The Ultimate Matte Paint Care and Maintenance Guide

Before applying any water or chemicals, check the surface temperature of the panels. In 40°C+ weather, matte paint can reach 70°C. If the panels are hot to the touch, move the vehicle to a shaded area and allow it to cool for at least 60 minutes. Applying products to a hot matte surface causes instant evaporation, leading to chemical staining that is nearly impossible to remove without professional intervention.

Prepare your foam cannon and wash buckets. For the foam cannon, use a ratio of 1:10 (shampoo to water). For the wash bucket, use 30ml of matte-specific shampoo per 10L of water. Always use lukewarm or cool water; never hot water, as it can soften any existing matte sealants.

Rinse the ground around the vehicle. This prevents the pressure washer from kicking up red dust or sand back onto the wet paint during the wash process. In windy coastal conditions, ensure you are shielded from salt spray if possible.

Walk around the vehicle and identify bird droppings, bat guano, or large bug splatters. Do not attempt to scrub these during the wash. Pre-soak these specific spots with a matte-safe detailer for 5 minutes prior to the main rinse to chemically soften the proteins.

Using a pressure washer at a distance of 30-45cm, rinse the vehicle from the top down. Focus on wheel arches and crevices where red dust and salt accumulate. This step must remove 90% of loose debris to prevent scratches during the contact wash. Avoid using a concentrated stream on plastic trim.

Apply a thick layer of matte-safe snow foam to the entire vehicle. Let it dwell for 4-6 minutes, but do not allow it to dry. The foam is designed to encapsulate fine dust particles and lift them out of the matte 'valleys.' In high heat, work one side of the car at a time if necessary.

Rinse the snow foam thoroughly. You should see a significant reduction in surface grittiness. For matte finishes, this 'double rinse' (before and after foam) is critical because the paint's texture is highly abrasive to dirt, which can easily turn into sandpaper under a wash mitt.

Using the two-bucket method (one soap, one rinse), gently wipe the surface with a clean microfibre mitt. Use straight-line motions only; never circular motions, which create 'swirl marks' that appear as shiny halos on matte paint. Rinse the mitt in the clear water bucket after every panel.

If bugs or tar remains, use a dedicated matte-safe bug remover. Apply to a microfibre cloth first, then dab the area. Never use a 'bug sponge' or abrasive pad, as these will permanently polish the matte finish into a gloss spot.

Remove the nozzle from your hose or use a low-pressure setting to 'flood' the panels. This encourages the water to sheet off, reducing the amount of physical drying required. This is particularly effective if you have used a matte-safe shampoo with sheeting agents.

Instead of dragging a towel across the paint (which causes friction and glossing), lay a large microfibre drying towel flat across a panel and 'pat' it to absorb water. For intricate areas like mirrors and grilles, use a dedicated car blower or compressed air to avoid drips that cause water spots.

Spray a matte-safe prep spray (isopropyl alcohol-based but formulated for matte) onto a clean microfibre to remove any remaining oil or soap film. This ensures the surface is chemically 'pure' before applying protection.

Apply a matte-specific spray sealant or ceramic 'booster.' Spray onto an applicator pad, wipe onto a 50x50cm section, and buff off immediately. This provides the necessary UV blockers to prevent the Australian sun from fading the pigment in the paint.

Clean wheels with a non-acidic cleaner. When applying tyre dressing, choose a 'matte' or 'natural' finish water-based dressing. Avoid high-gloss silicone dressings, as 'sling' onto matte paint is difficult to remove and looks unsightly against the flat body finish.