3M vehicle wraps and graphics:
Cleaning: Use a cleaner designed for high-quality painted surfaces. The cleaner must be wet, non-abrasive, without strong solvents, and have a pH value between 3 and 11 (neither strongly acidic nor strongly alkaline)
Additional Note from Tech Support:
"The use of acidic or alkaline cleaners may be required to remove some types of stubborn contamination, but should be limited in use as repeated cleanings with such chemicals can result in drying of the material."
3M: Caring for Vinyl Vehicle Graphics
Section 6: Polish & Wax
Most standard graphic films and overlaminates can be waxed with a high quality car wax. Before use, test and approve in an inconspicuous area. Do not use any abrasive polishes or cutting compounds.
For the carbon fiber and brushed metal films in Scotchprint® Wrap Film Series 1080, a polishing product such as 3M Tire Restorer or Meguiars® Natural Shine Protectant may be used. We do not recommend any polishing or wax product for the matte or textured films.
Additional information from Ford/3M for those of you with Mustangs or other Ford products featuring vinyl graphics. This information applies to pretty much all factory vinyl, but its nice the people at ford have provided specifics on the subject:
Ford Custom Graphics - FAQ
What are the custom graphics for Ford made of?
A. Our graphics are made with 3M’s Scotchprint® Personalized Vehicle Graphic Film plus a clear graphic protection layer. Ford Custom Graphics is able to control quality by working directly with some of the best graphics manufacturers in the industry.
How do I care for my graphics once they are installed on my vehicle?
A. Hand washing of your vehicle and its graphics is recommended. Avoid abrasive materials, petroleum distillates (such as tar removers) and car washes that use brushes or high pressure. About 6 weeks after the graphics are applied you can use automotive wax over your vehicle, but avoid products designed for cleaning and waxing in a single step as they contain more solvents, which could affect the graphics.
Avery Pressure Sensitive Films & Vehicle Graphics:
A mild soap and water combination is recommended for regular cleaning. Any soaps used should be liquid, non-abrasive, without strong solvents. It is also recommended that soaps with wax additives be avoided.
Cleaners heavy in petroleum distillates (bug & tar removers) should never be used to clean the material under any circumstances.
Quality vinyl protectants free of silicones can be used to address fading or spotting.
