What is the best way to care for vinyl. I have stripes on my car and I keep getting conflicting care info.

I've had some people (including the installer) tell me just treat it like the rest of the car and wash and wax it...I use Zaino.

Others say never wax the vinyl just wash it with regular car wash soap and water.

Everyone seems to think that dew is the worst thing for it though and to try and wash it as soon after that ever happens.

Anyone with long term use want to weigh in on what has worked best for you.

How about installers with manufacturer or field knowledge. Can you clear this all up please

Thanks

 

303 Aerospace Protectant works well. It also works well on the black plastic trim to keep it from fading.

 

My stripes are the third set now, replaced a year or so ago from Aesthetic Creations (Mike's moved on to other things now, though.), I ordered them laminated this time for added protection, not even 80 MPH bugs have scared them. The first thing I did after sticking them down was to give them two coats of carnauba wax for even more protection. After close to 12K miles they still look like new. Wax applied by either RO machine or by hand is good. DO NOT polish over them though. If you ever do intend to machine polish, just mask them off. You should also mask off the black molding when waxing for sure or you will drive yourself nuts trying to get the wax off.

 

First of all accept that vinyl decals will not last as long as the paint. They will discolor/chip/tear sooner and need to be replaced at some point. Luckily, they are cheap.

Having said that, care for them as you do for the rest of the car (wash, wax, etc), but be extra careful as they are significantly more fragile than then paint. Keep high-pressure washers and mechanical buffers away.

Here is how Corvette guys babysit their decals: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...-graphics.html

HTH,
a

 

My new white stripes seem to attract dirt, specially the ones on the back hatch. I can't seem to get them clean. I have used car wash, nero, pre-wow, hydro. There are a couple of spots I just can't get off. Can I clay them? Also, I understand that they are not super expensive, but I paid over $500 to have them installed and they are under the bra so I don't consider them to be all that cheap.

 

You have a bra on the back?
That's so wrong in soooo many ways.

If the discoloration spots are under the clear bra - that brings another variable into the equation. If the spots are openly accessible, you can super-carefully try to clay them. But beware - it won't be long before you rub straight through the vinyl down to the paint!

That being said, the vinyl stripes themselves are <$50. The rest is 1 hour of install plus dealer mark-up.


Most people I know who have decals on their cars either learn to DIY replace them every ~2 years as a part of regular maintenance, or keep them on the garage queens. Especially the decals on the hood, that get the brunt of sand/rock blasting. There is not much you can do about it.

a

 

Well, I guess I do have clear bra on the back (on the top of the bumper.)
No, the spots are on the hatch, above the (not so) mini sign. I thought about claying, but it doesn't seem like it should be necessary. Something should clean them up right?

I was quoted $250 to have stripes installed. Well, come to find out that was the labor and the stripes cost me another $250 in materials. The installer would also only put them under the bra even though I expressed my concern of them not lasting as long. He assured me that the vinyl was the best quality and would last as long as the 3m clear bra.

Anyway,
Thanks

 

I had a Union Jack put over the whole car , I was told not to use a petroleum base wax/cleaner. I only use turtlewax ice products I called them and was told it is not petroleum based.

 

I have a 2005 MCS, Hyper Blue with black bonnet strips (white edges). Still on the original set, and they look fantastic. I wax them with the rest of the car 3 ~ 4x per year, making sure to use the orbital buffer so that it's NEVER going from the painted area TOWARDS the strip, but rather the other way (to avoid peeling them off or ripping them). I've been particular to McGuires Tech Wax, but any good wax will work. Bird pop is the hardest to remove, but eventually it will come off. I NEVER use soap when washing, just water, a big wash mitt and chamois to dry. Dew has never bothered them...but it's not out at night very often.

 

I just put on stripes this past weekend. I got the 18" Rally Stripe kit from houseofgrafx. It was best for me to apply them over my clear bra for 2 reasons. I had someone install the bra, cost me $750 (other clear pieces installed too), so it's staying on till it wears out. And, I have 4 stripes, so if the bra was on top, there would be 8 gaps going over all the stripes for wax to get under and leave residue. If wax collects under the stripes, it won't be seen.
As far as care, it might depend on the vinyl brand.
Mine are Oracal 751C and care instructions are here:
http://www.oracal.com/products/_docs...phics_0808.pdf

Carnauba wax is a no-no.

I use a water based synthetic wax, so I won't worry about getting it on the stripes. I use xpel on my clear bra.

Here's another Oracal document
http://www.oracal.com/products/_docs...t_Bulletin.pdf
They suggest using a teflon polish (probably meant sealant) for protection.