Car Care for Satin Paint & Matte Wrap
As car enthusiasts, we try to learn what works best, and what creates the most shine and depth of color on a vehicle's paint surface. But as we continue through our journey as car junkies, we tend to stumble upon certain situations where the vehicle might demand something completely different from what we usually learn. For example satin paint, or matt car wraps. Vehicles with this type of paint require the complete opposite of what we are used to doing. These types of paint surfaces require us to avoid creating shine and depth of color to show it off under the sun. So how do we properly care for satin paint, and matt car wraps?
As the detailing industry progresses in technology, we have come to create specialized products for satin paint, and matt car wraps car care. But the question is “Where are these specialized products?”. Surprisingly there are only 2 companies that I have been able to find that created products to help owners of these types of paint surfaces; Chemical Guys, and Dr.Beasleys. Both of these companies have come out with products to help owners, and detailers care for vehicles with satin finishes.
Chemical Guys came out with a product known as “Meticulous Matt Auto Wash for Crisp Satin & Matte Finishes”, and Dr. Beasley’s “Matt Body Wash”. Both of these products were specially formulated to care for satin surfaces. But only Dr.Beasley’s truly focuses on specializing in satin paint and wrap care. They even go as far as creating satin paint/Matt wrap surface decontamination product!!! So the next question becomes “What are the Do’s and Don’t of satin paint, and Matt car wrap care?”.
Do’s:
• Use products dedicated to caring for satin-painted surfaces and matt car wraps.
• Use soft and plush microfiber wash mitts and microfiber towels to minimize as much scratching as possible.
• Either use the 2 bucket method or use a foam cannon to help lift as many contaminants as possible from the vehicle surface.
• Wash vehicle more frequently than a normal paint vehicle to help prevent contaminants from embedding themselves into the satin paint.
Don’t:
• Do not buff/polish, or wax satin surfaces. Polishing, waxing, and coatings are designed to enhance the gloss of the paint surface by using these products on a satin surface ultimately altering the appearance and possibly even damaging its initial look of it.
• Do not use an automatic car wash. Even though we all know that using an automatic car wash is taboo in our industry, using it on satin paint, or matt car wraps is a super NO, NO!!! The reason for this is because the scratches and swirl marks caused by the automatic car wash will be even more visible than on gloss paint and not only that but doing so with a wrap will cause the wrap to be damaged or worse rip off of the original vehicle surface.
• Do not use dish detergent or rough cloths to wash satin paint. Dish detergent is a type of degreaser, which is too aggressive and rough-textured cloths can aggressively damage the surface appearance.
• Do not clay bar matt/satin surfaces. Clay bars were created to decontaminate and prep the surface of gloss paint like single stage, and clear coat for the purpose of polishing and waxing. Dr.Beasley’s makes a dedicated product for decontaminating the paint surface of satin/matt paint and wraps without the rough damaging properties of a clay bar. An Iron remover for satin paint so to speak.
• Stay away from the seams of car wraps. When washing wraps they will have an end to them on the surface of a vehicle. If you wash towards the seams you are potentially shoving dirt and grime into the gaps causing the possibility of the wrap from separating from the original surface of the vehicle.
So hopefully now you know and understand how to care for satin paint, and matt car wraps, you can be prepped and ready to tackle the job when it arrives at your front door.
Happy Detailing!!!
By. Esau Cotto Jr.
Disclaimer: Due to factors beyond the control of Oh My Auto Detailing, Beginner Detailing, & Esau Cotto Jr, we cannot guarantee against improper use or unauthorized modifications of this information. Oh my auto Detailing, Beginner Detailing, & Esau Cotto Jr. assumes no liability for property damage or injury.
