clay after or during wash?

J

jcbutta

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Hi guys. I need some clarification on something. I have been reading alot and some people say that they wash and dry thier cars prior to claying, others say they wash and while the car is still wet, they clay. Which is the correct or best way to clay. Thanks for your responses.

Oh, I almost forgot. When I polish my car, should I also do the body side molding on the car. It is also painted the same color. I wasnt sure because it is plastic.
 
If i clay a car. I will wash it, rinse of the suds, then clay. I think drying it, then claying is a wasted step.
 
I like to keep my clay lube pure and free from water so it maintains its lubricity...Therefore I dry first....Im O.C.D....just my opinion
 
I wash/ dry/ clay/ wipe dry.

Just habit I suppose + some ocd.
 
Water and left-over detergents aren't the best for clay bars, also drying it means you won't have to worry about claying off all the water spots, and I think drying will help to get any remaining soap or debris off. But, if you are in a hurry, I don't see anything terribly wrong with claying while it's wet.

I prefer drying it first because I'm kinda' odd in that I don't clay the whole car at once. I do the car in parts. For instance, I'll wash the whole car, dry it, then clay the roof, fully prep it, and then seal/wax it. Then I move on to the next part. This way, if I get tired, it gets hot, it rains, I get hungry, I get interrupted, or if I don't have the time to do the whole car, at least I have completed and sealed part(s) of the car. I also like to take my time. Also, I think this ensures a completely clean surface since you end up claying immediately before you seal with less time between claying and sealing. But that's just me. I'm older, have a family, work a lot, I hate the sun, etc. so I can't devote an entire day to my car. But this way I can do it in parts. Do a bit when I get home from work, or part in the morning and the rest in the evening.
 
Julesh said:
I prefer drying it first because I'm kinda' odd in that I don't clay the whole car at once. I do the car in parts. For instance, I'll wash the whole car, dry it, then clay the roof, fully prep it, and then seal/wax it. Then I move on to the next part. This way, if I get tired, it gets hot, it rains, I get hungry, I get interrupted, or if I don't have the time to do the whole car, at least I have completed and sealed part(s) of the car. I also like to take my time. Also, I think this ensures a completely clean surface since you end up claying immediately before you seal with less time between claying and sealing. But that's just me. I'm older, have a family, work a lot, I hate the sun, etc. so I can't devote an entire day to my car. But this way I can do it in parts. Do a bit when I get home from work, or part in the morning and the rest in the evening.
Click to expand...

That is a great point...some times I feel the urge to just do the whole thing at once, but I think I should just enjoy it more and take my time, If I'd be doing it for money then that would be a different story. :buffing:
 
I have done both and if time permits I like doing it after I have washed and dried the vehicle.
 
Thanks for all of the input but I think I am more confused now than before. Lol. Any advantages between one way or another?
 
rinse, wash, rinse, wash with rinseless, dont dry the panel. clay with rinseless wash lube
 
Following is not necessarioly right or wrong. It's just the way I wrap my brain around claying.
Some guys used to clay while washing. They figured soap was enough lube. Wash soap would break down some clay bars causing them to disenegrate. I chose never to do this so I didn't have to remember the exceptions.
Some guys clay with rinse water on the car. I always felt that it would dilute the lube so chose not to do this. The big pro is it is a big time saver.
So I clay after even though I have tried the other ways. Might still clay during a wash if I was in a really big hurry.
 
I wash, dry, then clay. Right or wrong, that's the way I do it.
 
wash , rinse, clay, dry , polish . sealant , wax a day later :D
 
I only clay after wash and dry because I WASH outside, and hate bringing a wet car INSIDE my garage/shop--boy, I wish I could say spa. So it gets dried then clayed. Also prefer no soap mixed in with lube and clay--buts that me, and me's not being paid to do all this, so time is not an issue. I am just having the time of my life, now that I have it, to do all the steps. :buffing:
 
Here, I'll make it easy for you. Any real enthusiast/professional detailer will tell you that you wash it, dry it, then clay it. Don't half ass it to save time. Take the time to do it right and you will be happier with the process and the results you get.
 
With all due respect Bamaboy007, I do not think, not drying the car before claying is doing it "half ass", it's efficient, but hey, that is just my opinion.
 
Wash, rinse, clay, wash, rinse, dry, ???, Profit?, Maybe a drink?
 
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