Next steps - clay bar or mitt

RoryMurphyJnr

Hi all,
Slowly getting my wash steps down.
Very happy with the results I got doing my Dad's car over the weekend.

Looking now at adding the use of clay to the mix.
Any suggestions?
Anyone recommend bar over mitt or vice versa?

Thanks

vectra

Mitt is faster apparently.

cena

vectra wrote: »

Mitt is faster apparently.

I like the mitt. Just rise it after each panel

ronnie3585

Go with a mitt. It is faster than a bar and in my experience much safer. I'm well used to using bars and I've gotten some marring using a bar even after perfect prep and taking every precaution.

When using a mitt I fill a bucket with hot water and whatever shampoo I'm using. I throw the mitt into the bucket for about 5-10mins before I use it to let the clay soften. I then put more hot water and shampoo into a spray bottle. Spray the panel, take the mitt from the bucket and use, keep dunking the mitt in the bucket throughout too. The key is lubrication, you can't have enough.

I use the G3 mitt from Halfords and find it very good.

RoryMurphyJnr

thanks for that Ronnie, appreciate the detail

celticsfan

Check out the exfoli block from carbon collective..same principle as the mitt but I just prefer to use the block!!

RoryMurphyJnr

So I picked up a clay mitt and gave it a go.
Totally blown away with the finish.

So the wash went like this

Rinse
Tyres - Meguiars Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner
Rinse
Snow Foam - Meguiar's Ultimate Snow Foam Xtreme Cling
Rinse
Contact wash 2BW - Holts shampoo
Rinse
Clay Mitt - Farecla G3 Body Prep Clay Mitt with Farecla G3 Bodyshop Detailer
Rinse
Polish - Autoglym Super Resin Polish
Wax - Snap Seal Liquid Carnauba Wax

Really delighted with the finish, need to add tar remover to the wash I think though.

ronnie3585

Glad to hear that it went well for you and you're happy with the results.

Re tar remover, like clay and fallout remover, it should only be used when required. In other words it shouldn't form part of your usual wash routine.

Dravokivich

Wouldn't it make sense to do the wheels last as everything else could run off onto'em?

RoryMurphyJnr

Always do them first as they're the dirtiest part of the car and and spray off them will dirty the already clean car.
Anyone I've watched always do them first

vectra

Dravokivich wrote: »

Wouldn't it make sense to do the wheels last as everything else could run off onto'em?

I always spray wheel cleaner on the wheels first,
Then snow foam the whole car,
Wait to dwell,
Pressure rinse wheels and then rinse off snow foam off the car,
Wash and rinse car
wash wheels
Rinse whole car again and dry.

Gumbo

Wheels completely first.
Full clean and wipe down.

Then do the car.
Doesn’t matter what you throw at the car then as it can be rinsed off the wheels.
You never want to be doing the car and then have to go back and do the wheels IMO.