Care Guide
Make the Magnet Outlast the Season
Almost every magnet that fails on the highway or marks the paint failed for the same two reasons: it went on dirty, and it never came off.
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The Short Version
Wash and dry both the door panel and the back of the magnet before the first application. Lay the magnet down flat from one edge so no air is trapped under it, and press it down across the whole face rather than only at the corners.
Take it off at least once a week. Wipe the panel and the back of the magnet, let both dry, then put it back. That single habit is what prevents the discoloration people blame on magnets, which is really grit and trapped moisture sitting against paint for months.
Take it off before you run the vehicle through a wash, and take it off before a long highway run if a corner has ever lifted. Rounded corners, an option on our vehicle magnets, cut that risk considerably.
Store it flat, graphic side up, or on a flat steel surface such as a filing cabinet. A magnet stored rolled or folded keeps the curve, and a curved magnet does not hold.
The Rules That Actually Matter
Clean and Dry Both Faces
Dirt under a magnet acts like sandpaper every time the vehicle moves. Wash and dry the panel and the magnet back before the first application.
Lay It, Do Not Slap It
Set one edge down and roll the rest flat so no air pocket is trapped. An air pocket is a lifted corner waiting for highway speed.
Remove It Weekly
Off, wipe, dry, back on. This is the whole maintenance routine, and it is the difference between paint that is fine and paint that is not.
Flat Steel Only
Aluminum, fiberglass, and plastic panels hold nothing. A curved or creased panel holds only part of the sheet, which is where lift begins.
Off Before the Car Wash
High pressure jets get under an edge. Pull the magnet first, wash the vehicle, dry the panel, then put it back.
Store It Flat
Flat on a shelf graphic side up, or stuck to a filing cabinet. Never rolled, never folded, never creased.
Daily Service Use
On for the work day, off in the evening, paint untouched.
Part Time Branding
The reason to buy a magnet instead of a wrap.
First Application, Step by Step
Wash and Dry the Panel
Clean the door with soap and water, rinse, and dry it completely. Wax and polish residue reduce the hold, so skip them under the magnet.
Wipe the Magnet Back
Wipe the back of the magnet with a clean damp cloth and dry it. New magnets can carry production dust.
Set One Edge, Roll It Down
Place one edge on the flat steel and lower the rest across the panel so no air is trapped, then press the whole face down, edges last.
Check It After the First Drive
Pull over after the first highway run and confirm every corner is still flat. If a corner lifted, the panel is not flat enough there or the magnet needs rounded corners.
Care at a Glance
- Before first use
- Wash and dry both the panel and the magnet back. No wax or polish under the magnet.
- Removal frequency
- At least weekly. Wipe both surfaces, let them dry, reapply.
- Washing
- Remove the magnet before any pressure wash or automatic car wash.
- Storage
- Flat, graphic side up, or on a flat steel surface. Never rolled or folded.
- Surfaces
- Flat steel only. Aluminum, fiberglass, plastic, and heavily creased panels will not hold.
- Corners
- Rounded corners add $10.70 to a single magnet and $21.40 to a pair on our vehicle magnets and resist lift at highway speed.
- Replacement
- Reprints are produced in 48 hours, from $64.19 for an 18 inch by 12 inch.
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These products can be configured and ordered directly, with proofs before production.
Recent Projects
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Magnet Care FAQ
At least once a week. Take it off, wipe both the door panel and the back of the magnet, let both dry, and put it back on. Magnets left in place for months are the ones that trap grit and moisture against the paint.
Take them off first. High pressure water gets under an edge, and once an edge lifts the rest follows. Wash the vehicle, dry the panel, then reapply.
Almost always a lifted corner or a panel that is not truly flat. Air catches the raised edge and peels the sheet. Make sure the magnet sits entirely on flat steel with no trapped air, and order rounded corners on any vehicle that runs at highway speed.
Not on its own. Discoloration comes from grit and moisture held against the paint for a long time, plus the fact that the covered area does not weather at the same rate as the paint around it. Weekly removal and a wipe down prevents both.
Flat, graphic side up, in a dry place at normal room temperature, or stuck to a flat steel surface like a filing cabinet. Never roll or fold a magnet, because the curve stays and a curved magnet will not hold.
Sometimes. Lay it flat on a steel surface, graphic side up, and leave it for a few days at room temperature. If the curve stays, replace it, because a magnet that does not sit flat will not hold at speed. Reprints are produced in 48 hours from $64.19.
Need a Replacement Set?
Send us the artwork or the previous order and we will reprint it in 48 hours. Call (210) 293-5651 or email orders@inline.graphics.