Clay bars are one of the most useful detailing products used in the decontamination process. A must-have for people looking to comprehensively prepare their vehicle for a coating or wax. They are also well known for getting the job done on neglected paintworks, Here's what's important to know about them.
Detailing clay bars can be compared to a sort of dirt-picking magnet. With tremendous force (while still being completely safe for the paintwork) they "pick up" all deeply embedded metallic, bituminous and organic dirt from the surface. But do you really know how to work with a clay bar without making a mess of your paintwork? Find out the most important tricks!
Working temperature
The rule is simple – a clay bar needs heat to be malleable, soft and gentle on your paintwork. So before you start working, it's a good idea to put the clay in a cup of warm (but not hot!) water for a while. You can also divide it into 2 pieces and work them interchangeably. One in warm water, the other in action.
The glide
The clay bar needs a good slip in order to glide over the surface without resistance. You don't need any additional products here. Just make a solution of water with a bit of Soft99's Neutral Creamy shampoo. 5-10 ml per 1 litre of water will be spot on. Looking for additional shortcuts? Try using a clay bar on wheel arches and front/rear of the car when decontaminating the car using fallout remover, like our Soft99 Iron Terminator. The clay bar will glide over the paintwork nicely, picking up all the metallic deposits, all during one step of cleaning.
Long, straight strokes
Clay bar is not a scrubbing brush, don't work it hard, especially not in one spot. Go for long, straight movements, using angles your hands and arms are comfortable with. It's a good idea to work horizontally for even coverage.
There is no coming back from certain things
If your clay bar falls onto the ground, even if it's a piece just taken out of the packaging, it should still go to the trash bin. When you drop it, particles of sand and dirt will instantly stick to the clay. Putting that on your car with a clay bar made for rubbing it all over the paintwork is a one-way ticket to Swirl City, Scratch district.
Not just the paintwork!
Did you know that you can also use a clay bar on other smooth surfaces? We are talking about glass, chrome, transparent plastics or rims. However, avoid unpainted plastics that have visible texture.
