A van with a vehicle graphic or vinyl wrap is one of the hardest-working pieces of marketing your business has. It promotes your brand wherever you drive, deliver or park. When these graphics look clean and vibrant, it can reflect positively on your business. When they start to fade or peel, it does the opposite.
The good news is that maintaining your vehicle graphics is surprisingly simple. With a bit of routine care, you can keep your vehicle graphics and wraps looking sharp for years. This guide walks you through the best ways to look after van signage, what to avoid and how to prevent early wear.
Why Looking After Your Wrap and Vehicle Graphics Matters
Vehicle graphics deal with a lot. Sun, rain, grit, road salt, tree sap, car washes, petrol station drips and more. Over time, these can all leave marks or gradually fade the vinyl. The better you treat your wrap, the better it will keep its colour and finish.
Most quality wraps last five to seven years, but good maintenance can help you get the maximum lifespan from the vinyl. It’s also far more cost-effective to care for a wrap than to replace it early.
How to Care for Vehicle Graphics
These simple habits will keep your graphics looking clean, bright and professional.
Wash your van regularly
Hand washing is always the safest option. Use a soft sponge or wash mitt with a pH-neutral car shampoo. Avoid scouring pads or anything abrasive. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a microfibre cloth to avoid streaks.
Avoid automatic car washes
Roller brushes and spinning pads can scratch the surface or catch the edges of the vinyl. If you need a quicker clean, choose a brushless hand wash, but hand washing is always best.
Use pressure washers carefully
A pressure washer is fine as long as you keep the pressure low and stand well back. Never blast directly at edges, seams or corners because it can force water underneath the vinyl.
Remove contaminants quickly
Bird droppings, tree sap, bugs and diesel spills can stain vinyl if they sit on it for too long. Clean them off as soon as possible with warm soapy water or a wrap-safe cleaner.
Choose gentle, wrap-safe products
Vinyl doesn’t need heavy-duty cleaners. Avoid strong solvents, harsh degreasers or household cleaning sprays. They can dry out the vinyl or dull the finish.
Protect the van from constant sunlight
UV exposure ages vinyl. Parking in the shade when you can helps keep the colours bold for longer.
Do quick visual checks
Once every couple of weeks, check corners, wheel arches, door handles and any curved areas. These are the first places where lifting can start. Catching issues early helps prevent bigger problems later.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Try not to:
Use abrasive tools or strong chemicals
Leave bird droppings or sap on the wrap
Use high pressure too close to the vinyl
Wax or polish matte finishes
Park in full sunlight every day
Ignore small lifting or bubbling
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Avoiding these keeps your vehicle graphics and wraps in good condition for much longer.
When It’s Time for a Refresh
Even with great care, all vinyl wraps age eventually. Colours fade, edges lift, and the overall finish may start to look tired after a few years. If your branding has changed or your current graphics no longer look as sharp as you’d like, a replacement is often the best solution.
A fresh wrap or vehicle graphic can instantly lift your brand presence on the road. Whether it’s a partial wrap, full wrap or new lettering, updated graphics can make a huge difference to how your business is perceived.
Read more here on how to remove signwriting from a van.
Ready to Update Your Vehicle Graphics?
If your wrap is showing signs of wear or you want to refresh your branding, your local FASTSIGNS centre can design, produce and install high-quality vehicle graphics for vans, cars and full fleets. We can also repair or replace damaged sections if only part of your wrap needs attention.