The world of car cleaning, or car polishing in reference to clay bar kits, can be really confusing to understand. You’ll see ‘double bucket’ methods, tyre dressing, and even expensive machines. It seems that there are more products on sale than there are cars on the road. The idea of clay barring your car sounds odd at first, but it’s a genuinely excellent way to make your car look amazing.
Clay bars remove contaminants that regular washing will miss. It’ll give your car a smooth, almost glass-like look. We’ve rounded up everything you could need to properly clay bar your car, even a quick spray that’ll look almost as good while using no effort.
And once you’ve made your paintwork flawless, you may want to keep it looking good. Clay bars are often used before detailers move onto the main stages with their subsequent car polishing kits.
The best clay bar kits at a glance:
Editor’s pick: Autoglym Complete Clay Detailing Kit – buy from Amazon.
Best for quantity: Meguiar’s Quik Clay Bar Starter Kit – buy from Amazon.
Best sole clay kit: Auto Finesse Clay Bar 200g – buy from Amazon.
Clay bar kits are designed to remove embedded dirt and contaminants that no amount of regular washing will dislodge. Clay bars are designed to remove tar, tree sap, metal particulates, overspray, surface rust, grease, and dead insects. One thing they cannot tackle is light scratches, but luckily, there are scratch repair kits available for that purpose.
The best clay bar kits
Editor's pick
The size of the products may not be as big as others, but for a beginner's kit, it’s a comprehensive and ideal choice.
Pros
- Everything included
- Great for beginners
Cons
- Small volume of polish
Best clay bar kit for quantity
Pros
- Will cover three cars per set
- Great quality finish
Cons
- Cloth not supplied
You only get the clay bar and a 500ml bottle of lubricant included, which means a microfibre cloth wil have to be sourced by yourself.
Pros
- Removes contaminants from the paint effectively
- Makes polishing more efficient
Cons
- Microfibre towel not included
Best sole clay kit
The lack of lubricant or any other equipment is a shame for some, but it's also reflected in the price of this option.
Pros
- Chunky clay bar included
- Great at removing contaminents
Cons
- No other equipment included
Best cheat option
Pros
- Speeds up the process
- Good value
Cons
- Not as effective as clay bars
Best towel for a clay bar process
Pros
- Great quality towels
- Comes in a pack of three
Cons
- No other equipment included
How to use clay bar:
Wash your car as normal. Make sure your bodywork is still damp before beginning to clay bar it. Afterwards, squirt some lubricant or detailing spray onto your body panels and add a small amount to your clay bar. Next, run the clay bar over the surface to remove contaminants. As it collects contaminants, it’ll get dirty. Fold it over regularly to get the best results. Then, by using a microfibre cloth, dry the panel. Check to see the finish. Repeat the process if necessary. You’ll be looking for a surface as smooth as glass or that of what a chrome cleaner would leave.
The good thing about clay bars is that you can use them on pretty much any external part of your car. This includes the bodywork, plastic fittings and even glass areas. Just remember you need to wipe away clay residue with a microfibre cloth.
We’d recommend not using a clay bar on your wheels, instead, invest in some proper alloy wheel cleaner. This is because of the iron and brake pad contaminants that build up on your wheels are best treated with a specialist cleaner. And because clay bars don’t work on windscreens either, a set of glass polish might be an idea, too.
Ryan Gilmore is the Deputy Autos and Tools Editor for Parkers, specialising in car cleaning and hand tools. A veteran car cleaner; if it details, waxes or washes he’ll be on hand to make sure it’s worth your money.
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