Do I have to polish after Claying?

Yes. Detailing clay will not remove swirl marks, scratches or etching from acid rain or hard water spots. Paint polish is still required to remove these paint defects. If your paint is new or like-new, detailing clay will significantly reduce the amount of polishing required to keep your paint in good condition.

Can I skip polishing after clay bar?

You don't have to polish afterwards but clay bars will mar the surface. You may not see or notice it but it is there. Depending on how fine a grade the clay is, you may have to do an intensive polish or just a one-step wax.

Should I wax or polish my car after I 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.

Do I need to polish after clay Mitt?

It's important to note that depending on how contaminated the surface was, polishing may be required after claying to help correct any micro-marring that may have occurred. If no micro-marring is present, then we suggest to add protection (wax and/or sealant) immediately after claying.

Do I need to wax after clay bar?

The Short Answer. A wax or sealant should always be applied to the car after using a clay bar. The clay bar will remove any old protection so a wax or sealant needs to be applied to ensure the paintwork is protected to help keep it clean and free from contaminants and UV rays.

Why you should NOT clay your car without polishing

What is the next step after clay bar?

When you're finished claying your car, you may need to wash it to remove any lubricant film. If you plan to use a pre-wax cleaner polish, it will remove clay residue so there's no need to wash. Last but not least, after using clay, seal your freshly cleaned paint with your choice of wax or sealant.

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 I hand polish after clay bar?

A lot of modern clays are much less aggressive than the original ones, since they're used for paintwork improvement rather than major decontamination, but the idea that you absolutely positively have to machine polish the paint after use persists.

Do I need to compound after clay bar?

Yes it is necessary to clay a car before compounding/polishing. It is far better to do it and not need it than to need it and not do it. Lets pretend your car does not have any microscopic issues in the clear coat/paint.

Can clay bar scratch your car?

Since water tends to drag, it doesn't allow the clay bar to smoothly glide around the surface of the car. This water drag can cause marring, scratching and other damage to the car.

Can I just clay bar and wax?

Clay then wax (or seal) is fine if you don't have scratches, but definitely put something on the paint as there is nothing there to protect it now.

Do I have to polish after Clay Bar Reddit?

It will just make all your future cleanings harder and potentially your car more susceptible to damage. Polishing isn't necessary.

Will a clay bar remove water spots?

Typically a washing, white vinegar and water solution, or a clay bar will not remove the water marks, they only work when it's a light residue on the surface. Unfortunately many water marks actually lightly etch in to the surface and in these instances you'll need a stronger option.

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 use soapy water with clay bar?

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.

Should I compound or just polish?

Rubbing compounds basically targets the uneven car's surfaces caused by scratches while on the other hand; polishing is preferably used for adding smoothness and shine to the car paint. Both will help in improving your car's quality but in a different way.

What goes first compound or polish?

Compounding removes scratches from the paint more quickly whilst, polishing refines the finish by cutting the paint slowly. Compounding is often followed by polishing to correct the paint fully.

When should you polish your car?

If you're taking good care of your car, polishing your car once or twice a year should be sufficient to fix up any minor scratches or wear. If you frequently find yourself with scrapes or spots, you can take it to be polished more regularly.

Can you clay bar 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.

Is Claying a car worth it?

Although using a clay bar on your car is an essential part of detailing, it shouldn't be done unless absolutely necessary. The clay bar has a specific job – to remove bonded contaminants from your paint. Even when used properly, it should be considered a necessary evil since it can be abrasive.

How many times can you clay bar a car?

As a general guideline, claying 3-4 times a year will keep your car's paint clean and smooth.

Is it necessary to clay bar before polishing?

The clay "removes" contaminants i the paint giving you a level surface on which to polish and wax. If your paint hasn`t been clayed in a year or so, it would be a good idea to do so before polishing, but if you just clayed 6 months ago, probably not really necessary.

In what order do you detail a car?