What can I use instead of a clay bar?

Can you use soapy water as clay bar?

Yes, soapy water makes a very decent clay lubricant! It's by far the cheapest way to do it and you likely already have some in stock, so you can mix it up right now. 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.

Is clay bar necessary?

tl dr: It isn't necessary, but it improves the quality of the polish/wax job. "Claying" (otherwise known as using a clay bar or detailing clay), is a means by which to remove contaminates from the finish of your vehicle which washing alone will not remove.

Can you polish car without Claying?

Obvious response: You can polish without claying if it doesn't need claying. But if it needs it, it needs it.

Can you wax without Claying?

The best way is a proper multi stage process, but on the spectrum from full detail to drive through car wash, waxing without claying is fine by me.

Alternatives to clay bar

Can you use water as a clay bar lubricant?

Not Really. The fact of the matter is that water on its own isn't enough to act as a lubricant for clay. As water is not “slick”, it will not allow the clay to glide over the paint with ease.

Can you make your own clay bar lubricant?

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

What is car clay bar made of?

Instead, they are made from a blend of man-made materials like polymer rubber and synthetic resins. Much like molding clay, this stuff is extremely elastic and absorbent, allowing it to be stretched or molded as needed in order to better contour to whatever surface requires claying.

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.

Do you need to clay bar a new car?

My car is new, do I need to use a clay bar right away? Yes! Most new cars travel a long distances by ship, truck or rail to get to the dealer. They pick up a lot of nasty contamination along the way, like rail dust (metal particles from the wheels and track).

Should you wash car 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.

Can I use car shampoo as clay lube?

8oz of ONR is enough to get 1 galon clay lube and 1 galon quick detailer.. Car shampoo, not wash and wax as it can soften clay. Water, add some shampoo, shake then try between your fingers, if it feels slick to touch go ahead, if not add more shampoo. Car shampoo, not wash and wax as it can soften clay.

Do you have to clay bar before polishing?

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.

Can you wax without clay bar?

Re: do you have to clay bar b4 every wax? Claying will remove old wax, but the purpose of claying is to remove embedded contamination that normal washing just does not remove. If you want to prep your paint for new wax/sealant that doesn't have any cleaners, I suggest a wipe-down with Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA).

Is clay bar better than wax?

Conclusion. In conclusion, these two products both are important to use on your vehicle, but simply put a cleaner wax is a protectant with the ability to clean some substances off your car, while the purpose of clay is to remove contaminants.

Is clay bar same as polish?

Clay is a substance used to remove contaminants that have bonded to a car's paintwork, whilst polish, on the other hand, is used to remove a layer of paint to make the paint glossier. Polishing should be performed after claying to remove any marring inflicted by the clay.

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.

In what order do you detail a car?

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.

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.

How many times can you reuse a clay bar?

You can, therefore, clay bar it at least 2 to 3 times a year. But say you drive your car daily, maybe to work, or do groceries, then you can clay bar it as often as possible. Even if you do it at least thrice every six months, there's no problem.