What the people who make the film say about washing it. This page collects the care instructions from 12 documents published by 10 makers of vinyl wrap, paint protection film (PPF) and factory matt paint, with a link to every source. Use it to check your wash routine against the maker of the film on your car.
Your installer comes first. The aftercare sheet from the shop that fitted your film, and the terms of its warranty, override anything here. This page quotes each maker's published guidance as we found it on 5 October 2026. Makers update these documents and some differ by region.
The limits at a glance
The four numbers people ask about most. Not stated means the document gives no figure, not that anything goes.
| Maker and film | First wash after fitting | Pressure limit | Water limit | Nozzle distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3M Graphic and wrap films, including Wrap Film Series 2080 |
72 hours | 1,200 psi (82.7 bar) | 60°C | 30 cm |
|
3M Protection Wrap Film |
72 hours | 1,200 psi (80 bar) | 60°C | 30 cm |
|
Arlon Vinyl wraps |
Not stated | 2,000 psi | Not stated | 30 cm from edges |
|
Avery Dennison, Europe Graphics and vehicle wraps |
48 hours | 80 bar (1,200 psi) | 70°C | 75 cm |
|
Avery Dennison, North America Vehicle wraps |
Not stated | 1,200 psi | 80°C | 30 cm from edges |
|
General Motors Factory matt paint |
Not relevant | Not stated | Not stated | 25 cm |
|
HEXIS HX20000 and HX30000 cast wrap films |
48 hours | Medium pressure | 35°C | 50 cm |
|
KPMF Vehicle wrap films in gloss and matt |
Not stated | 140 bar (2,000 psi) | 60°C | 30 cm from edges |
|
ORAFOL ORACAL 970RA wrapping films |
72 hours | Not stated | 25°C | 38 cm |
|
STEK Paint protection film |
Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 90 cm |
|
SunTek Paint protection film |
3 days | Avoid power washers | Not stated | Not stated |
|
XPEL Ultimate Plus and Stealth paint protection film |
48 hours | Not stated | Not stated | Keep off edges |
A routine that fits every document here
Take the strictest line from each maker and you get a routine that stays inside all of them.
- Wait before the first wash. The longest wait any maker asks for is 72 hours, or 3 days.
- Wash by hand. It is the only method every document accepts. Use a soft mitt, light pressure and straight lines.
- Use a pH neutral shampoo with no wax, gloss enhancer or silicone in it. The tightest pH window any maker gives is 5 to 9, and three ask for a neutral shampoo.
- Deal with bird droppings, bugs, sap and fuel spills straight away. Several makers single these out. Soak them off. Do not scrub.
- If you use a pressure washer, stay at or below 80 bar (1,200 psi), use cool water, fit a 40 degree fan nozzle, stand about 90 cm back and never point it at an edge or seam.
- Skip brush car washes. No maker here recommends them. Several accept a touchless wash.
- Put no wax or polish on matt or satin film unless the film maker names a product for it. Never machine polish a matt finish.
Check your pressure washer. Many home machines are rated above 80 bar. The maximum pressure is on the rating plate. 1 bar is 14.5 psi, so 1,200 psi is about 83 bar and 2,000 psi is about 138 bar.
Where the makers disagree
- Cleaner pH. 3M and Avery Dennison in Europe allow pH 3 to 11. Avery Dennison in North America says 5 to 9. KPMF asks for pH neutral.
- Pressure. 3M and Avery Dennison cap it at 1,200 psi. KPMF and Arlon allow up to 2,000 psi. ORAFOL, KPMF and SunTek would prefer you did not pressure wash at all.
- Water temperature. The limits run from 25°C at ORAFOL and 35°C at HEXIS up to 80°C at Avery Dennison in North America.
- Distance. From 25 cm for factory matt paint to 90 cm for STEK film.
- Angle. Most say square on to the panel. ORAFOL says 45 degrees.
- Automatic washes. HEXIS allows conventional car washes. SunTek says to avoid automatic washes altogether.
That spread is the reason to look up the maker of your own film and not rely on general advice.
Every document in full
3MGraphic and wrap films, including Wrap Film Series 2080.
- First wash
- 72 hours.
- Shampoo and cleaners
- Cleaners must be between pH 3 and pH 11.
- Pressure washer
- Maximum 1,200 psi (82.7 bar), water at 60°C or less, with a 40 degree nozzle or wider. Hold it 30 cm away and square on to the film, or 1 m away if spraying at an angle. Never spray along an edge.
- Car washes
- Touchless only. Brush washes may dull or scratch the film and lift edges.
- Wax, polish and matt
- No wax or polish on matt or textured film. To restore the finish, wipe with 70% isopropyl alcohol and 30% water.
- Source
- 3M: Maintenance bulletin, December 2024
3MProtection Wrap Film. Paint protection film.
- First wash
- 72 hours.
- Shampoo and cleaners
- Neutral shampoo. No strongly alkaline, acidic or alcoholic cleaners.
- Pressure washer
- Maximum 1,200 psi (80 bar), water at 60°C or less, with a 40 degree nozzle or wider. Hold it 30 cm away and square on, or 1 m away if spraying at an angle.
- Car washes
- Touchless only.
- Wax, polish and matt
- Wait one week before waxing. No waxes with dyes, abrasive polishes or rubbing compounds. Fingerprints on matt film: 70% isopropyl alcohol and 30% water.
- Source
- 3M: Maintenance FAQ, September 2024
ArlonVinyl wraps.
- First wash
- Not stated.
- Shampoo and cleaners
- Dedicated automotive soap with a clean sponge or soft microfibre cloth.
- Pressure washer
- Below 2,000 psi, at least 12 inches (30 cm) from the edges. Never aim the spray at the edges.
- Car washes
- Avoid brush washes.
- Wax, polish and matt
- No wax or polish on matt or satin film. On gloss film, nothing containing petroleum distillates or abrasives.
- Source
- Arlon: Wrap aftercare page, undated
Avery Dennison, EuropeGraphics and vehicle wraps.
- First wash
- 48 hours.
- Shampoo and cleaners
- Cleaning solution preferably between pH 3 and pH 11.
- Pressure washer
- Maximum 80 bar (1,200 psi), water no hotter than 70°C, nozzle at least 75 cm away and square on to the film. No high pressure steam cleaning.
- Car washes
- Not stated.
- Wax, polish and matt
- Matt films may streak slightly. Test on a hidden area first.
- Source
- Avery Dennison: Technical Bulletin 1.6, February 2020
Avery Dennison, North AmericaVehicle wraps.
- First wash
- Not stated.
- Shampoo and cleaners
- pH between 5 and 9. No abrasives, strong solvents or alcohols.
- Pressure washer
- Below 1,200 psi, water below 80°C, with a 40 degree wide nozzle held square on and at least 12 inches (30 cm) from the edges.
- Car washes
- A brushless spray wash is acceptable. Brush washes are not recommended.
- Wax, polish and matt
- Wax must contain no petroleum distillates or abrasives. Matt and satin film: warm soapy water, or a half and half mix of isopropyl alcohol and water.
- Source
- Avery Dennison: Instructional Bulletin 1.50, June 2024
General MotorsFactory matt paint.
- First wash
- Not relevant.
- Shampoo and cleaners
- A pH neutral car wash product with no added wax or polish.
- Pressure washer
- Described as the best way to remove heavy soiling before washing. Use a wide fan tip at least 10 inches (25 cm) from the paint.
- Car washes
- Touchless or hand wash only. No brushes.
- Wax, polish and matt
- Do not buff or polish, because it turns the matt finish glossy. Do not let the car air dry.
- Source
- General Motors: Service bulletin 23-NA-016, April 2024
HEXISHX20000 and HX30000 cast wrap films.
- First wash
- 48 hours.
- Shampoo and cleaners
- No solvents or corrosive detergents.
- Pressure washer
- Medium water pressure, at least 50 cm away, with water no hotter than 35°C. No pressure figure is given.
- Car washes
- Conventional automatic washes are allowed, with a caution about rotating brushes.
- Wax, polish and matt
- Not stated.
- Source
- HEXIS: Application guide, September 2022
KPMFVehicle wrap films in gloss and matt.
- First wash
- Not stated.
- Shampoo and cleaners
- A gentle pH neutral car shampoo, weekly.
- Pressure washer
- Discouraged. If you must, stay below 140 bar (2,000 psi) and 60°C, with a 40 degree nozzle square on to the surface and at least 12 inches (30 cm) from the edges.
- Car washes
- Brushless washes are acceptable but hand washing is safer. No brush washes.
- Wax, polish and matt
- No wax of any kind on matt vinyl. Avoid petroleum distillates, such as those in bug and tar removers.
- Source
- KPMF: Aftercare guide WI 509, April 2024
ORAFOLORACAL 970RA wrapping films.
- First wash
- 72 hours.
- Shampoo and cleaners
- Mild detergent and water with soft microfibre cloths, every 2 to 3 weeks.
- Pressure washer
- Try to avoid it. If unavoidable, hold the nozzle at least 15 inches (38 cm) away at 45 degrees, with water at 67 to 77°F (19 to 25°C), and keep off the edges.
- Car washes
- No mechanical brushes.
- Wax, polish and matt
- Not stated.
- Source
- ORAFOL: Processing and handling guide, October 2020
STEKPaint protection film.
- First wash
- Not stated.
- Shampoo and cleaners
- No detergents that contain waxes, sealants or silicone.
- Pressure washer
- Keep the nozzle at least 36 inches (about 90 cm) away and do not spray the film edges directly.
- Car washes
- Says automatic washes raise the risk of scratches.
- Wax, polish and matt
- No pigmented or abrasive waxes, and none containing naphtha or kerosene. Test any wax or sealant first.
- Source
- STEK: Care FAQ, undated
SunTekPaint protection film.
- First wash
- 3 days.
- Shampoo and cleaners
- Soap, water and a soft cloth.
- Pressure washer
- Says to avoid power washes because they could lift the film.
- Car washes
- Avoid automatic car washes.
- Wax, polish and matt
- Gloss film: a non abrasive wax once or twice a year. Matt film: some waxes add gloss, so use one made for matt finishes.
- Source
- SunTek: Paint protection film FAQ, undated
XPELUltimate Plus and Stealth paint protection film.
- First wash
- 48 hours.
- Shampoo and cleaners
- Not stated.
- Pressure washer
- Avoid a pressure washer near the edges of the film. No pressure or distance figure is given.
- Car washes
- Not stated.
- Wax, polish and matt
- Gloss film: seal at least every 3 months. Stealth matt film: XPEL's own sealant can be used and is best applied by a professional. Stubborn stains: 99% isopropyl alcohol.
- Source
- XPEL: Film care page, undated
Brand and product names are trade marks of their owners. SoapX is not connected with any of them and this is not a ranking.
Why matt finishes need different care
- A matt or satin surface looks flat because it is finely textured and scatters light. Anything that fills or smooths that texture makes it shinier.
- That is why the makers above rule out wax and polish on matt film, and why General Motors warns that buffing a scratch on matt paint polishes it glossy.
- A mark on a matt finish cannot be polished out the way it can on gloss paint, so prevention matters more: gentle washing, clean mitts and quick removal of bird droppings.
- Shampoos with added wax or gloss enhancers are made to leave something behind. On a matt finish that can show as patchy shine, which is why the documents ask for plain shampoo.
Where SoapX fits
- Our Delicate formulas are the ones we make for matt paint, wraps and coated cars. No.05 Contact Shampoo in the Delicate formula is the contact wash for these finishes.
- We have not published pH figures for our range yet. If your film warranty names a pH range, ask us or your installer before relying on any product, ours included.
- Our Delicate sealant is made to add no gloss. If your film maker says no wax or sealant on matt film, follow the film maker.
- The method is in our guide to washing a matt or wrapped car, and the pH and surface damage guide shows where wraps, film and matt paint sit against acids and alkalis.
How this list was built
- Every line comes from a care document, bulletin or care page published by the maker named. Nothing comes from forums, installers' blogs or our own testing.
- Figures are given as the maker wrote them, with metric conversions added where the document only gives inches or Fahrenheit.
- Where a maker publishes different documents for different regions, each is listed separately.
- The General Motors bulletin is a public copy held by the United States road safety regulator. It is included because it is one of the few factory documents on matt paint care that anyone can read.
- Not listed yet: other film brands, and the matt paint guidance from BMW and Mercedes, where we found only reposted copies and no maker document we could link to.
Do you fit or make film? You are welcome to link to this page from your aftercare instructions. If a document here is out of date, or yours is missing, send it to hello@soapx.co.uk and we will update the entry.
Common questions
How soon can I wash a car after it has been wrapped?
The makers that give a figure say 48 to 72 hours. 3M and ORAFOL say 72 hours, Avery Dennison in Europe and HEXIS say 48 hours. Ask your installer which applies to your film.
Can I use a pressure washer on a wrapped car?
Most makers allow it within limits. 3M and Avery Dennison cap pressure at 1,200 psi, which is about 80 bar, with a wide fan nozzle held back from the film and never aimed at an edge. ORAFOL and KPMF advise against pressure washing where you can avoid it.
Can I wax a matt wrap?
No. 3M, KPMF and Arlon all say no wax or polish on matt film. Wax fills the texture that makes the surface matt and leaves shiny patches.
What shampoo is safe for a vinyl wrap or PPF?
A pH neutral car shampoo with no added wax, sealant or silicone fits every document on this page. Avoid solvents and abrasive cleaners.
Can a wrapped car go through a car wash?
Not one with brushes. 3M, Avery Dennison and KPMF accept touchless or brushless washes. SunTek says to avoid automatic washes with its paint protection film.
How do I remove bird droppings from a wrap?
Quickly. 3M suggests soaking them for several minutes with hot soapy water, then rinsing. Do not scrub. KPMF notes they can be highly acidic.
