Do not wax vinyl static cling roof flags

[ChiliCooperMark]

I learned a lesson the hard way yesterday: it's not a good idea to wax the static cling-type vinyl sunroof flags!

My story: I've got the UJ flag on my roof. I keep it on for months at a time and it has worked great. Yesterday I decided to try waxing it with some Zaino #2 to give it a glossy shine. Z2 is a fantastic product that works great on most parts of my MINI and I highly recommend it, but, it turns out Z2 acts as a solvent on my flag and picks up some of the colored ink. I don't blame Z2...this is a case of "user error". The result was not a total disaster, but the white areas of my flag now have a dull gray coating from a combination of the smeared red and blue ink. I am now working on restoring the white by rubbing just the white parts with more Z2 to clean it up.

I do not know if this would happen with other types of vinyl flags or other types of wax, but please don't make the same mistake I did.

[OctaneGuy]

Hey Mark, great tip for the rest of us.

Might try Meguiars NXT next time. I've got Static Cling Meatballs, and I NXT them along with the rest of the car. In fact, I apply it with a PCDA. I suppose the real question is how the flag is made. Are these just ink jet printed over a vinyl material or are they built up from colored pieces of vinyl? My meatballs use black vinyl for the numbers, and I've never had any ink come off.

Originally Posted by ChiliCooperMark

I learned a lesson the hard way yesterday: it's not a good idea to wax the static cling-type vinyl sunroof flags!

[scooterboy]

Thanks for the warning! I have the UJ cling as well, and will be doing the claybar strip and reapplying Z2 in a couple of weeks, after I get the car back with a new front bumper cover.

Now I know to avoid the cling with the Z2, though I'm sorry about yours.

[ChiliCooperMark]

Thanks for the sympathy, guys. I think these flags are ink-jet printed on white vinyl, and that's the problem. (An easily avoided problem, if you don't make my mistake!)

[scooterboy]

Hey did both halves of your cling get ruined? Because I have a rear half I'm not using. You're welcome to it if it will help.

[ChiliCooperMark]

Hey thanks, scooterboy :smile: , but I'll pass. Both of my halves were equally tarnished, so I'm afraid a new back half would make the front look bad in contrast. I appreciate your offer, though. :smile: :smile:

When I got back to my car after work, it didn't look too bad. I think I'll try to live with it and try to polish up the white stripe areas carefully over time.

[NT2SML]

Many thanks ChiliCooperMark:smile: I had decided to order the Ziano Kit and would have applied to my UJ vinyl roof decal as well without a second thought! You saved me much greif I'm sure. Mahalo!

[scooterboy]

Had a thought about your grey areas, Mark. Maybe that snazzy Mr. Clean Magic Eraser would clean them up a bit?

Anyway, it's moot for me now. I lost my UJ vinyl cling in a rainstorm AGAIN, despite putting some clear silicone sealant along the front edge to help stick it down.

I've officially given up on the cling, and will work on creating an expandable shade to use on the inside, like in this thread.

[ChiliCooperMark]

Good idea, scooterboy. I'll give the magic eraser a try. Thanks

[911Fan]

I'm surprised the printing isn't on the bottom of the plastic sheet (ie, between the plastic and the car).

Who installed the decal? Could it have been installed upside down by mistake with the printing facing up?

[ChiliCooperMark]

No, I installed it myself and it's definitely on there correctly. The bottom side (the side touching the sunroof) is solid white, and the UJ printed design is only on the top.

One weird thing about it is that even though the bottom looks opaque white before installation, after it is installed the UJ flag design can clearly be seen from underneath inside the car (through the sunroof). I like seeing it, but it was a surprise.