Matte Paint Care Myths: DEBUNKED!

Matte finishes are more popular on cars than ever, yet many myths still persist around this unique kind of automotive paint. Is it really that hard to take care of matte finishes? Are they really less durable than gloss? Do they even have clear coat? In this article, we’ll take a look at a few of the most common myths about matte finishes out there and debunk them some cold, hard facts. Let’s dig in. 

Myth #1: Matte Finishes Are Hard to Care for

Matte finishes are not hard to take care of, assuming you’re comfortable with basic car care like washing and occasional spot cleaning. In fact, if you think about it, matte finishes are actually easier to care for. Here’s why:

  • You don’t have to polish matte finishes. Matte finishes appear matte because they have a textured finish that scatters light in all directions, preventing a distinct reflection from appearing. If you were to polish matte, that texture would be smoothed out, resulting in a reflective gloss. 
  • Matte finishes hide imperfections. Because matte finishes don’t reflect like gloss finishes, paint defects are less noticeable. Small scratches won’t show up as much because they’re disrupting a hazy sheen as opposed to a distinct reflection. 
  • You don’t have to use elbow grease on matte. Because matte finishes require texture to scatter light, they’re sensitive to any excessive rubbing that could flatten the texture. Therefore, you never want to wipe a matte finish too hard — instead, it’s better to break down contaminants or stains with a chemical solution so they can be wiped away without rubbing. Much easier!


Myth #2: You Can Use Dish Soap to Clean Matte Finishes

You should never use dish soap to clean a matte finish. It won’t damage the paint immediately, but it will wear on the finish over time and can even add gloss. The fact is, dish soap is designed for one thing: stripping grease from dishes. That’s too aggressive for a car wash, which is all about removing loose dirt and grime. 

The other problem? Dish soap contains moisturizing oils designed to keep your skin soft while washing dishes. That’s not good for matte, as oils act as a filling agent that smoothes out the texture, creating a glossier finish than the original appearance. For those reasons, it’s an absolute myth that dish soap can be used to clean a matte finish. 

Myth #3: Products for Gloss Finishes are Compatible with Matte Finishes

Wrong! Brands that make detailing products for glossy finishes will often claim that their products are compatible with matte finishes, saying they “darken” or “enrich” the paint’s appearance. In reality, that “darkening” is altering the OEM factory appearance of the matte finish and adding a gloss. If you want to keep that original matte finish, you need to use products that maintain the finish rather than adding gloss, no matter how the brand you’re buying from spins it. 

Myth #4: Matte Products Turn Glossy Finishes Matte

Not true — products made for matte finishes will not turn glossy finishes matte. Products designed for matte finishes like Dr. Beasley’s are formulated to preserve the existing appearance of a vehicle’s finish as opposed to adding gloss. This means that no matter what finish you use matte products on, the finish will be preserved in its original appearance. Matte will stay matte, satin will stay satin and glossy will stay glossy. 

Myth #5: Matte and Satin Finishes Should Be Treated Differently

Incorrect. When it comes to car care, matte and satin finishes should be treated exactly the same. With any non-gloss finish, the same principle applies — appearance preservation. 

Obviously with a glossy finish, you want it to look as shiny as possible. With anything less than  gloss (semi-gloss, eggshell, satin, whatever) however you want to maintain that level of light diffusion, as that’s what the paint was made to look like. So while the words you’re using to describe the finish might be different, for the purpose of maintenance matte and satin are the same. 

Myth #6: Matte Finishes Are Less Durable Than Gloss Finishes

Matte finishes are not less durable than gloss finishes. Matte finishes have the same protective clear coat that gloss finishes have, the only difference being the textured finish that produces the matte look. 

Myth #7: Matte Finishes Don’t Have Clear Coat

Does matte paint have a clear coat? Yes, matte paint finishes do have a clear coat — especially OEM matte finishes. That’s because paint needs clear coat in order to withstand environmental hazards like UV rays and acidic contaminants. 

So where does this myth come from? It might have something to do with aftermarket matte finishes. Many aftermarket matte finish paint jobs are single stage, especially the “rattle can” matte black paint you’ll see on “rat rod” style hot rod builds. But when it comes to factory matte paint finishes from major OEMs like Hyundai, they’ll always have a clear coat. 

Myth #8: Matte Finishes Are Only for Luxury, Exotic or Sports Cars

Obviously untrue. While this myth may have been accurate back in the day when matte finishes were largely limited to aftermarket paintwork, these days there are a lot of matte finish options for everyday car buyers. Matte finishes can now be seen on mid-range vehicles like Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 and Kia’s EV6, in addition to BMW, Mercedes and other high end marques. As time goes on, you’ll likely see more and more matte finishes on non-luxury cars. 

Myth #9: The Dealership Will Know How to Care for My Matte Finish

Unfortunately not always true. Dealerships have different incentives than auto detailers — they’re about selling cars, not caring for them. In a lot of cases, the OEM hasn’t even provided the dealership’s detailer(s) with proper matte finish care training. 

That’s not to say every dealership is helpless when it comes to matte; Hyundai for example has done a great job educating their dealerships on matte finish care. We’re more saying to do your own research, and if necessary, seek out a qualified professional detailer for your matte finish care needs. 


Let’s recap:

  1. Matte finishes are not hard to care for. 
  2. Dish soap should never be used to clean matte paint. 
  3. Products made for glossy finishes are not compatible with matte finishes. 
  4. Products made for matte finishes don’t turn glossy finishes matte. 
  5. For the purposes of care, matte and satin finishes should be treated the same. 
  6. Matte finishes are just as durable as gloss finishes.
  7. Most matte finishes do have clear coat. 
  8. Matte finishes aren’t just for luxury cars and are available on many “daily driver” vehicles.
  9. Dealerships don’t always know how to care for matte finishes.

At the end of the day, matte isn’t as scary as people make it out to be. Most of people’s fears and misunderstandings come from the fact that caring for these finishes is a little different than gloss. If you can just remember it’s different care as opposed to difficult care, things will be a lot easier. 

Hopefully that cleared up some of your big matte misconceptions! If you have any other matte myths you’d like cleared up, chime in using the comments below and let us know. 

70 thoughts on “Matte Paint Care Myths: DEBUNKED!

  1. J says:

    Thank you for this writeup!

    How soon should we get bugs and bird droppings off our car? Being in Florida, this is a concern because it happens often. Obviously you don’t want to let anything sit there for too long, but would a couple of days be fine?

    Down here, bugs and bird droppings are almost a daily occurance.

    • Dr. Beasley's says:

      J,

      I certainly understand your concern being in Florida. Simply put, you really want to avoid allowing the substance (bugs, sap, bird droppings) to harden. If it does harden, you’re really going to have a tough time trying to get whatever it is off with Matte Final Finish. In that case you’ll have to get Matte Paint Cleanser out during the car’s next wash to remove anything stubborn. Bottom line, if bugs are on the surface for a day or two it’s not going to ruin the paint, but we do recommend removing anything from the surface as soon as you can.

      Just remember to always keep your matte finish protected and you’ll be okay. Hope this helps!

      – James

      • Dave says:

        You talk about using the Matte Paint Cleanser to clean off stubborn dirt, bugs, etc. Is it ever OK to use a clay bar on a matte finish? What about the various iron cut products out there that remove iron particles that have embedded themselves in the clear cut over time?

        • Dr. Beasley's says:

          Dave,

          Don’t use a clay bar on matte paint. The fine imperfections will basically grate the clay bar like a block of cheese. We did a test with medium grade clay and it didn’t look pretty. As far as iron cut products, I cannot say. I wouldn’t recommend it simply because we haven’t tried it, but this is something I am going to look into with our Production team.

          Hope this helps, and don’t hesitate to let me know if you have further questions.

          James

          • Bilal Mueid says:

            Hi just wanted to ask a question how do you fix the gasoline spill on mayte black paints. Thanks

          • Dr. Beasley's says:

            Hi Bilal,
            Thanks for reaching out to us. We’ve successfully used Matte Paint Cleanser (http://goo.gl/gJvRRs) to remove gasoline stains from matte paint. You’ll want to spray the product on the stain and let it sit for 5 minutes without letting it dry. If you see it drying, just spray a little more. Once the 5 minutes is up, take a clean, soft microfiber towel and gently but firmly wipe the product off the paint. It may take multiple applications of the cleanser to completely restore your matte paint. After your paint is clean, definitely protect it with Matte Paint Coating (http://goo.gl/W7AbcT) to prevent future stains. If you have any other questions, feel free to email us at myteam@drbeasleys.com.
            -Dr. Beasley’s Team

          • Mike says:

            Reviving this thread – not sure if it is still active. I have the full suite of Dr. Beasley Matte paint products including Matte Decon which I tried to use to get rid of orange iron specks on my SVO Satin paint job – is the Matte Decon product safe for multiple applications? My initial few attempts to use Decon did not yet clean the fallout stain.

  2. Range says:

    What if you dont have a wash bay where you live, should you be taking it to the wash bays and avoiding the drive throughs?

    • Dr. Beasley's says:

      Range,

      Thanks for reading and your comment! I assume you’re talking about washing a matte car, in which case you have a few options. First is to find a reputable hand car wash that will use the appropriate products (more and more are popping up everyday). Second, yes, a wash bay would work fine so long as you avoid using the chemicals and tools they provide (you never know what’s in there). Lastly, just wash in your driveway – obviously this weighs heavily on where you live and the weather.

      There are other options that professionals use, such as inflatable wash bays, but this can be tough to get into your garage depending on the available space. At the end of the day, don’t bring it through a drive-through car wash. The brushes, the chemicals – none of it is good for matte paint, but interestingly enough, it’s terrible for glossy paint, too.

      The choice is up to you. Let me know if you have anymore questions!

      James

    • Dr. Beasley's says:

      Savy,

      It depends on the shop you go to, but some will not use clear coats. Instead, you’ll find a single stage paint job. No factory would do this and be able to sell the car.

      All matte clear coats are different, too. Some produce more glare/sheen than others, while some are absolutely dead flat. No matte is alike.

      Hope this helps clarify a bit more!

      Thanks for reading,

      James

  3. danny550 says:

    are there any products you would recommend keeping in the car to use right away for cleaning like birdpoop for example?

  4. cousinboy says:

    is it ok to use any clear coat over the paint once you use an additive for no shine ? or is there a specific clear coat for the paint.also i noticed a particular brand of “matte clear” claiming that everything is already mixed into there clear coat, so its just to spray on. do you have to use hardener as well when spraying the clear. looking forward to a video on how to mix the clear coat/

    • Dr. Beasley's says:

      As long as the paint has been sealed there’s no reason to immediately wash the car after it rains. Our Matte Paint Sealant will help prevent waterspots from forming and the barrier it provides makes cleaning those that do form much easier. My recommendation would be to make sure the car is sealed and wash the car at least once a month and you should be fine.

      • JRJalapeno says:

        Awesome thanks! I was just worried about acid rain because I live in Pa. If I want to be extra careful, can I use your finishing spray after it rains to remove any water spots? Sounds like a quick solution between washes.

  5. JRJalapeno says:

    One last question :). Can the finishing spray be used to clean the car after a rain storm if I don’t have time to wash it? I get acidic rain. Thx again for everything. You guys are an amazing company with unsurpassed customer service. I never would have had the courage to buy a matte car without you. You have a customer for life.

    • Dr. Beasley's says:

      Thank you for your kind words! We are more than happy to help. To answer your question…

      Yes. You could use Matte Final Finish to touchup the entire car, but at that point it may actually be easier (and slightly more beneficial) to just wash it. Since your finish experiences acid rain, the most important thing to do is keep the finish protected at all times.

      As always, let us know if anything comes up!

  6. Joseph O. says:

    Just bought a Hyundai Veloster Turbo, Matte gray. Came with the full matte wash kit and was surprised to see a letter from the president of Beasley… Jim… signed ink personally and a 10% discount on the next kit! That was an awesome touch… I’m blown a way at all the little surprises that I keep finding with the car. I will definitely be buy another kit once the fist one runs out.

    • Dr. Beasley's says:

      Congrats on the Veloster! We’d love to hear what you think of the products after you get a chance to wash and seal the car. We also have larger sizes of everything included in the kit. So if you, say, run out of Matte Body Wash we have quarts and gallons available. The discount you received is valid for 10% off your entire next order so get whatever you like! As an aside, we’d love to see some photos of the car, post a couple photos on our facebook when you get a chance so we can take a look.

      -Andrew @ Dr. Beasley’s

    • Dr. Beasley's says:

      Absolutely, Todd! Our Matte Paint Prescription works great on dipped cars, wrapped cars, and matte painted cars. You get the same cleaning ability, same protection, and same convenience regardless of the finish.

      Hope this helps!

      • Todd says:

        Thanks for your reply, just had another question, can I use the matte cleaner and sealant on wheels with matte paint? Instead of your matte wheel cleaner and sealant? Thanks

  7. Mrjoe says:

    If I suspect my finish had been treated with some other product that contained silicone or waxes, is there anything I can use to “de-wax” the finish prior to using your products?

  8. MRALBERTO1 says:

    Hi, I have a matte white BMW and some brown tree sap from a magnolia tree seeped onto my car while I was at work and had the consistency of spilt soda, it had not dried at all and i was able to take it off with a soft sponge and and a little soapy water, but now there appears to be a tea stained drip on the car (its about a 6×8 space) and I can’t figure out how to get this out? What could I do????

    • Dr. Beasley's says:

      Hey MRALBERTO1, sorry to hear about the stain. Good thing you got to the sap as soon as you did. Without seeing the car I can’t say for sure, but we’ve had success with getting sap stains out before with our Matte Paint Cleanser. You’ll want to spray it on there, let it dwell (not dry) and wipe it off with a microfiber cloth. Repeat as necessary if the stain is still there. The Cleanser is formulated for matte paint so it won’t hurt the paint, but it’s more aggressive than just soap and water so it will have a much better chance.

      Hope this helps!

      http://www.drbeasleys.com/matte-paint-cleanser.html

  9. Abhishek Teki says:

    Hello there.

    I’ve got my car painted with matte black but I don’t find the shine that I usually see on the pictures found on internet of real matte finished cars. Is there anything that I can do now to get the shine on matte finish? Please help me. Thanks in advance

  10. robert says:

    I have a factory painted Thunderbird Storm that had a sticker on the tank. I pealed the sticker off and it left an imprint on the matte finish. I can’t feel any residue if I run my finger over it, but I can definitely see its outline. What would be something that could fix this?

    • Dr. Beasley's says:

      @disqus_DcZYfsJkId:disqus I understand your concern 100% We’ve come across issues like this before. What you’ll want is to use is Matte Paint Cleanser (http://www.drbeasleys.com/matte-paint-cleanser.html). This is a matte specific degreaser and deep cleanser. Spot spray it where it’s needed one place at a time. Allow it to dwell for a few minutes (up to 10 min) while continuing to saturate it so it doesn’t dry. Then wipe away with a microfiber towel. The cleanser is designed to break down that adhesive and in 1, 2, or 3 applications of MPC, it should soften enough to be removed easily.

  11. kenneth_moore says:

    James, I know this article has been posted a while, but its still helping people like me. I’ve just picked up a new YAMAHA FJ, and it has a stunning matte-grey paint scheme that truly makes the bike. The owners manual had warnings about the paint and referred me to the dealership; the dealership had no answers. Thank you for explaining the “details” on matte; and thank heaven I found this before I ruined my bike with the wrong paint-care products.

  12. Butch S. says:

    Hi. I had a dent repaired on my matte black Vespa and the repair shop rubbed a polishing compound (by hand) into the dent area after they finished. The area is now shinier than the rest of the scooter. Is there any way to correct this so the area has a matte look again (ie a product that will remove the polishing compound safely)? Thanks.

    • Dr. Beasley's says:

      Hey Butch, sorry to hear you’re having trouble with your paint. Unfortunately, polishing compounds contain abrasives which can cause real damage to the finish. These types of products will actually smooth out the paint itself, reducing the “texture” of the paint and allowing more light to reflect off the surface.

      Sometimes we see people using nonabrasive products that contain wax or silicone, and generally we can remove these with our Matte Paint Cleanser. But if it was an abrasive compounding product they used then there’s nothing you can do except to respray/repaint the affected area.

      Let me know if you have any other questions.

  13. GratefulOne says:

    Is there a way to make a matte paint look deeper in color and glossy? I have a Chevy truck with a camaflouge paint job I love on it in matte….. Thanks!!!

  14. Andrew Workman says:

    I am considering purchasing an MB GLA250 with their Mountain Gray Mango Matte finish. Do you have any pre-purchase advice; i.e., additional features to purchase?, treatments to insure are applied?, “incompatible” features to be avoided?, suggestions for inside color schemes, suggestions for wheel rims that are best or should be avoided? Thank you so much and your support is appreciated. If I go forward with this specific purchase, I will likely once again see your advice for caring for a matte finish, though that does seem addressed well in your article herein. Again, thanks for the help.

  15. RED707HP says:

    will any of the MATTE products hurt the rest of the paint on the car, like on a 2015 HELL CAT, the hood is MATTE but not the rest of the car.

  16. ITM ITM says:

    Thank you for posting! I learned a lot.

    Question for you as I can’t find this info online. I have a black matte paint job on ABS plastic in the interior, and whenever I touch it, my sweat/skin grease leaves smudges. Is it safe to use any conventional home products such as bar windex or bar soap to clean it? Thank you.

  17. ITM ITM says:

    Thank you for posting this great info.

    I have a black matte paint job on ABS plastic in the interior, and whenever I touch it, my sweat/skin grease leaves smudges. Is it safe to use any conventional home products such as windex or bar soap to clean it? Thank you.

  18. ITM ITM says:

    Thank you for posting this great info.

    I have a black matte paint job (without clearcoat) on ABS plastic in the interior, and whenever I touch it, sweat/skin grease leaves smudges. Is it safe to use conventional home products such as windex or water diluted with bar soap to clean it? Thank you.

  19. Kyu says:

    I’m looking at a car with a matte (frozen) gray paint. The previous
    owner had a decal on the bumper and now there’s a shadow of the decal in
    the bumper. Does anyone have any experience with removing it? A
    professional detailer said he can “buff” it out but I’ve read that this
    creates a dull luster to the spot. I’ve read also that it will probably just need to be repainted?

    • Dr. Beasley's says:

      Hi Kyu! You’re totally right about buffing, that will leave a glossy spot on your matte paint. I’d recommend trying our Matte Paint Cleanser on the decal residue. Failing that, you may have to get it repainted. Hope you’re able to figure it out – that sounds pretty frustrating.

  20. Kyu says:

    I’m looking at a car with a matte (frozen) gray paint. The previous
    owner had a decal on the bumper and now there’s a shadow of the decal in
    the bumper. Does anyone have any experience with removing it? A
    professional detailer said he can “buff” it out but I’ve read that this
    creates a dull luster to the spot. I’ve read also that it will probably just need to be repainted?

  21. Steve Ross says:

    hi i just painted my vehicle with base coat then matte lacquer i have a couple of lacquer runs you know best way to remove them and can you wet sand finish or just leave it as the lacquer sets it ?
    regards steve

    • Dr. Beasley's says:

      Hi Steve! We probably aren’t the best people to ask as we don’t specialize in painting. I would recommend reaching out to a local business that does painting for advice. However, if you’d like to send a picture to myteam@drbeasleys.com we may be able to provide some assistance. Thanks for reaching out!

  22. Sam Gonzalez says:

    So I am just curious, why are shiny/glossy cars so much more common? Why did that become the standard? Are there serious advantages to shiny vs matte? Or is it all just a taste thing?

  23. Kendra says:

    I have a Jeep with the satin black paint, I bought a matte finish spray to protect it that I use constantly but I have spots along the skirt of my vehicle where mud and dirt from driving in the rain sat for several days before the weather changed and was washed. How can I restore the paint so after I wash and finish it I can’t still see where the mud was? Please it drives me crazy that it doesn’t look as nice as when it was first painted

  24. Julian says:

    Thank you for all your helpful replies. I have a 2020 Toyota Supra with a factory paint job called Phantom matte Gray. If I drive out in the rain, when I get to my destination should I immediately dry the car. I have really only used this meticulous matte spray that cleans pretty well. I bought the car used, so no idea if it has been sealed before.

  25. Toppcat says:

    I have a Genesis GV70 in matte Matterhorn white it beautiful golden glow in the sun. I found matte is doesn’t scratch like clear coat. From fine airborne sand The dr Beasley matte care kit is very good stuff. Bird/ bee dropping just come. Highly recommend high quality ceramic paint coating at lease 3x coats makes car care life easer.

  26. JR from Sacto says:

    Considering a 2023 Genesis GV 70 in Brunswick Green Matte, or a Silver Metallic ( Non Matte) for my wife.
    She has no interest in hand washing it ( Lol ), can the Green Matte go thru a touchless car wash?

  27. Oscar says:

    Hi, it might sounds silly and out of subject but i’d like to know your opion.
    I have a vw early bay, unfortunately without original old color, so I’m attempting to do an experiment to try to give it and old look.
    I strip the paint of the engine lid, painted very light grey, applied matt final clear coat to get that no glossy result, all good until here. So now i wanna wax it to kill the matt without reaching that mirrowing that I don’t want for my van, so what i’m guessing or i hope i could get a shiny matt. Make sense? 🙂

  28. Jeffrey Fowler says:

    When I bought my 2019 Challenger T/A, I was keenly aware of the special care to be taken maintaining the black matte finish…no wax! So I joined a Challenger forum and asked their opinion what product(s) are the best for my black matte. Most quickly recommended you guys for that special care. So I bought the complete kit and have been happy ever since. In fact I just ordered more Matte Body Wash to help maintain that car show appearance…plus it really smells great!

  29. Fred Hawthorne says:

    Hello
    I have a matte gray factory finished Mercedes. Recently I went on vacation and put a car cover on the car, which was also garaged. When I removed the cover there were spots all over the car. I hand washed it but the spots are still there. Any idea on how I can remedy this problem?
    Sincerely

    Fred h

  30. Karen Seawel says:

    Hi. I am in the process of purchasing an Ioniq 5 in Gravity Gold matte paint. I asked if they could include my first Dr. Beasley treatment as part of the deal. Instead, they offered to treat the exterior with a Luxcare product which they normally sell for newly purchased vehicles. They assured me it works well on matte as well as other finishes. Is this product really okay to use on matte finishes?

    • Chris Racana says:

      Thanks for the question, Karen! These types of dealer-offered protection packages are NOT suitable for matte finishes, they are designed for gloss and will affect the appearance. You only want MATTE SPECIFIC products for your matte paint. That is exactly why Hyundai recommends our products for their matte-finished vehicles. This is a case of the dealer trying to sell you a highly profitable “environmental package.” I would suggest to contact a professional detailer that has been trained in matte, or better, a Dr. Beasley’s Authorized Detailer.

  31. Gem says:

    Hi Dr Beasley!

    We have a GoPro mount stuck on a matte superbike. I imagine using the usual tea tree oil to remove the sticker/sticky residue would effect the matte paint?
    What would you recommend to remove this?

    Thanks!

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