PPF Care Schedule: What to Do in the First Week, Every Month and Every Year

Most PPF guides tell you what to avoid. This one tells you when to do what. Keep it as a checklist, from the day you collect the car to the years after. For the detail behind each step, see our full guide on how to maintain PPF.

The Day You Collect the Car

• Walk around the car with us in good light. We go over each panel and explain your film or coating.
• Ask for your wash date. We give you a specific date for the first wash, based on the film and the car. Write it down.
• Keep your warranty paperwork somewhere you can find it. It names the XPEL product used and the terms.

The First Week

The film is settling while the last moisture under it dries out.

• Do not wash the car until the date we gave you.
• Do not press or pick at edges, and do not try to fix small hazy patches. Light haze or tiny water pockets are normal on new film and clear up as it cures.
• Avoid gravel roads and fast-moving traffic spray where you can.
• Park under cover when possible.

If something looks wrong, call us instead of fixing it yourself.

Every Wash

1. Rinse off loose dust first.
2. Hand wash with a pH-neutral soap and a soft microfibre mitt, top down.
3. Rinse well and dry with a clean microfibre towel.

Skip brush car washes, and keep a pressure washer well away from edges and seams. Wash when the car is dirty, not on a fixed rule. Regular gentle washing is better than leaving dirt on the film.

As Soon as You Notice It

These should not wait for wash day:

• Bird droppings: acidic and can stain if left for days. Soften with water and wipe away gently.
• Insects and tree sap: remove with a PPF-safe cleaner.
• Tar: use a PPF-safe tar remover, never a harsh solvent.

After Heavy Rain or a Long Trip

Wash the car within a few days of driving through heavy rain or a long dusty highway run. Road grime and rain residue sit on the film and on the panel gaps. Dry the car afterwards so hard water does not leave spots.

Every Few Months: A Five-Minute Look

Walk around the car and check:

• Edges and corners: nothing lifting, no dirt lines creeping under the film.
• Bonnet, bumper and mirrors: the areas that take the most impact.
• Stains that will not wash off.
• Any deep cut that has gone through the top coat. Light swirls heal themselves with warmth, but deep cuts do not.

Once a Year: Bring It In

Once a year, visit any Carsbuddy studio for a check. We look at the edges, the high-impact panels and any marks, and tell you if anything needs attention. If a single panel is damaged, it can be replaced without redoing the whole car.

Warranty support carries between our studios in Bangalore, Kochi and Coimbatore, so the nearest studio is the right one. See how long Carsbuddy PPF lasts for warranty detail.

What Not to Do at Any Stage

• Use abrasive polish, compound or wax on the film.
• Peel or trim a loose edge yourself.
• Leave contamination on the film for days.
• Skip the first-wash date we gave you.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I get my PPF checked? A quick look every few months yourself, and a visit to a studio once a year.

Can I add a ceramic coating over PPF? Yes. It adds gloss and makes the car easier to wash. Ask us which product to use. See PPF vs ceramic coating.

What if I see a lifting edge? Do not touch it. Visit a studio and we will look at it.

Will light scratches go away? On self-healing films, light marks in the top coat heal with warmth. Read what self-healing PPF can and cannot fix.

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