How to look after your car's new paint

Fresh paint is hard enough to drive when you pick the car up, because we bake it in the booth, but it keeps curing for weeks. For the first month, hand wash only, no polish or wax, and keep it out of the automatic car wash. After that, treat it like the rest of the car.

Here's the full list we go through at collection.

The first 30 days

• Hand wash only, with plenty of water, a clean mitt and a pH-neutral car shampoo. Rinse off bird droppings, bugs and tree sap as soon as you see them; they etch soft paint quickly.
• No automatic car washes. Brushes and high-pressure jets can mark paint that's still curing.
• No wax, polish or sealant. Paint needs to breathe out solvents as it cures. Wax seals it.
• No pressure washer up close. If you use one, keep it well back and avoid panel edges.
• Avoid extreme heat where you can. A shaded spot is better than a black car in full Queensland sun all day for the first couple of weeks, though it won't ruin the job if that's unavoidable.
• Don't park under trees that drop sap, berries or resin.
• No stickers, badges or bike racks on the new panel yet.

After 30 days

You can wax or seal the panel like the rest of the car. Many paint systems are fully cured by 60 to 90 days, so if you're planning a ceramic coating, ask the detailer what cure time they want and tell them which panels were painted.

Why it matters

Baking in the booth cross-links the clear coat so it's dry and hard to the touch. But the solvents in the paint keep gassing out for weeks. Wax or coating applied too early can trap them and leave the finish cloudy, and aggressive washing can leave swirls that would have buffed out of fully cured paint. Thirty days of patience protects the job.

Will the new paint match forever?

The new panel is colour-matched to the car on the day. Over the years the whole car fades a little in the sun, and the new panel fades with it. On a car that was already faded, we blend into the neighbouring panels so the join is invisible. Regular washing and a wax or sealant every few months slows fading on all the panels.

What if I see a problem?

A small nib of dust in the clear coat, a drip, or a spot where the colour looks off in a particular light: bring it back. We'd rather fix it than have you live with it. Most small issues are a quick polish.

Washing tips that help all your paint

• Two buckets: one with shampoo, one with rinse water for the mitt.
• Wash from the top down, wheels last with a separate mitt.
• Dry with a clean microfibre towel, not a chamois dragged across the paint.
• Wash in the shade, not on a hot panel.

More on our spray painting page. If you've got a scratch or scuff that needs looking at, send a photo for a free quote.