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Short answer
Wait 7 days after installation before the first wash. After that, hand wash with a pH-neutral shampoo and a soft mitt, rinse at low pressure, and dry with a plush microfibre towel. Avoid automatic brush car washes and never aim a pressure washer at the film’s edges.
The first weeks
- Days 1–7: don’t wash the car. The adhesive is still curing.
- Small haze or water spots under the film are normal at first. They clear as the remaining moisture dries out, usually within a few weeks.
- Don’t pick at edges. If one lifts, take the car back to your installer.
The six-step wash
- Pre-wash. Spray on to loosen road grime before you touch the paint, then hose it off after 30 seconds.
ShieldLab Active Pre-Wash - Foam. Cover the car in foam and let it sit, without letting it dry.
ShieldLab Pink Foam through a foam cannon - Contact wash. Work top down with light pressure, in straight lines. Rinse the mitt often.
ShieldLab Microfibre Wash Mitt - Rinse. Low pressure, with the spray angled away from film edges.
- Dry. Lay the towel flat and draw it across the panel. Don’t rub.
ShieldLab 1200 GSM Drying Towel - Finish. Moisturise the PPF and dress the tyres to keep the PPF looking new.
ShieldLab PPF After-Care and Tyre Gloss
ShieldLab products launch on 4 January 2027. Until then, any pH-neutral car shampoo and clean microfibre will do. Always follow each product’s label.
What to avoid
- Automatic car washes with brushes.
- A pressure washer closer than about 30 cm, or pointed at an edge.
- Abrasive polishes, cutting compounds and solvent-based cleaners on the film.
- Leaving bird droppings, bugs or tree sap to bake on in the sun.
On this page
ShieldLab by Polyshield
The ShieldLab care range.
Wash, dry and finishing products for every step of the routine.
Keep reading
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ShieldLab by Polyshield
The ShieldLab care range.
Wash, dry and finishing products for every step of the routine.