What Liquid for Claying Vehicles ?

[ChrisD46]

What is your favorite liquid to use when claying your vehicles ? I would think that a quick detailing spray would be a popular choice but the only thing I have on hand is distilled water in a spray bottle and Griots 3:1 Ceramic Spray ?

 

[shortyb]

I use a bit of my car washing soap and water. Quick detailer/liquid wax is too expensive and a waste for clay lubricant IMHO. Most times I use a clay mitt and do a light pass while I have the foam cannon lather on it.

 

[jims5600]

What is your favorite liquid to use when claying your vehicles ? I would think that a quick detailing spray would be a popular choice but the only thing I have on hand is distilled water in a spray bottle and Griots 3:1 Ceramic Spray ?

I have used a good car wash soap while claying

 

[EvoMan]

Traditional clay bars are abrasive. I don’t use them anymore. I use a perforated decontamination towel.

 

[CKN]

I buy a Gallon of Meguiars Last Touch Detail Spray from Amazon. I dilute by 50% with distilled water and use it for both touch up and clay bar. Comes out much cheaper than the small spray bottles. Just buy an empty spray bottle and refill!

 

[ChrisD46]

Thanks for the replies - I just washed and dried my car , so I’ll try the straight distilled water spray as a clay lube first .

 

[97prizm]

What is your favorite liquid to use when claying your vehicles ? I would think that a quick detailing spray would be a popular choice but the only thing I have on hand is distilled water in a spray bottle and Griots 3:1 Ceramic Spray ?

Quick detailer.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

What is your favorite liquid to use when claying your vehicles ? I would think that a quick detailing spray would be a popular choice but the only thing I have on hand is distilled water in a spray bottle and Griots 3:1 Ceramic Spray ?

Quick detailer or solution of ONR and distilled water.

 

[ChrisD46]

Quick detailer or solution of ONR and distilled water.

ONR is ?

 

[Spring Break '92]

ONR is ?

Optimum No Rinse. +1 on that for clay lube. Really any multipurpose product that can be used for several purposes from the concentrate in various ratios of product to water are perfect as clay lube. The usage instructions will give the correct ratio. It saves a lot of money since you can make them into detail spray, waterless wash, rinseless wash and even interior cleaner spray. Distilled water is key, however. I also like McKee's N-914 and Adam's Hoseless Wash.

 

[Delta]

Thanks for the replies - I just washed and dried my car , so I’ll try the straight distilled water spray as a clay lube first .

That won't be slick enough and could really mar up the finish on your car. Mix a bit of car wash soap into the bottle. It needs to be as slick as possible.

 

[mrvmax]

I have used detail spray and also a 5 gallon bucket of soapy water. The last few times I washed it first then rinsed and refilled the wash bucket with soap and clean water and used that for the clay lubricant.

 

[QwikKota]

Also just use soap but dishwashing detergent to strip old wax and any grease/oils off. It's a good bit of work waxing my Ram. I basically wash it 3 times in the process. I try to do it every 6 months but it usually lags that interval.

 

[Brynjaminjones]

Maybe not what most would recommend, but I just put a few squirts of hand soap in some water in a spray bottle. It works great for me and I'm not aware of any additional marks I've cause.

I usually only clay before a polish anyway, so any marks would quickly be removed.

 

[f355spider]

Whatever quick detailer I have on hand...Griots Speed Shine or Griots Ceramic Speed Shine presently. I've also used Zymol or Mequires quick detailers.

Tip: do the claying right after washing and before drying. That will minimize the quantity of detailer spray required.

 

[Stittville Ed]

I also go with the Distilled Water and a little of my Car Wash.

 

[Carmudgeon]

Quick detailer.

But it's easier and faster just to lightly run the clay over the surfaces during a second soap cycle as part of a wash.

 

[Spring Break '92]

Also just use soap but dishwashing detergent to strip old wax and any grease/oils off. It's a good bit of work waxing my Ram. I basically wash it 3 times in the process. I try to do it every 6 months but it usually lags that interval.

That's terrible advice. Dishsoap dries out the clear coat fast. Use a dedicated strip wash formulated to safely strip waxes and coatings.

 

[QwikKota]

That's terrible advice. Dishsoap dries out the clear coat fast. Use a dedicated strip wash formulated to safely strip waxes and coatings.

I am not sure what you mean? This is 11 year old paint. Still looks pretty good to me. I put wax back on right after washing it again.