Using a Clay Bar

"My car's looking great. I wash it. I wax it. 
But the paint doesn't feel right.  It feels...rough.
What am I doing wrong?"

Nothing, really. It's not what you're doing, it's what you're not doing.

There's often an almost invisible, bumpy, rough texture on the surface of a car's paint that doesn't seem to go away no matter how often you clean your car. It's caused by the accumulation of a residue of pollen, tree sap, road tar, bugs and other pollution that has been on the surface of the paint so long that it has actually started to chemically bond with it. 

If you can rub your hand, palm side down, over the hood of your car after you've cleaned it and feel small bumps and even hear a slight whisper as you do it, you'll be amazed what using a clay bar will do and the difference it will make.

Fortunately, the clay bar is an easy way to remove this layer of crud and make it feel as nice to the touch as it looks.  

Using a clay bar is simple and safe. Although there is some abrasive quality to the clay, it is always used along with a lubricating spray. If this spray is used in the recommended amount, a clay bar can be yet another valuable weapon in your arsenal to fight off the effects of Mother Nature on your car's paint. 

Clay bars usually are sold as part of a kit in most automotive stores and you can usually find them at your local Walmart as well. Kits usually run about $20 and include a few ounces of clay, spray lubricant and a micro-fiber cloth. They're worth every penny.

Here's how you use a clay bar on your car:

• Wash and dry your car thoroughly beforehand.
• Break the clay bar in half and hold one half in reserve.
• Take the other half of the clay bar and squeeze it in your hand for a few minutes until it is soft and pliable.
• Shape it flat and until it is about the size of your palm.
• Take your spray and spray a small area on the paint surface to be clayed.
• Gently rub back and forth. Don't press hard or you might leave clay residue on the paint. You will feel a slight resistance at first, but as you rub it will feel smoother and sleeker. When it does, take your micro-fiber towel and clean off the spray. 
• Don't use the clay if you accidentally drop it. It could become contaminated with dirt and grit that will really damage your paint. Throw it away and use the half you saved.
• Now, rub your hand over the paint surface again. It should feel completely different - super smooth - and even sound different - no whisper.
• Check the bottom of the clay. If it looks really dirty, you'll want to fold it in half and squeeze it flat to the proper size so that it has a clean surface again. If you've used the bar a lot and it doesn't seem to be clean anymore, throw this piece away and use the half you held in reserve. 
• Repeat over all of your car.
• When done, be sure to add a final coat of wax for protection.

Things to remember:

• Always use an adequate amount of lubricating spray.
• Never use dirty clay or clay that you dropped.
• Never rub too hard
• Don't expect the clay bar to get rid of scratches or damaged paint, that's not its job.
• Always wax after using.

Next: What's the best wax for black cars?