PPF Care
Your complete film ritual — wash, correct, seal & protect. For glossy and matte paint protection film.
Four Steps to Perfectly Protected Film
A paint protection film shields your paint from stone chips, scratches, and UV – but the film itself is a surface that deserves care. We care for your film with handcrafted Swiss carnauba wax: invisible, self-healing, protected – for years, not just months.
The routine is always the same: wash, correct, seal – and add a ceramic top layer when you want maximum durability. Each step below lists the exact products for glossy and matte film. New to PPF care? Start with a complete set and you have everything in one box.
Start Here — The Complete Set
Everything for the full ritual in one set, at a better price than buying individually. Choose the gloss or matte set to match your film finish.
PPF Protection Set incl. Carnauba wax (40 % Vol.) for foiled vehicles
PPF Protection Set Opaque incl. Carnauba wax (40 % Vol.) for foiled vehicles
DISCOVERY KIT OPAQUE
ENTRY COLLECTION OPAQUE incl. wax for matt painted vehicles
Step 1 — Wash
Always start clean. Wash the film with PPF-safe, pH-neutral Car Bath – free of aggressive solvents that can degrade adhesive edges over time. Use the two-bucket method, then dry streak-free with Ultra Dry to avoid water spots.
Step 2 — Correct (Gloss Film Only)
On glossy film, fine scratches, scuffs, light holograms, and stubborn water spots (lime and calcium deposits) can be removed. By hand, use Cleaner Fluid Regular or Cleaner Fluid Medium depending on severity; by machine, use Cleaner Fluid Professional Regular or Medium. All are PPF-compatible and tested on film. Work with light pressure to avoid overheating the film. Matte film is never polished – see the Opaque section below.
CLEANER FLUID REGULAR Hand car polish without abrasives
CLEANER FLUID MEDIUM Hand car polish against micro-scratches
CLEANER FLUID PROFESSIONAL REGULAR Machine car polishing compound
CLEANER FLUID PROFESSIONAL MEDIUM Machine car polishing compound
Step 3 — Seal
At the heart of the line is PPF Wax – a carnauba wax we make by hand in Fällanden, specifically for film-wrapped vehicles. With 40% Vol. carnauba, it seals the film, intensifies water beading, and protects against UV yellowing and contaminants. Durability: 6–9 months. Apply thin with a Cotton Applicator and buff off with a soft cloth.
Step 4 — Extra Protection (Optional)
Two ways to extend protection beyond the wax – choose one, don't combine them on the same surface. For maximum durability, add Keramiq9 on top of the wax layer: a water-based spray ceramic that delivers up to 12 months of hydrophobic protection on film, glass, plastic, and paint – apply one day after waxing, 30–60 minutes, no masking. Alternatively, refresh the wax with Lotos Speed after every hand wash to keep water beading strong. Do not apply Lotos Speed over Keramiq9.
Understanding PPF Care
Glossy and matte film need different routines, and the wrong product can permanently change the finish. Here's how to match the ritual to your film.
Tested on Real Film – Gloss and Matte
Every product in our PPF line is made to care for film without attacking it. In our own testing, our products have proven compatible with the most-used quality paint protection films on the market, and we have used them for years on our customers' vehicles – on both glossy and matte film. They are free of aggressive solvents and petroleum-based additives that can cloud film or attack its sensitive adhesive edges over time.
Gloss vs Matte Film – Polishing & Care
Glossy and matte film share the wash step but diverge afterwards. Glossy film can be polished for clarity and gloss – light scratches, scuffs, and holograms come out by hand with Cleaner Fluid Regular or Cleaner Fluid Medium, or by machine with Cleaner Fluid Professional Regular or Medium. Matte film must never be polished – a single shiny patch is irreversible. Strip old sealant and contaminants with Pre-Cleaner Opaque instead, and lift fingerprints between washes with Quick Finish Opaque.
Does Waxing Affect Your Film's Self-Healing?
No. Modern paint protection films heal fine scratches by themselves through warmth. PPF Wax lays down only a thin layer of carnauba on top – it does not seal or block the heat-activated topcoat, so the film's self-healing stays fully intact. You get the protection and water beading of a carnauba seal without giving up the self-healing the film was made for.
Keramiq9 or Lotos Speed – Two Ways to Extend Protection
Keramiq9 and Lotos Speed are two separate ways to extend protection – use one, not both on the same surface. Keramiq9 is a water-based spray ceramic that adds up to 12 months of hydrophobic protection on top of your carnauba wax layer; it works on PPF, glass, plastic, and paint, applies in 30–60 minutes without masking, and is best applied one day after waxing. Lotos Speed is the lighter alternative – a quick-detailing sealant you apply after each hand wash to refresh water beading; wait at least 3 hours after waxing before the first application. Do not layer Lotos Speed over Keramiq9.
Opaque — Matte Film & Matte Paint
Matte film and matte paint need dedicated products that clean and protect without adding gloss. The Swissvax Opaque line is formulated without gloss enhancers to preserve the satin character completely. Reapply Opaque Wax every 2–3 months; between washes, Quick Finish Opaque removes fingerprints and light contamination without water.
PPF Protection Set Opaque incl. Carnauba wax (40 % Vol.) for foiled vehicles
OPAQUE (40% Vol.) Carnauba Wax For Matte Paintwork
CAR BATH OPAQUE Shampoo concentrate for your satin matt paint finish
PRE-CLEANER OPAQUE Pre-Cleaner For Satin/Matte Paint Finishes
QUICK FINISH OPAQUE, Spot Cleaner For Satin/Matte Paint Finishes
DISCOVERY KIT OPAQUE
ENTRY COLLECTION OPAQUE incl. wax for matt painted vehicles
Microfiber Cloths, Applicators & Brushes
The right cloth and applicator make a measurable difference on film surfaces. Swissvax microfiber cloths are laser-cut to avoid scratchy edges, and each type is made for a specific step – washing, polishing, buffing, or drying. All cloths are machine washable and reusable.
MICRO-GLASS DUO SET white
MICRO-FLUFFY High Pile Detailing Towel
Waschpudel
MICRO-DIAMOND grey
DETAIL TOWEL white
MICRO-POLISH blue
MICRO-WASH yellow
MICRO-ABSORB pink
POLISHING PAD SOFT white
PPF Care and Protection
How to wash, polish, seal, and ceramic-coat glossy and matte paint protection film – with the right Swissvax product for each step.
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How Do You Wash Paint Protection Film Safely?
Standard car shampoos can leave residue on film surfaces or degrade adhesive edges over time. Wash PPF with a pH-neutral shampoo free of aggressive solvents. Car Bath is safe for all PPF types; for matte film, use Car Bath Opaque to clean without adding gloss.
Use the two-bucket method to keep dirt off the surface, then dry with a soft, absorbent towel to prevent water spots. A clean film is the foundation for every step that follows.
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Can You Polish Paint Protection Film?
Glossy PPF can be polished. Light scratches, scuffs, and holograms come out by hand with Cleaner Fluid Regular or Cleaner Fluid Medium, or by machine with Cleaner Fluid Professional Regular. Work with light pressure and a soft pad to avoid overheating the film.
Matte PPF must not be polished – it would create irreversible shiny patches. Use Pre-Cleaner Opaque instead to remove old sealant and contaminants while keeping the satin finish intact.
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How Often Should You Wax PPF?
Seal glossy film with PPF Wax (40% Vol. Carnauba), developed specifically for film-wrapped vehicles. It enhances water beading and protects against UV yellowing and contaminants, with a durability of 6–9 months – so re-waxing roughly two to three times a year keeps protection continuous.
For matte film, seal with Opaque Wax and reapply every 2–3 months to maintain protection and make future cleaning easier.
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Should You Apply Lotos Speed After Waxing PPF?
Yes. Lotos Speed adds an extra protective layer on top of the carnauba wax, intensifying water repellency and extending seal durability. Wait at least 3 hours after waxing before applying, so the wax has fully bonded with the film surface.
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Can You Apply a Ceramic Coating Over PPF?
Yes. Keramiq9 is a water-based spray ceramic sealer that adds up to 12 months of hydrophobic protection on top of your wax layer. It is compatible with all Swissvax waxes and polishes and works on PPF, glass, plastic, and paint.
Application takes 30–60 minutes without masking or multi-day curing, and the sealer can be renewed at any time in high-stress areas like the hood and fenders. For best results, apply one day after waxing.
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Does Matte PPF Need Different Products Than Gloss?
Yes. Matte film must never be polished or treated with gloss-enhancing products – a single shiny patch cannot be reversed. The Swissvax Opaque line is formulated entirely without shine additives to preserve the satin character.
Clean with Car Bath Opaque, seal with Opaque Wax, and for quick touch-ups between washes use Quick Finish Opaque, which removes fingerprints and light contamination without water.