There’s nothing like hitting the desert or off-road trails to do some good old 4x4’ing, Flagstaff-style. Honestly, there’s no way to describe it to someone who hasn’t experienced it for themselves.
However, the 4x4 areas around Flagstaff, AZ, can be very unforgiving. That’s why only the best bedliners can stand up to the rough elements.
While having a LINE-X bedliner will save your truck, it’s important to understand how to keep them clean. If you recently installed or are you’re thinking about getting LINE-X protective coatings for any of your vehicles, use this guide for the best ways to clean and maintain them.
What to Know About Your LINE-X Coating
Your LINE-X coating can stand up to almost anything - that’s how tough it is. However, there are a few important things to remember after purchasing your LINE-X bedliner. Let’s go over the strong points of this LINE-X application and some important care tips.
- Waterproof
Remember, your bedliner is waterproof. There’s no need to hold back if you’re traveling through any type of aquatic environment! If you do get standing water in the bed of your truck, all you need to do is park it on a hill and let it roll out, then let it air dry. After that, you’re good to go. Whether it’s an Arizona monsoon or a weekend at the lake, there’s no type of water activities that these liners can’t handle. We encourage you to put any LINE-X products to the test!
- Warranty
Your LINE-X bedliner comes with a lifetime warranty. This means that any time after your purchase, if you’re unsatisfied or the liner becomes damaged in any way, LINE-X is on the hook for a full replacement. They’ll cover the cost of the materials and the labor for the installation. That’s how confident they are about the durability of their products. It’s important to note that human error won’t cover the replacement of these materials. For example: If you disregard the 24-hour waiting period after having the materials installed on your truck.
- Withstanding Temperatures
We know it’s hot in Flagstaff. However, we don’t think you can put LINE-X products through the temperatures they can withstand. These liners are made to be able to go through temperatures of up to 250 degrees. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a place hot enough to damage these things. Even when the Flagstaff sun is beaming down from the highest point in the sky, these liners will stand up to the damage. If you can find a place hot enough to damage these liners, you won’t live to talk about it.
- Wait 24-Hours
One of the most important things to remember is the wait after the liner is installed. Remember, you always need to wait for 24 hours before you put anything on the liner. This is important to ensure you don’t damage the installation. An error like this is the only time the warranty won’t cover the damage done to the liner.
How to Clean LINE-X
There are two ways to clean a LINE-X liner, and both are fairly simple. The first can be done with routine items you have lying around your home. The second you’ll need a pressure washer for. Depending on how dirty your liner is, one of these solutions will work just fine for cleaning.
Soap and Water
Get a bucket and line the bottom of it with normal soap. Dawn dish-washing detergent works well. Fill the bucket up with warm water until you start getting suds. Use a harder-bristled brush to scrub the back of your bed. This ensures that all the dirt and grime stuck in the crevices will break free. When you’re done, spray the liner with a steady stream of water to rinse. Allow the area to air-dry.
It’s important that you use a brush with hard bristles. The materials used to install these liners are very coarse and gritty. You need to use a material that’s somewhat corrosive that is strong enough to break the debris free from the surface.
Pressure Washing
You can also use a pressure washer to clean your bedliner.
- Prepare your pressure washer with your desired cleaning solution. Use a generous amount if your liner is especially dirty.
- Use the water-only setting to spray the back of your truck to break any debris-free before washing. Make sure to spray thoroughly, ensuring to break free most of the dirt that gets stuck to the liner.
- Switch to the soap-setting and spray down the bed of the truck. Move in a circular motion up and down the duration of the bed. Don’t be afraid to use LOTS of soap and water.
- Scrub the bedliner with a brush to clean the remainder of the area. This will work to free the rest of the materials that are stuck to the surface of the liner.
- Switch back to the water setting and rinse the bed off. Move from the front of the truck to the back, allowing the water to run off the bed of the truck. Allow it to air dry.
Now, what about maintaining your bedliner?
5 Steps to Maintain LINE-X
Use the following five tips to maintain your LINE-X product.
- Remove Excess Debris
Whenever there is excess material in the back of the truck, you should always remove it. This includes dirt, sand, gravel, or other material that may get in the back of the truck. You can easily sweep these things out and onto the ground.
It doesn’t matter what the materials are, they should always be removed from the bed of your truck. This will help maintain a clean look for your LINE-X coating.
- Routine Cleaning
Maintain your liner by performing a routine cleaning on it every so often. This includes the application of soap and water, using one of the methods mentioned above. Complete this task once every couple of weeks or when the bed gets especially dirty.
If you allow dirt and grime to stick to the surface, it’s possible that these things could stain your liner. This is why routine cleaning every so often is important.
- Use a Pressure Washer for Tough Dirt
When there is hard to clean dirt in the back of your truck, you can use a pressure washer to help break this free. The force behind the water will help loosen up any dirt or grime that gets stuck to the material.
It’s quite possible that at some point, you will need to use a pressure washer. The surface of your liner is good at allowing things to stick to them, so you’ll need some power if it’s dirty enough.
- Clean Chemical Spills ASAP
Cleaning chemicals are mandatory when they come in contact with the bed of your truck. This can include simple chemicals like oil or gas. Some chemicals may require a certain procedure to efficiently clean them up. Follow whatever instructions are best, based on the material that is spilled on the liner.
We can’t stress enough how important it is to remove chemical spills from your liner. These can permanently damage their cosmetic look, and that’s something you definitely don’t want.
- Inspect the Liner
Do a thorough inspection of the liner after you’re done cleaning. Additionally, you should inspect it even when you haven’t cleaned it. This will ensure that the liner is staying in good shape and there are no cracks or major damage. Move up and down the duration of the bed of your truck, checking the liner for any signs of major wear or damage.
If you notice any issues or problems with the liner, remember, the materials are covered under a lifetime warranty. Contact your distributor or local LINE-X dealer that installed your materials if you notice anything significant.
Northern Arizona’s Official LINE-X Installer
When you expose your truck to the elements of the Arizona sun and sand, you need the best bedliner that life has to offer. Even if you’re just the average working person who carries his tools of the trade, you still need something heavy that’s going to protect the bed of your truck.
When you need this type of heavy-duty protection for your recreation or work vehicle, there’s only one acceptable solution: Come down and see the crew at Flagstaff Collision.
Flagstaff Collision Center is the premier LINE-X distributor in the area, and we’d be happy to give you a quote for your vehicle. The best part is all of our quotes are 100% free. When you’re ready to pull the trigger and get some real protection for your vehicle, contact us here, and we’d be glad to assist you