Exterior Paint Contamination Removal

Clay Your Paint!

The process of claying vehicles was initially brought over from Japan to the United States in the 1980's. Now it is an accepted step in the process of preparing the paint of a vehicle, a step that not only saves time but produces a better result. Every vehicle, new or used, has fallout particles and road grime that build up and impregnate on the surface of the paint. This is what you feel when you rub your hand across the finish and it feels rough, or not super smooth. (If you put your hand in a piece of cellophane and lightly go over the finish, this will magnify the feel of the particles lodged in the paint.)

Claying is a simple process that anyone can perform. With a clay bar, clay mitt, clay sponge or towel, you lubricate the medium and the paint with a spray wax or lubricant product, and simply (lightly) move the clay product across the paint. Then finish with a microfiber. You will be amazed at how smooth the paint finish has become, like it was just waxed, only now it is super clean and free from contamination. It is now ready for waxing: wax or sealant can now bond to the paint, with no foreign material inbetween. Because of the bond, your wax coat will be more durable, lasting longer, and will actually haver a deeper gloss.

In recent years, Clay mitts, towels, and sponges (see Nanoskin Products) have improved the process further. Actual clay bars, while doing a great job of pulling out the rail dust and fallout, retain the metal particles in the bar. The user then kneads the bar for a cleaner application of the next car. At what point do you decide to stop using the bar, fearful it may scratch? Clay mitts, for example, not only have the advantage of moving around mirrors and contours easily, and speeding up the whole process (covering a hood in 30 seconds), but also having the huge advantage of the user being able to RINSE OFF the particles. So not only do they last up to 4X as long a clay bar, but if you drop it on the ground, you simply rinse it off and keep going, instead of throwing it away.