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How to Properly Install and Maintain Car Magnets?
Article Date: September 6, 2024Share this article
Car magnets are removable signage you can stick on a car or truck. You can customize the shape and dimensions of these durable, affordable, and fade-resistant signs, making them a perfect promotional tool for unique brand designs.
Although car magnets are weatherproof and durable, they still require proper installation, maintenance, and storage to extend their life, prevent permanent damage, and avoid bonding to the vehicle’s surface.
Installation
Proper installation ensures that your car magnet will remain in its position even at high speeds. Follow the steps below to guarantee strong adhesion.- Prepare the magnet. Car magnets are typically rolled up during shipment to prevent damage, so it’s essential that you put them on a flat magnetic surface (e.g., refrigerator) for at least 24 hours to flatten them. It’s also important that you clean the magnetic side of the sign to ensure strong adhesion.
- Prepare the vehicle. Make sure the paint, coats, and waxes are cured before installing the car magnets. A new paint job on a vehicle often takes 30-90 days to fully harden and cure, whereas coats and waxes usually take one to two days.
If you’re located in areas in colder temperatures, it’s highly recommended to warm up the surface of your car to ensure excellent adhesion of the magnetic sign. A good rule of thumb is to leave your vehicle in a heated garage until it reaches room temperature (about 60 F or 16 C) before installing the car magnet.
(Note: The magnetic signs may not work on vehicles that have been painted numerous times and those painted with Imron. They will also not adhere to aluminum and other nonferrous metals and to non-magnetic areas such as fiberglass and simulated wood-grain siding). - Apply the car magnet to the vehicle. Choose a smooth flat metal surface without dents, rust spots, trims, or moldings. Next, place one corner of the car magnet against the surface and allow the natural pull to draw the sign into place. Press out the air bubbles as you go and make sure the sign is perfectly flat.
Care and Maintenance
Follow these tips on how to properly care for your magnetic signs to keep them in pristine condition for many years.- Wipe car magnets a few times a week with a soft towel or microfiber cloth. If exposed to rain or snow, remove them from the vehicle to clean and dry the surface beneath.
- Check for dust and debris before reinstalling the car magnets.
- Remove the magnetic signs before getting your vehicle washed, whether it’s through an automated or a manual car wash.
- If you need to remove or reposition the magnet, lift it from its sides and not the corners. Avoid pullint it across the surface to prevent stretching, bent corners, and reduced adhesion.
Storage
When not in use, store your car magnets properly to help extend their life and to preserve their magnetic strength.- Keep magnetic signs in a clean, dry place at room temperature.
- Do not fold or roll magnetic signs. Place them on a level surface to keep them flat.
- Do not place objects on magnets to avoid damaging the print or graphics.
- Do not stack them back-to-back or face-to-face as doing so can weaken their magnetic strength.
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Magnets
How can I ensure my car magnet stays in place during high-speed driving?How can I ensure my car magnet stays in place during high-speed driving?
What should I do if my car magnet starts to lose adhesion?
Use a soft cloth with a rubbing alcohol to clean the vehicle’s surface and the magnetic side. Note that debris, dirt, oil, and moisture can weaken the sign’s magnetic force.
How often should I clean my car magnets to maintain their adhesion?
Remove, inspect, and clean your magnetic signs after every rain or snowfall. A weekly cleaning is also recommended to promote excellent adhesion. Simply use water with a mild detergent to clean the magnetic side and the metal car surface. Make sure you wipe them with a soft cloth and allow them to air-dry.
What are the best cleaning products to use on car magnets?
Use water and mild detergent to clean car magnets.
How can I prevent my car magnets from losing adhesion in cold weather?
Check if there’s a sheet of ice or moisture between the vehicle’s surface and the magnetic signs. Note that magnets stick better in low temperatures, so cold weather is not really an issue.
How do I store car magnets to ensure they stay in good condition?
When not in use, keep magnets in a clean, dry place at room temperature. Set them flat; don’t roll or fold them. Store them individually, not back-to-back or face-to-face, on a level surface to maintain their magnetic strength and to avoid any damage.
Can you recommend any specific cleaning products for my car magnet?
You don’t need some expensive or fancy cleaning products to clean your car magnets. Water and mild detergent will suffice.
Can I use household cleaning solutions on my car magnets?
Not all household cleaning products are safe for magnetic signs. It’s recommended to use only water with mild detergent to clean your magnetic signs.
Does the size of the car magnet affect its ability to stay in place during high-speed driving?
Yes. However, the strength of a car magnet is primarily determined by the number of “tiny magnets” lined up on its surface rather than its size. Thus, a larger magnet will have a stronger magnetic field than the smaller one with the same material.
Are there any additional accessories that can help keep a car magnet secure?
No, you don’t need accessories to keep your car magnets secure.
Conclusion
Proper installation, maintenance, and storage can extend the life of your magnetic signs. Nevertheless, the quality of materials also plays a critical role in the longevity of car magnets. For this reason, Signs.com uses fade- and UV-resistant ink and durable, weatherproof vinyl.Unlike some printers that only offer standard rectangular magnets, Signs.com customizes car magnets based on the exact shape and dimension you want. We also offer a large collection of free templates to help you with the design process.
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