Matte paint on cars has become an increasingly popular trend that creates an aesthetic edge to vehicles. Unfortunately, matte finish paint can be easily damaged and expensive to maintain over time.
Avoid scratching your matte-finished car by using cleaning products designed specifically for its care, as well as avoiding automatic car washes with aggressive brushes and large mechanized towels.
Durability
Manufacturers and aftermarket shops offering matte paint describe it as being durable while needing additional care and maintenance to stay looking new. Pennington of Meguiar’s notes that matte clear coats don’t wear out faster than regular car paint but should be protected against harsh cleaners that could damage its finish or cause water spots.
Dish soap can be an aggressive enemy to matte finishes, as its formulation is meant to strip grease and oils off dishes while being too aggressive for cars. Many car wash solutions also contain wax that may break down matte paint over time and leave its finish looking dull.
Special cleaners, waxes, and clay bar treatments specifically formulated to preserve matte finishes are necessary in order to safeguard them. Hand washing should always be chosen when possible as most drive-thru car washes use large mechanized “towels” that will harm matte finishes.
Scratching
No matter if you prefer matte paint finishes or not, it’s important to remember that maintaining them may be more challenging. A single scratch will be more noticeable on matte-painted cars while rejuvenation methods like wet sanding or polishing won’t provide as effective results.
Matte clear coat paint can be more susceptible to contaminants, so it is wise to avoid taking your vehicle through drive-thru car washes where rotating brushes can damage its finish.
To protect its matte finish, washing it regularly with pH-neutral soap and soft sponge or wash mitt is the safest approach. Dry your car carefully after each washing session to avoid water spots and streaks. Cloud10 protective matte car coating can save time, reduce maintenance costs and preserve resale value. It bonds with clear coat to form an impenetrable shield that repels dirt while offering UV damage resistance.
Color Matching
Matte automobile paint finishes are becoming an increasingly popular trend. While their low-gloss, blackout look can make any car stand out, matte paint jobs also pose some unique challenges for owners; such as looking “primered,” more costly than conventional jobs and needing cleaning products with matte finishes or professional detailing services that specialize in them.
Care must also be taken when washing matte paint jobs to prevent friction burnishing the finish and creating shiny spots that cannot be fixed. Automated car washes using harsh abrasive brushes or chemical-filled solutions can easily damage glossy paint finishes; to preserve them use hand soaps with mild suds instead and never use abrasive cloths or sponges before rinsing in clean water after each application of snow foam if you find any dirt stuck to your vehicle before cleaning with regular soapy water rinsing!
Maintenance
Cars with matte paint finishes can be more costly, and so to properly care for it a detailer must invest in special care products and techniques. Some do’s and don’ts of maintaining matte finishes include using pressure washers sparingly to avoid etching or scratching paint surfaces, quickly cleaning bird droppings or contaminants off, and applying protective sealants or film coatings as soon as they appear.
Kia suggests using pH-neutral shampoo and soft sponge or wash mitt for washing vehicles with matte paint finishes, in addition to an automatic car wash as tough nylon bristles from spinning brushes can damage or scratch the finish. When drying off, use a clean chamois leather to help avoid water spots that might appear on matte finishes; or spray matte wax/sealant as added protection against contaminants and UV rays.
