One of the most common questions we hear at car shows when we have clay bars displayed for sale is – “So that is clay – I’ve heard of it – How do you use it?”

When I hear that – I get excited. Not necessarily to sell someone a clay bar – but I love teaching people about detailing and sharing information. We like to keep things simple – and a clay bar is one of the easiest things to use, and is one of the most beneficial things you can do to maintain and bring out the richness, beauty and depth of your finish.

Clay is very similar to “Silly Putty” that you played with as a kid – but it is very “sticky”. What a clay bar does is virtually “lift” or “pull” things from your paint that doesn’t come off with regular washing. To get the ultimate looking finish, you need to start with the most smooth and cleanest surface possible – and a clay bar will do that for you. The better the surface to start with, the better it will look when you apply wax. It’s like painting a wall – the better the surface preparation the better the end result looks.

Think your finish is “baby-butt” smooth? Try this on your ride – even if you have a show car that doesn’t go out in inclement weather and stays covered 90% of the time. Wipe your hand over the surface – feels pretty smooth, right? Then take a plastic baggie, put it over your fingers then feel the surface. Feel all those little bumps? All the plastic did is enhance your feeling of touch – what you are feeling is contaminants from the everyday environment that ends up embedded in your finish.

A clay bar will remove those contaminants without being aggressive like polishing with a high speed buffer – and will leave a silky smooth finish. It will also remove overspray from paint. A word to the wise – there are different grades of clay, just like any other tool. You will want to use a professional grade clay bar that the pros use – you will get better results in less time. I use an analogy of comparing a quality tool from Snap-On compared to Chinese socket set from the dollar store. Remember – you get what you pay for.

Your clay bar should have come in a plastic container – usually like a soap bar container. Remove it from the case, and tear off a piece about an inch or so. Immediately put the rest of the bar back in the case. This is extremely important! If the clay bar falls on the ground, it will pick up containments and will scratch the paint – do not use it. You only need a piece of it at a time.

Knead your piece of clay bar and flatten it out. Lubricate an area with a quick detailer product about 18 inches square or so. I prefer to use a quick detailer for lubrication – some people use soap and water. While the surface is wet simply rub the clay bar back and forth over the wet area. Do not press down hard on the clay bar! Resist our natural tendency to treat anything in our hand like a piece of sandpaper – not so here – let the clay bar do all the work. If you do put undue pressure on the clay, like anything – it can mar your paint. If you feel the clay bar start to “drag” – add more lubricant.

You will more than likely “feel” the surface getting smooth. Once that area is done, use a micro fiber towel (they won’t scratch your finish) and dry the area. Now feel the surface with and without the plastic bag on your fingers – it should be smooth as a baby’s behind. While you are using the clay bar on your finish keep kneading and folding into itself to get a “fresh” sticky surface. Once you deem the piece of clay too contaminated or full of junk you lifted off the surface, simply discard and tear off a new piece and start again.

One more word to the wise – keep it fun! Don’t make it monotonous – do a section at a time. For example if you have some time to kill or feel like playing with your ride – go do a fender or the hood. Remember – a section at a time keeps it fun and light! And this is my favorite part – put a coat or two of wax on it afterward for protection and admire how awesome your finish now looks!

Scott Ellis is from Jax Wax Distribution Systems and is responsible for distributing Jax Wax Car Care Products retail worldwide. Jax Wax Car Care Products are widely used in commercial businesses such as detail shops, body shops, and auto dealers. Jax Wax is now packaging its products in smaller quantities for the consumer market. You can get fast, commercial quality results by doing the detail work yourself. For more information, go to www.jaxwax.com or call 877-7JAXWAX.