Should I wax or polish after 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.

Should you polish or clay bar first?

First off, if you're going to polish, you should always clay first. If clay is not used before polishing, those embedded contaminants I mentioned can (and will) be dragged across the surface by a buffer or polishing pad – leaving you with swirl marks and holograms.

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.

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.

Does Claying 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.

Why you should NOT clay your car without polishing

Do you wax after 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.

What comes 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.

Do you 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.

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.

Is Claying your car worth it?

Over time, these particles could permanently damage your paint. These particles also prevent wax and polish from working properly, which means you don't get as clear a shine. If you want to protect your paint job in the future and have your car looks its best, clay bar detailing is absolutely worth it.

In what order do you detail a car?

Do I need to compound or 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?

After compounding, polish is used to remove any remaining defects. A handheld polishing machine has a motorized spinning head that can spread polish on a car's surface to remove microscopic layers of paint and restore a vehicle's smooth surface. Polish acts like finer grit sandpaper than compound.

Should I compound my car before waxing?

Applying wax, polish, and paint sealant after compounding a car will provide additional protection against external elements.

Can you clay bar glass?

It's perfectly safe to use a clay bar on glass as long as you use plenty of lubrication such as a clay lubricant spray, or car shampoo and water. Then simply glide the clay bar across the glass in straight line motions, rinse the surface and dry.

Will clay bar remove scratches?

A clay bar does NOT remove any scratches from the surface of the paint because it contains no abrasives. A clay bar is useful for when a car's paint feels rough and is no longer smooth to the touch as it can help restore that nice smooth feeling you once knew and loved.

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.

Does clay bar remove ceramic coating?

The Quick Answer. You shouldn't use a clay bar, mitt, or cloth on a ceramic coated car because it will break down the coating, or cause swirl marks. You can use an iron fallout and tar remover instead to safely remove contamination without using clay.

Do I need to remove wax before polishing?

A clean, wax/sealant-free finish is required to get the most out of our polishing session. Clay the surface of the car to remove any embedded contaminants that doesn't come off with normal washing.

How do you remove clay bar residue?

Apply a light paint cleaner or polish and that should remove the smudges. You could also use a cleaner/wax. If you use a paint cleaner or polish be sure to apply some wax afterwards because you'll have removed any wax previously there.

Can You Use soapy water to clay bar?

After you wash the car, mix the same proportions of car shampoo and water in a clean bucket or spray bottle and apply generously to the surface. Then, go at it with the clay, regularly adding more soapy water to keep the surface wet at all times.

Is polishing compound the same as wax?

The difference between car waxing and car polishing is this: Polishing is the tedious buffing done to remove defects from your paint job. Waxing is the protective later put on as the final step. Many drivers look to forego polishing and simply get a wax, but that won't correct a bad paint job!