Using car soap and water as a clay lube?

T

tsx2004

WaffleWeed
hi all,

hmmm......so far ive been using car soap and water diluted as lubricant when i clay my car. i just wanted to know if this is ok or not?

i tend to notice that some people use QD as a lube. if using soap and and water is not good, let me know. i normally use megs. gold class shampoo to wash my car.

i take a little bit of soap and dilute it with water to use as my clay lube.
 
Yeah, it's fine. That's what I use as a clay lube, although I perform the clay step during the wash process. It's the same lube though - soap and water.
 
I like to use a lube, to me the lube feels slicker and the clay bar glides over the paint a lot nicer , less of a chance to marr/scrarch the finish.
 
I clay during the wash like Jared, and I have 1/2 ounce of CG to 15.5 ounces of water in a spray bottle for when the suds get thin and more lube is needed. Saves a lot of time, money, and energy over the traditional way.
 
JaredPointer said:
... although I perform the clay step during the wash process....
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On my personal vehicles and on other well maintained vehicles this is the way to go. It is a nice time saver. However, on a vehicles that are extremely dirty, I will complete my wash completely rinse and with a fresh wash bucket I will go over the vehicle again. If I sense the need, I will, for added lubrication, also hit the soapy surface with a shot of QD. Now that I have the foam gun, I can replace the extra wash bucket, but will still use the QD. I buy lots of QD and with the exception of S&W I rarely dilute.
 
I've been using soapy water as a lube all year and I haven't had a problem with clay breaking down. I just use Eagle One Bucketless Wash and spray a little in a 32 ounce spray bottle of water. It has worked great. EOBW (new acronym!) is pretty thin as it is, so it mixes in the water faster than a glob of normal wash. It's not quite as soapy either, so you don't have as much clean up after you are done.
 
Jngrbrdman said:
I've been using soapy water as a lube all year and I haven't had a problem with clay breaking down. I just use Eagle One Bucketless Wash and spray a little in a 32 ounce spray bottle of water. It has worked great. EOBW (new acronym!) is pretty thin as it is, so it mixes in the water faster than a glob of normal wash. It's not quite as soapy either, so you don't have as much clean up after you are done.
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Jngr, try mixing an ounce of soap with 31 ounces water in that 32 ounce spray bottle...it will not be globby or anything and it will be more economical.
 
I think you are talking about pennies when you compare the value of using normal soap and bucketless wash with water as clay lube. Either way is more economical than buying QD or specific clay lube for the job.
 
I mix about an ounce of Meguiar's #00 and the rest with distilled water in a 32oz. spray bottle.

The gentle #00 doesn't break down the clay and it is super slippery and not sudsy (known for it's lubrication abilities).

It costs pennies to make and does as good a job as clay lube (mostly water).
 
That is true too, but the bucketless wash makes a great presoaker product and is worth adding to the aresnal. Either way, soap and water makes a good lube. I think that is the common message we are both trying to get across. :bigups
 
The only clay I have in my arsenal is Meguiar's and I have found it to
break up into tiny pieces after awhile using a soap/water solution.
 
That is actually a common problem. I've been reading about crumbly Meguiar's clay for the last 5 years. Try Mother's or Clay Magic and I'll bet you won't have the same problem. Technically there are only two types of clay in the industry. Elastic and Plastic. Meguiar's is the Plastic version and Mother's is the elastic. Same with Clay Magic. The problem you are having with Meguiar's will likely be the same problem with any other clay of that type. Someone correct me if I have those backward, but that is how it was explained to me back when the debate was hot.
 
Soap and water as lube - no I'll pass
Makes the bar go mushy and easier to drop (like soap in a shower)
Can't hear the grit being removed (unless you got tonnes on there)

David B from autopia mentioned those exact problems and I emailed him a few times with my feedback and he's spot on.

I prefer to use quikshine or lubri shine as some QD's dry too quick
QEW with quikshine and lubri shine makes a great, extra long lasting super lube
 
I guess it depends on the clay bar. With soap and water for lube and the yellow clay I've used (Mothers and Opti-clay) the bar never decomposes or anything and I can always hear/feel the contaminants being removed.
 
Sherman8r44 said:
I guess it depends on the clay bar. With soap and water for lube and the yellow clay I've used (Mothers and Opti-clay) the bar never decomposes or anything and I can always hear/feel the contaminants being removed.
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Same here. I have never had a problem with clay "decomposing" on me when using soap and water as a lube.

This might be a little off the subject, but just how much does QD (clay lube) differ in makeup than soap and water?
 
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