Don't spoil your foil: How to clean your car's fancy new coat

BERLIN: If you want to give your car a new colour or have something printed on it, foils are a great option instead of a permanent paint job. However, they tend to have special requirements when it comes to washing.

Cars with foil coatings can usually drive through car washes. But motorists are well advised to avoid hot wax treatment.

In the worst case, you'll later find your car has stains that cannot be removed, especially if there's a matt or structured surface. Even if you're hand-washing the car, wax is still a taboo, as foils require special cleaning agents.

Some foil manufacturers recommend only using car washes, which use textile washing elements to avoid scratches caused by nylon brushes.

If you want to use a high-pressure cleaner to clean your vehicle, you should do so from a distance of at least 50cm and not aim at the edges of the foil.

Foils usually are less expensive than new varnish coatings. A self-adhesive film is applied to the surfaces and can be removed again without damages. This allows you to quickly change the appearance of the car without having to repaint the vehicle permanently.

But this is not a solution for eternity. Depending on quality and use, the foil must be removed from the vehicle between two and 10 years after applying. For best results, get an expert to handle it for you.