Here's what I do:
Clay Bar:
From a normal 150gm clay bar..cut it up into 8 equal pieces/blocks. Bag each piece into a zip lock and keep aside for future use. Each piece can be used about 2-3 times depending on how dirty your car is. Before throwing away, use it to clay bar your rims.
Car:
- wash car [dont dry]
- fill up pail with freshwater and some car shampoo [slightly less than normal]
- hold clay bar lightly in palm of one hand, car sponge in other hand, dip both hands into pail to wet, use sponge to wet car panel and then run clay bar over paintwork in straight lines in the direction of air flow for top panels, for side panels..run clay bar over in top down motion. Clay panels in order..bonnet, boot, roof...then 2 front quarter panels, doors, 2 rear quarter panels, boot, front and rear skirtings, side skirtings. After clay barring each panel, fold clay bar into half, flatten, and use clean portion on next panel. Always make sure panels are well lubricated by continuously sponging, same goes for clay bar...just dip you hand into the pail.
- after finishing clay barring, bag the clay bar into the zip lock with some of the water from the pail
- if panels are not lubricated properly, you might 'drag' and 'streak' [just like plasticine] your paintwork and you will have to wash it off using the car shampoo
- once done with clay baring, you can wash the car again and rinse
- dry car
- apply a sealant on the paintwork after drying in order to fill up all the holes from the grit removed by the clay bar and also to seal in the paintwork. Your car is now prepped for your polishing/waxing.
- polish your car and add on at least 4-5 layers if possible [this should last you at least 3-6 months depending on which polish you use] before you need to reapply again
- regularly wash car at least once a week
- try to remove contaminants such as bird droppings, tree sap ASAP by placing a wet tissue on the area, wait about 5 seconds, and wipe off
- subsequent clay barring. when washing your car..feel the paintwork, if it feels gritty, run your clay bar over the area to remove the dirt, or if you want to be thorough, clay bar the entire again
- Clay barring can be done about every 6 months or 1 year....depending on where you park your car and whether it is exposed to the elements, otherwise, you can clay bar as and when necessary. It's not going to take off any of your polish/wax...just the dirt.
N.B: Try not to drop the clay bar on the floor. If this happens, throw it away ! Never reuse it or the dirt brought up from the ground will scratch your car.
Time taken to clay bar a medium sized car should be about 1-2 hours.
Cheers and happy clay barring !
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