The Best Matte Paint Products to Care and Protect Your Car's Finish

Chemical Guys recently reached out to me to evaluate their new Dually Wash Mitt, and after a few more uses, it has become my favorite. I used to be a big fan of the Chenille Wash Mitt, but generally, the Dually Wash Mitt takes less effort and gives me the impression that it’s gentler on the paint. Realistically you can't go wrong with either of these mitts.

For matte paint, you really do want to use the two-bucket method. I actually do have two buckets; the other one is not pictured and came with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. If you lack buckets, you'll want to get this starter bundle from Chemical Guys, which includes two buckets, two grit guards, and lids. It's a small price to pay to ensure your matte paint doesn't get scratched when you're giving it a wash.

If you can afford it and have access to a power outlet, I highly recommend investing in a pressure washer to wash your car. I have also fallen in love with the Torq Snubby Pressure Washer Gun, so I highly recommend the combination from Chemical Guys. If you want to learn more, you can read my pressure washer review and Torq Snubby Pressure Washer Gun review.

If you decide to invest in a pressure washer, you'll want a foam cannon as well. For that, I recommend Chemical Guys' Big Mouth Max Release Foam Cannon, which delivers a huge amount of foam, blanketing your car with a thick layer of car wash soap. This makes it extremely easy to wash your car, and gives you a much safer surface to glide your mitt across. This combination helps reduce the chances of any scratches occurring while you wash your car, which is especially important when caring for matte paint.

I know this article is about caring for matte paint, but while you're washing your car, you need to remove all that brake dust from your wheels. For that, I highly recommend this wheel brush from Chemical Guys; its flagged-tip bristles deliver a gentle wash. Of course, you don't want to use this on matte paint, but it definitely makes washing your wheels much easier.

To make your life even easier when it comes to cleaning your wheels, grab yourself a bottle of this wheel cleaner gel. There are several options on the market you can try, but I like how relatively mild this one is. It makes quick work of dirt and grime on your wheels, but you'll have to use quite a bit of it each car wash, depending on how dirty your wheels are.

There is a lot of misinformation on the internet when it comes to which car wash soap you can safely use on matte paint. The short answer is that you can basically use anything, even if it has wax in it. The reason is that no car wash soap has enough wax to turn matte paint into shiny paint, and even if that happens, the effects are very short-lived. For that reason, I highly recommend Meguiar's Hybrid Ceramic Wash & Wax. It's the car wash soap I've been using on my Ioniq 5 N for the past two months, and you can see the difference the soap alone makes here.

One of the biggest takeaways I had after spending the day at Meguiar's was the combination of the brand's Hybrid Ceramic Wash & Wax and Hybrid Ceramic Detailer. After washing my car, I spray each panel with Hybrid Ceramic Detailer as I’m drying it. It serves as an additional layer of protection for the paint and really does help keep dirt and grime from sticking to the surface. While I don’t experience a lot of rain in Southern California, Hybrid Ceramic Detailer also improves the beading effect from using the soap. It's also great to have to do any quick touch-ups.

If you decide you want even more protection, you can use Meguiar's Hybrid Ceramic Wax, but it comes with a big warning. You do not want to be heavy-handed with this product on matte paint. It can introduce gloss if you use a large amount and could give your paint a splotchy appearance if not used carefully. I recommend spraying it onto a towel and lightly applying it to the surface of your car if you want the additional protection, but this product is not a necessity. I’d only recommend it to car owners who have to leave their car parked outside all day, exposing sensitive matte paint to the elements.

Like the wheel cleaner, I know that glass cleaner isn't part of caring for matte paint. But having clean windows is an important part of having a clean car. Take a few minutes after you're done with washing your car to use Meguiar's Ultimate Glass Cleaner & Water Repellent on all your glass. This product has a hydrophobic effect similar to Rain-X, while leaving a streak-free shine. After using this for a few months, I now prefer it over others because it’s easy to apply inside and out.

Now I’m really moving away from caring for matte paint, but if you’re already shopping for essential car cleaning accessories, don’t neglect your interior. There are several options on the market that can deliver similar results, but if I had to pick one, I’d go with Meguiar’s because this interior cleaner is mild and works well on a variety of surfaces. I’m not a fan of extremely shiny and greasy interior cleaners. This one works well from door panels to dash, center console to seats.

As a reward for getting to the bottom of the list, I’ll go back to recommending a product that can actually be used to care for matte paint. If you don't have easy access to a hose, Meguiar's Ultimate Waterless Wash & Wax is the product for you. Even if you do, I highly recommend keeping a bottle of this in your trunk along with a microfiber towel or two. If you own an EV like me, any time you're using public charging is a good time to give your car a wipe down with this product. It’s also perfect for use between washes if you need to get rid of some dirt.

Full disclaimer: The products on this list were provided by the manufacturers. However, I have tested many other options from competitors in my never-ending desire to spend money on car cleaning accessories. This is my list of preferred products to care for my personal vehicle and should be used as recommendations.

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