How to Clay Your Car

Claying your car is a great way to profoundly enhance the smoothness of your car. If car claying is a foreign concept to you, it may sound like a complex process reserved for professionals with experience and expensive equipment. However, car claying is actually quite simple and only requires a few easily obtainable resources.

You will need the following materials; an auto detailing clay bar, a wash mitt, spray wax (or clay lube), car soap, a bucket, and a hose. It shouldn’t be too hard for most to find a hose and bucket, and the aforementioned materials can be acquired for around $30.

An auto detailing clay bar is similar to the sculpting material, but has been specially designed to be elastic and durable enough to enable the clay to be stretched, smashed, and rinsed repeatedly. It’s also able to withstand the tougher types of contaminants that your car is likely to encounter; such as metals, glass, fiberglass, and other resilient materials that regular car washing won’t remove.

Start by gently washing your car conventionally, reserving or replacing the soapy water for future steps. Cut off about a third of the clay bar and store the remaining clay in an air tight container. Then, knead the clay into a shape that can easily be rubbed against the car, similar to a hamburger patty, and drop the clay into the soapy bucket.

Soak up some soapy water with the wash mitt and use your non-denominate hand to squeeze the water onto the panel to be cleaned. Quickly spray a shot of car wax/clay lube onto the wet surface, and then gently place the clay bar on top. Lightly move the clay bar in short, side-to-side motions at a quick speed. Once it becomes noticeably easier to move the clay bar, move on to the next area.

As you clean your car, periodically knead the clay bar and ensure that there aren’t any jutting contaminants, as they could scratch your cars paint. Once youre finished with a section of the car, be sure to quickly rewash and rinse the clayed area. When the entire car has been clayed, simply rinse, dry, and seal the surface.

And that’s it! Claying your car is quick, easy, inexpensive, and seriously effective. If you intend to reuse the clay bar, be sure to knead it in cool water to release the cleaning products and contaminants prior to storage.

How to Clean Your Soft Top

Cleaning your soft top convertibles sensitive material may seem daunting, but it is surprisingly easy to do without tarnishing or devaluing the delicate fabric, and primarily requires rudimentary equipment/materials.

The first step is to rinse the top layer with a hose or pressure washer, which should remove a good portion on the surface dirt. If you’re using a pressure washer, be sure to keep the nozzle at least a foot away from the fabric to prevent damage. Blot dry with a microfiber towel or gently use a vacuum to blow dry, and then reassess the dirtiness of the material.

Next, spray a suitable amount of fabric cleaner over a workable area and use a soft bristle interior brush to bring the soap to lather. Avoid typical car wash mitts, as they break down and can potentially leave lint embedded in the fabric. Once the soap is lathered, use straight motions side to side and up and down to clean. If the top is particularly dirty, a firmer brush may need to be used.

Once you’ve covered the entire surface, give it a rinse with water and repeat the process as many times as necessary. Once the material is clean, dry with a Vac ‘N’ Blo or similar blowing device such as a leaf blower. Blot any access moisture with a microfiber cloth. It’s key to avoid using terry towels or the like as they will break down and leave residue embedded in the fabric, similar to what a typical wash mitt would do.

Once completely dry, spray 3 thin layers of Fabric Guard over the entire top. Use a slow and concise method similar to painting to avoid any running or dripping. Note the drying time in the directions for the product you use, and be sure to avoid contact with the fabric during that time. And you’re finished! Continue to take dutiful care of your delicate soft top, and you can expect to enjoy you’re beautiful convertible in mint condition for many years to come.