I recently purchased a new car.  It has a matte paint finish.  I know that automatic car washes are not particularly good for matte cars.  Unfortunately, at this time, I'm not in a position to be able to wash my car at home.  Anyone know of any places where a car with this type of finish can be washed and have the paint not messed up?

Any automatic wash is going to damage the paint over time, regardless of the finish. I’d find somewhere that will detail it and protect the paint with some sort of sealant (protective film, ceramic coating), but that gets expensive.

On 7/20/2025 at 1:28 AM, Tranquility Base said:

I recently purchased a new car.  It has a matte paint finish.  I know that automatic car washes are not particularly good for matte cars.  Unfortunately, at this time, I'm not in a position to be able to wash my car at home.  Anyone know of any places where a car with this type of finish can be washed and have the paint not messed up?

Maybe a self-serve wand type is a labor, but an option.  About $5 in qtrs, a soft type scrub, and a shammy to dry it.  I even take my leaf lower to blow off rinse water before using the shammy.  Going to need a brush for the wheels, rag to dry the wheels and tire dressing.  Laborious but good for the matte finish.  Forgot the windows…the final necessary touch.

Mikes car wash is my go to for my every day car.

13 minutes ago, Oldercoach said:

Maybe a self-serve wand type is a labor, but an option.  About $5 in qtrs, a soft type scrub, and a shammy to dry it.  I even take my leaf lower to blow off rinse water before using the shammy.  Going to need a brush for the wheels, rag to dry the wheels and tire dressing.  Laborious but good for the matte finish.  Forgot the windows…the final necessary touch.

Something like this is what I was going to suggest, get your "kit" together, find your favorite self-serve, and put in the work. 

42 minutes ago, Oldercoach said:

Maybe a self-serve wand type is a labor, but an option.  About $5 in qtrs, a soft type scrub, and a shammy to dry it.  I even take my leaf lower to blow off rinse water before using the shammy.  Going to need a brush for the wheels, rag to dry the wheels and tire dressing.  Laborious but good for the matte finish.  Forgot the windows…the final necessary touch.

This can work. These would be my steps and a self-serve:

1. Apply wheel/tire cleaner. Brush. Rinse.

2. Foam with wand. Let dwell for 3-5 minutes. Rinse.

3. Foam again. Use your own mitt for the contact wash. Rinse.

4. Dry with quality drying towel.

 

2 hours ago, TheDeuce said:

This can work. These would be my steps and a self-serve:

1. Apply wheel/tire cleaner. Brush. Rinse.

2. Foam with wand. Let dwell for 3-5 minutes. Rinse.

3. Foam again. Use your own mitt for the contact wash. Rinse.

4. Dry with quality drying towel.

 

Good call.  Now the coup de tat (sp?)…windows.  Beautiful.