clay

I've done both without any real difference. I've broken the process down into steps where I'll wash, rinse, pull the car into the garage out of the sun and then use the QD spray for a lubricant and I've made the claying part of the wash routine so that when I dry the car I'm all set.

Results are the same whether I wash or QD with the clay - I don't see or experience any difference. I can see using the wash/clay when doing the whole car if it's part of a regular claying routine and the QD approach if you need either to spot clay or the claying will take a bit longer due to neglect or other issues - don't want the wash to dry out on your paint.
 
It really depends how heavily you are claying. I recently clayed the taurus and I used up nearly 2/3 of a Mother's clay bar. This sort of use should warrant the use of a QD. If you don't live in a place with a lot of fallout, or you've clayed in the past couple of months, or you've been keeping your car insanely clean (all of us at one time or another) you can use the car wash method. One thing I've heard of people doing is putting a correctly concentrated car wash/water in a spray bottle and using it like a QD for claying. You would have to rinse it afterwards.
 
I do it and have been for over a year and don't notice a difference in how long my clay lasts. I sure save on not buying QD or lube for clay .
 
I've used ClayMagic blue with soapy wash water with no problems, no smearing, no marring. Just don't leave the clay IN the wash bucket, it could (or will depending on which clay you're using) degrade.
 
Using QD for every clay job can get pricey. I've relegated it to QD'ing only.

Try making a "mini bucket" of wash. That is, your very own clay spray.

Mix a small amount of car wash soap and water in a clean spray bottle. Put the h2o in first as to reduce sudage (is that a word?)

Can't go wrong with a CLEAN soapy paint surface, using homeade spray.

The key here is clean paint before clay, and minimum friction/maximum lubrication.

Claying should always be followed up with polish/wax/seal, as any clay with any lubricant may leave marring. Remember, you're dealing with "bare" paint, as you've removed embedded contaminants including any previous wax/sealant.
 
agentm said:
Does anyone use carwash soap and water to clay or do you just use the quick detaileer? Thanks
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I often clay with a bucket of clean car wash suds. Just make sure you wash the car completely first. Then come back with a fresh bucket of suds and your wash mitt to lightly soap up a section of a panel... and start claying. Use another light swipe with a fresh mitt full of suds and water to remove any possible residue and then rinse. This is actually a pretty fast way to do a "light" claying of the vehicle................ and it needs to be fast, as you don't want the vehicle drying with water spots. Keep it rinsed down and work in the shade.

Also, some clay bars don't hold up well using the car wash soap method... keep an eye on the bar.
 
Bump.

QD spray does get pricy, and I've found in my trials that a well mixed soap/water works just as good, especially when you're polishing and waxing later anyway. This is a great way to save some cash so you can buy other goodies!

Mike
 
So what dilution ratio do you guys use if you are using a spray bottle and NXT for example. I would like to use the soapy water mixture but do not know what ratio to use. I assume that if you use NXT with a bucket and mitt then you just use the ratio you use when washing a car without clay?

Mark
 
stluciedetail said:
using the soap water could break down the clay
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Hasn't happened to me yet either. I think it might depend on the clay bar as well. Clay Magic's bar doesn't seem to break down in soapy water.
 
agentm said:
How does it feel when a clay bar breaks down?
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I would imagine goo-ey. Like wet Play-Dough or something. At least that's what I picture people talking about when they say that their clay was broken down by car wash solution.
 
JaredPointer said:
Hasn't happened to me yet either. I think it might depend on the clay bar as well. Clay Magic's bar doesn't seem to break down in soapy water.
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mothers clay got really really soft and very moldable when i started using soapy water for claying. clay magik maintained its form through it all...
 
The only time I had clay break down on me is when I used an old piece with some APC on my rims.

When I make up my wash water, I take a smaller bucket and fill it from the main bucket before I start washing.

From there it's a simple matter of wash, rinse, then then take the small bucket of 'fresh' soapy water and a microfiber (to wet the surface with loads of soapy water) and clay.
 
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