Chrome Delete Care Guide
Chrome deletes are not meant to be installed and forgotten.
As you may know, vinyl wrap is not permanent and when not taken care of properly, the sheen can fade and the color can distort.
Taking the right steps to properly take care of it will lengthen its lifetime significantly.
A well-taken care-of chrome delete can last upwards of 5 years!
One of the best ways to protect and prolong the life of a chrome delete is with a UV protectant like a sealant, ceramic coating, or, a graphene coating (although the latter doesn’t provide substantial benefits over ceramic coating).
How often should I wash my car?
The optimal car washing schedule is every two weeks.
If necessary, use a quality Quick Detailer to spot-clean your vehicle.
Whether you’re cleaning bird droppings, road grime, tree sap, or bug splatter off of your car, the sooner you do it, the less likely it is to stain.
The preferred method of washing cars at our local shop is the two-bucket method.
Not only do you use very little water, but since it is such a hands-on method, you can guarantee that every nook and cranny of your car’s exterior is going to get cleaned. Since you typically use a wash mitt when washing with this method, this ensures that nothing too abrasive will be scuffing the chrome delete or your car, thereby reducing the possibility of premature lifting or adhesive failure.
Can I pressure wash my car with chrome delete?
You can use a pressure washer to rinse off a chrome delete but if you apply too much pressure, the chrome delete can become damaged or removed.
Another way of damaging a Chrome delete is if you get too close to the Chrome delete, causing the vinyl’s edges to lift.
When using a pressure washer, the best practices are as follows:
keep the water pressure below 2,000 PSI
use a 40-degree wide-angle spray nozzle
keep the water temperature below 180° F
keep the spray nozzle at least 1 foot away from the wrap’s edges
Can I take my car through an automatic car wash?
Although hand washing is safer and far more thorough, you can take your wrapped car through an automatic brushless car wash.
The spinning bristles on non-brushless car washes can be rough and cause lifting and peeled edges so stay away from those (plus they scratch your vehicle’s paintwork like crazy, so… it’s best to just avoid those in general).
What products should i avoid when cleaning my Chrome delete?
Avoid wiping the wrap when it’s hot; this can distort the material and cause wrinkling.
It’s important to avoid strong chemicals and cleaning agents on your Chrome delete. These can distort the finish of the chrome delete and possibly even etch into the vinyl itself.
Here are a few to stay away from:
Solvents
Oil-based cleaners
Kitchen & Bathroom Cleaners
Oven cleaner
Tire shine
Engine Degreaser
What should I do if my Chrome delete is fading or turning brown/rust-colored?
This is typically a result of neglect and failure to follow the above-mentioned procedures.
If you notice brown, discolored, or rust-colored areas on your wrap, it is best to completely remove or reapply the film from your vehicle to prevent damage to the paint beneath it.
When not taken care of properly, vinyl can fade and lose its sheen.
Take the above image for example.
We wrapped this Tiguan’s mirror cap in gloss black along with doing a full chrome delete on it. Within a few months, the gloss on the vinyl was lost and it became dull and faded.
This was caused by not enough washing or protection.
This specific vehicle has been our testing vehicle so we can see just how much neglect a vinyl wrap can take. We rarely wash it (maybe once a month), and have never added any sort of coating to the vehicle to prolong the life of the vinyl.
The same goes for the spoiler which we also wrapped in gloss black.
Make sure you at the very least wash your vehicle! This is a perfect “do as we say not as we do” scenario.
What products should I use on my Chrome delete?
Since we operate within the state of Colorado, we know that our biggest battle is our UV light exposure.
It’s the same reason why headlights go bad so quickly here, and why a car’s paint also goes bad fairly quickly compared to other states.
On top of washing your car often, we suggest using some sort of UV protectant specifically designed for vinyl wrap. That can be in the shape of a spray wax, a spray sealant, or a ceramic coating.
By applying a UV protectant, you are prolonging the life of the chrome delete by blocking those harmful UV rays.
Some products we recommend are:
Chemical Guys Meticulous Matte Detail and Spray Sealant (for matte or satin finish wraps only)
Conclusion
Taking care of your car’s chrome delete wrap is important to keep it looking great and protect it from damage.
Care for your Chrome deletes like you would any fine paint finish.
Using high-quality products designed specifically for car care and these cleaning and maintenance procedures will help keep your Chrome delete looking its best for a long time.
Looking for a chrome delete service?
We are local to Denver and offer both mobile and in-shop services!
GUIDES
LEGAL
Denver Auto Spa is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases through the affiliate links in our website.