Detailing Clay

The Clay Cloth Company are the No.1 supplier of high quality and durable Clay Products. With 30 years of experience in the trade, years of optimisation, customer feedback and a plethora of prototypes, because perfection is not subjective!

If Detailing Clay is a new concept in your car care routine, then you may be wondering what it is and what is does? well in short, detailing clay, whether its a bar, cloth or mitt removes contaminants and pollutants from the paint that regular washing can't. Preparation, preparation, preparation... this is the key to achieving sublime car care results. It doesn't matter how expensive or good your wax is, or how many coats you apply, you just won't achieve the perfect finish unless you spend time preparing your paintwork properly!

One key step in this preparation is to remove firmly bonded surface contaminants in the clear coat by using detailing clay, rendering the paintwork completely free of unwanted and damaging contamination and feeling perfectly smooth.

For a more detailed look into these products, see below...

What is Detailing Clay?

Clay Products used in Automotive Detailing contain an engineered resin compound which is used to remove contaminants and pollutants such as industrial pollution, acid rain, brake dust, and overspray from the surface of your vehicles paint, metal, fibreglass and even glass. These contaminants impregnate into the vehicles paint, glass and metal and remain there even after regular washing and even polishing and the only way to remove them is with Detailing Clay. (see Fig 1) 

These contaminants very often contain metal particles, which is why they very easily penetrate the clear / laquer coat and eventually into the paint below; these then oxidize and allow rust to spread beneath the clear coat. Detailing Clay can also easily remove stubborn tree sap, tar, and bugs.

Fig 1 - Surface Contamination

Using Detailing Clay

Whether you're using a bar, cloth or mitt they all require a lubricant to prevent scratches as you lightly rub the clay on the vehicle. This can be either a Detailing Spray or pH Neutral Car Shampoo. Our video provides instruction on this use, but it's very easy to use! Importantly with Clay Cloths and Clay Mitts, regular rinsing is required - this is highlighted in the video and also in the Instructions you get with our cloths and mitts.

Benefits of Claying

The prime benefit of using detailing clay has been explained above, but how do you know if you have been successfull? Well, following application, you will hear an audible difference in the surface sound. Rub your hand over the surface of the paintwork prior to using and you will probably hear a rough sounding noise... rub it again after claying and you should hear nothing! Additional and a notable benefit is the super slick and smooth feel of the paint. You can polish your vehicle for hours and it will never feel as smooth as it does after using detailing clay and this in turn makes polishing and waxing so much easier and more effective. The contamination free surface also allows for a tighter wax finish which lasts longer and looks better as a result of light refraction.

Financial Benefits

We at CCC have found that the value of cars when it comes to that point of selling can be held at a higher premium, why? well if you have ever touched the surface of a car which has been clayed, and experienced the silky smooth feel and poored over the deep glossy shine, then what prospective buyer could refuse? Point these areas out when selling and the deal is as good as done!

Bar, Cloth or Mitt?

The Clay Bar is the oldest of the bunch and is widely used. The downsides of the bar are that if it is dropped, it's game over as you will not be able to effectively remove the grit. It's also generally the most expensive and in our opinion, harder to use than the other two options. (See Fig 2)

Fig 2 - Clay Bar

The Clay Cloth is relitively new and comes with the added benefit of a microfibre backing which can be used for all manner of things, it's easy to use and can very effectively reach awkward places with ease and safety. It's provides a larger contact surface so more clay is in contact with the paint at any one time and as such provides for a faster claying process. More and more detailers are going down the route of using cloths for these reasons with the benefit of reduced labour costs as a result of time saving.

 Fig 3 - Clay Cloth

The Clay Mitt does all of the above but as the name suggests, allows you to put your hand inside for those who want to feel more control.

Fig 4 - Clay Mitt