You can clay bar your car as often as you wish or simply prior to waxing or polishing your vehicle. To acquire the best smooth as glass touch and feel result it is ideal to always clay bar your vehicle prior to application of wax, glaze, polish or paint sealant..
Also question is, do you need to clay before polishing?
Yes it is necessary to clay a car before compounding/polishing. It is far better to do it and not need it than to need it and not do it. Lets pretend your car does not have any microscopic issues in the clear coat/paint.
Similarly, does clay remove wax? Always follow claying with a wax or sealant. Clay will removing existing wax and may leave tiny holes where contaminants have been removed. They must be sealed in order to protect the paint from corrosion." So, claying does remove wax and should therefore be re-waxed afterwards.
Also Know, can you wax a car without Claying?
If you clay the paint , the wax will last longer, bacause it will adhere directly into the paint and not in the contaminants. Almost all waxes contain some cleaning ability but there is no substitute for claying. you should try it its very easy.
Does Clay Bar damage clear coat?
Clay bars are not supposed to damage the paint or clear coat finish, the particles that are being removed by the clay bar might remove some of the clear coat (see image below for example) the the damage these particles can do over time is worse than the clear coat being removed - and this valleys will be filled in with
Related Question Answers
How often should you clay bar your car?
The good news is that you can easily determine for yourself when you need to clay. Simply feel your paint after each wash. If it feels rough or bumpy, it is time to clay! As a general guideline, claying 3-4 times a year will keep your car's paint clean and smooth.Does polishing a car remove clear coat?
In essence, a car polish is an abrasive product that you use to remove the top layer of paint or “clear coat.” So, if you have scratches on the surface, you can remove them with car polish. Again, polish doesn't protect the paint. That is where car wax steps in.What is the difference between polishing and waxing a car?
Though similar, waxing and polishing serve different purposes. Polishing a car removes small damages done to the top coat of your car's paint, such as road gunk, bird poop, and swirls that have built up over time. What polish doesn't do is make your car shiny. Wax makes cars shiny.Is Clay Bar better than wax?
You can clay bar your car as often as you wish or simply prior to waxing or polishing your vehicle. Claying is less abrasive than polishing or buffing the surface. Claying actually pulls out foreign particles and contaminants that have embedded themselves in the paint.Will clay bar remove orange peel?
Clay bar does wonders for removing impurities in the paint, but doesnt replace wet sanding when it comes to removing orange peel. Wet sanding your car isnt as dangerous as some people make it out to be. Just take your time, stay away from the edges, and check your work often.Why use a clay bar on my car?
Auto Detailing Clay Bar is an engineered resin compound used to remove contaminants from the surface of your car's paint, glass, fiberglass and metal. These contaminants pierce paint finishes, glass and metal and remain stuck on your vehicle through rain, car washes, and even polishing.Can you reuse a clay bar?
To answer your question, yes you can reuse a clay bar. If you drop it on the ground it is done, throw it away. You will also want to throw it away if it starts to take on a grit to it. The key is to fold over your clay and knead it.Can I wax without polishing?
Yes you can wax without polishing. Many people just use a spray wax or sealant for topping up after a wash. There are some really good ones, I like OCW as a spray wax. Just make sure the surface is well cleaned.Is Claying your car worth it?
Over time, these particles could permanently damage your paint. These particles also prevent wax and polish from working properly, which means you don't get as clear a shine. If you want to protect your paint job in the future and have your car looks its best, clay bar detailing is absolutely worth it.Is Clay Bar necessary?
The use of clay is essential when it comes to detailing your car. The fact is, you should never clay bar your car and stop there. Clay bars are abrasive and will mar your paint while they remove the contaminants. You need to polish the paint afterward in order to maintain a perfect finish.Can you use clay bar on Windows?
Glass does not need a special clay bar, and most clay bars are safe for glass. They may leave marring on the glass and need to be polished afterwards. With any clay bar, make sure to use the proper clay lubricant. Soaps and water-less washes can often breakdown the clay bars, causing them to crumble and fall apart.Is it necessary to polish a car before waxing?
Polish should be used before wax, as it helps to restore auto paint that has lost its shine due to oxidation. Car polish does this by removing a very fine layer of the paintwork so the appearance of scratches is minimized as they settle into the coat.Is rubbing compound bad for car paint?
If you use a rubbing compound that is designed for clear coat paint then you will be fine. You can use it on small scratches or anywhere the paint is oxidized. Just make sure it is clear coat compatible.Can you polish a car by hand?
Hand polishing is a good method to get rid of minor clear coat scratches and swirls, but for deeper paint defects machine polishing is required. But don't underestimate polishing an entire car by hand as it is very time consuming and puts a lot of pressure on the muscles of your hand.Can you clay bar headlights?
Automotive detailing clay isn't just for paint! You can use detailing clay on any smooth, hard surface, including glass and chrome. But never use clay on clear plastic, such as headlight lenses.Can you use water with clay bar?
Re: Using Clay Bar with waterMeguiars tends to say it is best to have some sort of lubrication, as in a soap or detailer spray, not just water alone. The idea being, if you picked up any sharp, or large bits on the clay, the water wouldnt provide enough lubrication, an you could put swirls in your paint.Does dish soap strip car wax?
While it does a good job, it's good because it's considered an abrasive soap. But, when you use an abrasive soap on something like car paint, it accelerates the oxidation process and gives the car a dull look. Dish soap will also break down a car's wax coat and can be tough on rubber.Can a clay bar remove scratches?
Clay Bar, Wax & DIY Scratch RemovalA clay bar surface treatment will take any excess dirt and grime off the surface of your vehicle. Next, a wax and buff will help smooth out your paint. If after the clay bar and wax there are still scratches, you may wish to try some liquid scratch removal.Can you clay bar plastic bumpers?
Yes, you can clay any painted surface so long as it is smooth (not textured). You can also clay plastic lenses as well as exterior glass and chrome. 
Grace Evans 
