The clay bar is designed to do exactly that. Take out imperfections so do not use a clay bar.
This is what Autoglym recommend from their site.
Caring For Matt And Satin
The manner in which they react to light is the key aspect of both matt and satin finishes, and while the two do have a number of distinct traits, the process of caring for them is largely the same. While said process isn’t exactly time consuming, the specialist nature of these paint finishes does mean that they require a little more care than ‘regular’ gloss or metallic paint coatings, though the good news is that the Autoglym range is very well equipped and more than up to the task.
Washing
This is something you’re going to get very good at if you own a car with a matt or satin finish, as it’s perhaps the most important stage of the entire cleaning process. The reason that it’s so, so important to give your car a thorough wash with a high pressure hose before applying any kind of mitt, sponge or cloth-care, is because neither matt or satin finishes are easy to repair if you get damaged. Even more so than their gloss or metallic relations, these finishes are all too susceptible to damage caused by improper cleaning, with specks of grit and other abrasives being of particular concern. Worse still, scratched or otherwise damaged matt and satin paintwork is harder to rectify than regular paint, certainly without the coat in question looking like an obvious repair job. The message is clear, pre-washing with a high pressure system is all but essential.
Our development technicians have tested the entire Autoglym portfolio of shampoos extensively, and have found that all are completely safe to use on cars with low light finishes like matt or satin. Our techs did find
Pure Shampoo to be particularly effective, and this is down to its pure, gloss enhancer-free formulation. The same Autoglym development team also found that other, preparation products can be used on these paint finishes without causing damage, including
Intensive Tar Remover.
Over application of wax can effectively nullify the unique properties of matt and satin paint finishes, filling in the ‘valleys’ within he paintwork
What Not To Use
Pre-washing aside, there are a number of other steps and products that should be avoided by anyone keen to retain the unique properties of their matt or satin paintwork. It’s a good rule of thumb that anything with the potential to be layered on in too great a quantity or thick a layer should be avoided at all costs, and most certainly applied to waxes, a product that many apply in an over-zealous manner regardless of the type of paint on their car!
Polish, that other detailing staple, should also be eschewed, and this applies regardless of the type and or quality of the product in question. Applying polish to satin or matt finishes can dramatically and irreparably alter the appearance of your paint, and the very action of polishing should be avoided at all costs if you want to preserve the unique and striking appearance of your paint.
The reason why both wax and polish should be avoided becomes apparent when you examine both matt and satin paint finishes through a microscope, where it becomes clear that, unlike more everyday finishes, both are anything but smooth and uniform in appearance. Indeed, up close matt and satin paints appear like miniaturised versions of the Himalayas, with both mountains and valleys clearly visible – the source of the paint’s flat, anti-reflective properties. Adding wax to either has the effect of filling in said valleys, while over application of polish can buff off the top of the ‘peaks,’ causing damage that’s all but impossible to repair. Basically, avoid applying a too thick layer of anything, and watch out for abrasives.
What To Use
Instead of using thick layers of wax and polish that risk damaging your paint, we’d recommend
Rapid Aqua Wax. This product is liquid based and therefore safe to use on both paint types (it follows the contours of the paint so won’t add gloss or sheen), it also come with a whole host of benefits primarily associated with waxes, including UV protection and a degree of hydrophobicity, the latter making future cleaning all the simpler and swifter. The multi-talented nature of this product mean that, in car paintwork terms at least, you really can have your cake and eat it; all the joy of having interesting, show stopping paint, with none of the drawbacks!
I have no association with Autoglym and am not personally endorsing any product.
