Clay bar treatment

What is a clay bar?

A detailing clay bar is a soft, pliable bar that glides over the paint on a lubricant and picks up anything stuck to the surface: industrial fallout, brake dust, tree sap, overspray and tar spots. These particles bond to the clear coat and don't come off with a normal wash.

How to tell if your car needs it

After washing, put your hand inside a thin plastic sandwich bag and lightly run it over the bonnet. If the paint feels gritty or rough instead of glass-smooth, it needs decontaminating. Light-coloured cars often show tiny orange rust spots too, which are iron particles from brake dust.

Why it matters before polishing or coating

Polishing a contaminated surface drags those particles around and can add scratches. A sealant or ceramic coating applied over them won't bond properly. Claying first gives every product that follows a clean surface to work on.

Clay bar or polishing?

A clay bar removes contamination sitting on top of the paint. It doesn't remove swirl marks, scratches or oxidation, because those are in the clear coat itself. If the paint is smooth but still looks dull or swirled, it needs paint correction. Claying always comes first, so the polishing pad isn't dragging contamination across the paint.