges and increase the risk of lifting or damage. Hand washing is the preferred method.
Care for the coating.
A properly maintained ceramic coating can continue to deliver the gloss, water behavior and easier cleaning you expect. Use gentle, coating-safe methods and avoid aggressive products unless you've confirmed they're appropriate.
Do
- Allow the coating to cure according to the instructions provided after installation.
- Hand wash whenever possible using proper automotive wash methods.
- Use a pH-neutral automotive shampoo.
- Use clean microfiber towels, wash mitts and drying towels.
- Remove bird droppings, insects, tree sap and other contaminants promptly.
- Ask us before using aggressive chemicals, compounds or polishing products.
Don't
- Don't wash the vehicle during the initial cure period provided by your installer.
- Don't use household dish soap, harsh degreasers or abrasive cleaners.
- Don't scrub dried contaminants from the paint.
- Don't assume ceramic coating makes your vehicle scratch-proof.
- Don't polish or compound the coating without understanding how the product will affect it.
- Don't rely on automatic brush washes for routine care.
Products, environmental conditions and vehicle use can change what maintenance is appropriate. A quick professional consultation can prevent an avoidable problem.
Protect the protection.
PPF is designed to take the abuse your paint otherwise would, but the film still needs proper care. Pay particular attention to edges, seams and high-impact areas.
Do
- Hand wash whenever possible.
- Use clean microfiber wash materials and PPF-safe products.
- Remove bugs, bird droppings and other contaminants promptly.
- Keep pressure-washer nozzles at a safe distance and away from film edges.
- Tell detailers or service providers that your vehicle has PPF before polishing or paint correction.
- Contact us if you notice an edge lifting, damage or a change in appearance.
Don't
- Don't use automatic car washes. Brushes, moving wash equipment and concentrated spray can catch PPF edges and may cause lifting or damage.
- Don't direct a pressure washer closely against film edges.
- Don't pull, pick or trim a lifted edge yourself.
- Don't use aggressive compounds or abrasive products without confirming they're film-safe.
- Don't aggressively scrub stubborn contamination.
- Don't attempt DIY film repairs.
Let us look at it before trying to fix it. Small concerns are easier to evaluate early, and picking, trimming or aggressively cleaning the film can make a minor issue worse.
Let it cure.
Freshly installed window film needs time to dry and settle. Temporary haze or moisture can be normal during curing, so resist the urge to press, scrape or “fix” the film yourself.
Do
- Allow the film to properly cure before rolling your windows down.
- Follow the specific aftercare timeframe provided at installation.
- Clean tinted glass with a soft microfiber towel.
- Use an ammonia-free, tint-safe glass cleaner.
- Allow temporary moisture or haze to disappear naturally during curing.
- Contact us if something still looks unusual after the expected cure period.
Don't
- Don't roll down newly tinted windows before the recommended cure time.
- Don't pick at the edges of the film.
- Don't use razor blades, abrasive pads or scraping tools on tinted glass.
- Don't use harsh ammonia-based cleaners.
- Don't press or push temporary moisture pockets during the cure process.
- Don't assume every temporary visual change means there is an installation problem.
Tint, PPF and ceramic coatings are specialty products. A cleaning technique that is harmless on an untreated vehicle may not be appropriate for a protected surface.
When you're unsure, call Select.
We install products designed to protect your investment, and we want them performing the way they were intended. If you're uncertain about a cleaner, washing method, film edge, stain, maintenance product or anything else involving your installation, contact us before experimenting with a solution.
Ask Select