How To Use A Clay Bar To Clean Your Car

Be sure to use plenty of clay lubricant. Holly is using the original Clay Magic detailing clay and lubricant.

Using a detailing clay bar is very easy, but you must follow the instructions. Use a clay bar incorrectly and you will create a mess or scuff the surface of your paint.

Before using detailing clay, you must thoroughly clean and dry your car to remove any loose dirt. Direct sunlight should not fall on your car's surface, and it's best if the work area is relatively cool to prevent rapid evaporation of the claybar lubricant. Also, most claybars become soft as they get warm, making them less effective.

To use a clay bar, you spray a lubricant on a small area of your car and rub the clay back and forth with light to medium pressure. If the lubricant begins to dry, you'll need to spray more. Detailing clay is sticky and cannot be used dry. Try using a clay bar dry and you'll make a big mess and scuff your paint.

An alternative to a spray detailing lubricant is good old soapy water. This is ideal if your paint is heavily contaminated (very dirty). Be sure to rinse your wash mitt thoroughly and use a fresh bucket of soapy water, not what’s left over from washing. After claying one or two body panels, your clay will begin to look dirty. Don’t be alarmed, that’s just the clay doing its job. Flip the clay over and use the other side. When both sides are dirty, remold the clay into a ball and flatten to reveal a clean surface.

After a few passes with the clay bar, rub your hand over the area you cleaned to check for areas missed. You should feel a distinct difference between the areas you have clayed and the areas you have not clayed. Keep rubbing until all contamination bumps are gone.

Finally, wipe the clay lubricant residue off with a soft microfiber towel, and buff to a nice luster. Just like waxing, it is best to work in small areas. Check the clay bar frequently for hard particles. When found, pick them off. Make it a habit to occasionally knead and reform the bar so that a fresh portion of the bar contacts your car's paint.

If you drop your bar of detailing clay on the ground, it's history. Toss it out. Don't take any chances, discard the clay bar if it becomes impregnated with grit. Read the manufacturers' directions for the number of uses of their clay bar. Do not overuse your detailing clay.

When you're finished claying your car, you may need to wash it to remove the lubricant film. If you plan to use a pre-wax cleaner polish it will remove clay residue so there's no need to wash. After using clay, seal your freshly cleaned paint with your choice of wax or sealant.

 

 

With just a little effort, stubborn brake dust that even the strongest cleaners won't remove comes off with detailing clay.

Automotive detailing clay isn't just for paint. You can use detailing clay on any smooth, hard surface, including glass and chrome. Do not use clay on clear plastic, such as headlight lenses.

When I can no longer remold clay to get a clean surface, I retire it for use on my windows. The dirty clay will not harm glass, and it's amazing how much dirt film clay can remove from your exterior glass.

I also use my old clay to clean wheels. Detailing clay will safely remove stubborn, embedded brake dust, tar and road film from all factory wheels. I do not recommend using a clay bar on wheels that do not have a factory clearcoat or powder coat finish.


Do You Need To Clay?

Chances are, the answer is yes. The surface of your vehicle faces assaults from the environment every time it’s out in the weather. Each road trip brings new insults from roadway debris, exhaust films, and airborne pollution. They will splash, mar, and embed themselves in that beautiful paint job you’ve labored over. Vehicles can accumulate these contaminants any time, any place – even at the dealership.

The Bag test will tell you if you need to use detailing clay.

The Bag Test: There’s a simple test that will indicate whether or not you need to clay. Wash and dry your vehicle, put a plastic sandwich bag over your hand and lightly rub your fingertips over the paint. If it feels gritty or rough, your paint is contaminated.

Use a high quality detailing clay bar to clean your paint before applying wax or polish.

Waxes and paint sealants will adhere better to clean paint and the shine will be more uniform and vibrant. Sounds like a win-win situation!

To Use Clay:

Clay is available in 2 to 8 oz. bars. Two ounces is enough to do three or four vehicles. On average, a vehicle will need to be clayed twice a year. At this rate, one 2 oz. clay bar will last you 18 months to 2 years if used on the same vehicle. If you buy clay in an 8 oz. bar, cut it into quarters and keep the unused portions moistened with lubricant in the storage case.

NOTE: To optimize both the quality of your claying and the clay's useful life, avoid soap and water as a lubricant. They will prematurely deteriorate today’s clay compounds. Use only clay lubricants. A good clay kit, contain both the detailing clay and it’s corresponding lubricant.

Follow these steps:

• Wash and dry your vehicle.

• Spray a small area with clay lubricant, no bigger than 2 square feet.
• Gently rub the clay bar back and forth across the wet area. It will grab at first. This means that it is pulling contaminants out of the paint. When it glides freely, the paint is clean.
• Wipe the area with a microfiber towel and use the clay lubricant to remove any clay residue. Rub your fingers across the paint now; it should be as smooth as glass. If it’s not, repeat the process. Reshape the clay bar as needed to expose a clean surface. Keep the clay well-lubricated.
• Continue these steps until you’ve clayed the entire vehicle. Clay does a marvelous job on glass and chrome, too.
• Store the clay bar in its original case if possible, or in an airtight plastic bag. Spray it with lubricant to keep it moist. Do not allow the clay to freeze and do not store it in temperatures above 200° F. 

Rub the clay bar across the wet paint until it no longer grabs the surface.

Always follow claying with a wax or sealant. Clay will removing existing wax and may leave tiny holes where contaminants have been removed. They must be sealed in order to protect the paint from corrosion.

Note: Detailing clay does not remove oxidized paint or fill in blemishes. If your paint is mildly oxidized, clean the paint with clay and then use a polish to remove the oxidized paint. If the oxidation is severe, polish first because the oxidized paint may flake off as you clay and ruin the clay bar.