The winter season is popular among people who anticipate the first sign of snowfall, are the first in line at Starbucks to buy a Peppermint Mocha, and now have a better reason to use their heated blankets. Although winter can bring frosty joy to all, it can also be a scrooge! Winter elements like snow and ice can cause damage to any old or new vehicle wrap if it's not properly maintained. However, don't worry! We're going to share with you our top tips to protect any vehicle wrap this winter season!

Follow the steps below and avoid ruining the best gift to yourself!

Say No To Scrapers!

Ice scrapers and snow shovels can damage and scratch the vinyl material if they are used to remove snow, ice, or road salt from your wrapped vehicle. We recommend using a gentle broom or soft cloth instead. 

Always Defrost

We get it. There will be times when you are running late to work or an important meeting, and the ice needs to go away fast! However, using that trusty old scraper—your prized possession every winter season—will quickly ruin your beautiful vehicle wrap or decals. 

Try to prepare (or spare) a little time to allow your window defroster to remove snow or ice from solid vinyl or perforated vinyl on windows.

Salt is Not Your Friend

Although road salt is essential during the winter season to protect roads from ice, it can cause damage to vinyl and paint if it's not quickly removed from your vehicle. Luckily, there are ways to avoid this issue and protect your vehicle.

Hand washing your vehicle is always the best method. However, if you choose to use this method make sure you also clean the undercarriage and wheel wells. Salt can accumulate in those areas and cause them to rust. Once this happens, the vinyl will start to detach itself from the vehicle due to the rusted surface. 

If the handwashing method is an inconvenience for you, run your vehicle through a touchless or brushless automatic car wash and dry it with a microfiber cloth. 

Always Call the Pros!

If you start to notice any weather damage to your vehicle wrap, don't try to fix it yourself or ignore it for a to-do list when the weather warms up. The damage could get worse over time, and we don't want you to waste an investment and spend unnecessarily on a brand new wrap install. 

So when those things happen, do not hesitate to call the pros—also known as us, 12-Point SignWorks! Our team of vehicle wrap experts have experienced these winter disasters before and are ready to help you avoid them.

It can be tempting to want to scrape all the ice and snow off your car, but please don’t do it!

We hope these helpful tips will protect and prolong the life of your wrap during the winter season. Check out our completed vehicle wraps in our photo gallery and read our past article, "Winter is Coming: Tips for Applying Vinyl in Cold Environments," for our expert advice on installing vehicle wraps in cold environments. (Useful tips for inspiring installers!)

If you have questions about how to care for your wrap, please contact us at (615) 595-6564 or click the link below. We understand the value of vehicle wraps and want yours to look as good as new!