Dawn,
Claying is the BEST cleaning process possible. A cleaner is optional. Depending on the paint condition and the amount of time and effort you are willing to spend. I very seldom use both. Usualy I just clay and then proceed on. I am about to use both steps on a black eight year old Cobra I bought. The reason being, the car has had no protection except for a garage.(never waxed) The paint looks good, but is not factory. I think the guy just had it buffed is all. I will clay bar the car to remove all contaminants & to acheive the slickest paint possible. Then, because I have never worked on this car, I will use a cleaner...probably Zymol's HD cleanse. This is just a precausion, and will remove any remaing residues from the clay and will give me a base shine that the clay will not produce. It will also feed the paint. You have been misinformed about the clay bar process. The clay (if done properly) will remove ALL contaminants small & large & will leave you with the best paint condition to proceed with your next steps. The cleaner is only for reasons given above & will not equal the clay bar process alone. :xyxthumbs
hope this helps..............GOOD LUCK!