Mastering Matte Paint Care: Keeping Your Flat Finish Flawless

Never wash matte paint in direct Aussie sun. The soap will dry too fast and leave water spots that are nearly impossible to remove without polishing (which we can't do!). Wait for the arvo or do it in the garage.

Check the panels with the back of your hand. If they're hot, hose the whole car down with cool water for 5 minutes first to bring the temp down.

Clean your wheels BEFORE the paint. Use a dedicated wheel bucket. If you do wheels last, you'll splash brake dust and grime onto your clean, matte paint.

If you've just come back from a trip through the Riverina or the bush, you'll have bug guts everywhere. Use a matte-safe bug remover on the front bar and let it sit for 3 minutes (don't let it dry).

Fill your 'Wash' bucket with water and the correct ratio of matte soap. Fill your 'Rinse' bucket with plain water. This 'Two Bucket Method' is non-negotiable for matte cars.

Blast the car thoroughly. Start from the top and work down. You want to get as much loose dirt, salt, and dust off as possible before you even think about touching the paint.

Cover the whole car in a thick layer of matte-safe snow foam. Let it dwell for 5-7 minutes. Watch the dirt slide off. This is the safest way to clean matte paint because it minimizes contact.

Pressure wash all that foam off. You'll be surprised how much cleaner the car looks already.

Dip your clean mitt into the soapy water, then gently glide it over a panel. Do NOT scrub. Use the weight of the mitt. Start at the roof and work down.

After every panel, thrash the mitt in the 'Rinse' bucket to get the dirt out, then go back to the 'Wash' bucket. This keeps your soap clean.

Wash in straight lines. No circular motions. If you happen to catch a stray bit of grit, a straight-line scratch is much easier to hide than a swirl mark.

Once a month, spray a matte-safe iron remover on the paint. If it turns purple, it's working. Rinse it off thoroughly after a few minutes.

Take the nozzle off the hose and let a gentle stream of water flow over the car. This 'sheeting' method helps the water run off, leaving less to dry.

Lay your large microfibre drying towel flat across the bonnet. Pat it gently. Pick it up. Move to the next spot. Do NOT drag the towel across the paint if you can avoid it.

Use your air blower to get water out of mirrors, door handles, and window seals. Those runs will leave white lime scale marks on matte paint that look terrible.

Don't forget the jams. Use a separate, slightly damp microfibre to wipe these down.

If you aren't ceramic coated, apply a matte-specific sealant like Dr. Beasley’s Matte Paint Sealant. Buff it off very gently with a high-GSM microfibre.

Clean your glass with a standard glass cleaner, but be careful not to overspray onto the matte paint. Spray the cloth, then wipe the glass.

Use a water-based, matte tyre dressing. A high-gloss 'wet look' tyre actually looks a bit weird against matte paint. Keep it classy and satin.

Walk around with a torch (your phone light is fine) and check for any remaining water spots or streaks. Use a matte detailer spray for any touch-ups.