Can you use soapy water with clay bar?

An alternative to a spray detailing lubricant is good old soapy water. This is ideal if your paint is heavily contaminated. 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.

Can you use soapy water as a clay bar lubricant?

I have used Mother`s and Clay Magic with soapy water as a lube without any problems. These two clays, IMO, are more of the "plastic-y" type of clays whereas the Griot`s clay is a bit more "doughy" if you will and have broken down even with their Speedshine quick detailer as their recommended lube.

What liquid do you use with clay bar?

One can either use a quick detailer product or a water/automotive wash solution as a lubricant during the clay bar process. Here at AQS we fill a clean wash bucket with fresh water and automotive wash solution and use a fresh wash mitt to lubricate our surface and clay.

Can I just use water with clay bar?

All clay bars require a lubricant. Some can be used with water, some work better with a quick detailer spray (liquid suspension of carnauba). Always follow the instructions as noted on the clay bar – if the instructions say to use water, then it has been formulated with this in mind.

Do I need to wash before clay bar?

Claying should always come after a good wash. You want to get as much of the dirt out as possible, by scrubbing and brushing and scrubbing some more. Your choice of cleaning agent will also ensure that your vehicle is ready for the use of a clay bar.

How to Clay Bar Paint to Remove Contaminants

Can I use Dawn and a clay bar?

Normally you should definetly NOT use Dawn but when doing the full clay/polish/seal detail some people like the Dawn. Once your car is where you want it and protected you certainly don't want anything but a gentle car soap.

Can I make my own clay bar lube?

Dish soap and water 50/50 mix, makes a good lubricant .

What can you use instead of clay Luber?

Water with a dash of car soap. Both these guys got the right idea, ONR is what I use as you get a gallon of it and it will last you years if your a hobby detailer. Car soap is another good alternative as well.

Should you wash car after clay bar?

The most common process is to wash and dry the car, then after drying the car, clay the car section-by-section and after claying a section, while the surface is still wet with your clay lubricant, use a microfiber polishing cloth to wipe that section dry.

Does clay bar damage clear coat?

A clay bar is an engineered, clay-like product that pulls contaminants like water spots, brake dust, metal dust, industrial pollution and road grit from your clear coat. When used with a clay lubricant, these contaminants come loose from your car and get stuck safely in the clay so they don't damage your clear coat.

Can you use Quick Detailer as clay lube?

Synthetic Quick Detailer doubles as a slick and effective clay bar lube for unmatched versatility when detailing any car.

When should you clay bar a car?

After every cleaning and drying, run your hand through your vehicle's paint, and if you feel it's rough and a little bumpy, then yes, it's time to clay bar your car. The contaminants may have stuck to your car break dust and factory fall outs, otherwise damaging your paint finish.

Can I clay bar then wax?

When Should You Use The Clay Bar? The detailer's rule of thumb is to always decontaminate the surface with a clay bar before putting on a new coat of wax, or polishing any exterior paintwork. Those foreign particles block wax from sticking to the paint, making it last for a shorter time and not shine as bright.

Does claybar remove wax?

Removing your car's wax, sealant or coating prior to claying will help the clay bar fully remove the contaminants without being impaired by the paint protection layer. However, in most cases the clay will be capable of removing both the wax/ sealant/ coating, as well as the contaminants.

Do you dry car before clay bar?

Clay Bar Prep (Return to Top)

Before using a clay bar, your car should be washed and dried to remove a majority of contamination on your vehicle. The more contaminated the paint is the more likely imperfections can be added during the clay bar process.

What do I use after clay bar on my car?

Last but not least, 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.

How do you soften a clay bar?

The recommended method to keep the clay workable, is to let the clay soften in a bowl of warm water. A clay bar is designed to be divided into four pieces and used one quarter at a time. It is suggested that you take two portions of your clay bar, allow one piece to warm in the bowl of water while you use the other.

Can you clay bar glass?

It's perfectly safe to use a clay bar on your windshield. Clay bars are intended to be safely used on paint and glass is a surface that's much harder to scratch. There are times when a regular wash won't remove contaminants like bugs, overspray, and fallout. This is when a clay bar should be used.

Can you clay bar your car too much?

It's definitely possible to clay your car too much. Clay is an abrasive, which can damage the paint causing swirls and marring. You can minimise this by using a clay lubricant and a softer form of clay, however, you can't forget that clay is still an abrasive.