Question about how often to clay your car

[strader327]

Hey guys, I was wondering how often do you need to claybar your car? Is it best to always do it every month before you put a fresh coat of polish and or wax on the car or should you only do it when the surface of the paint starts to feel rough? Because my blue Pontiac still feels as smooth as silk and it's been about a year or so since I clayed the whole car.

I've just been keeping it freshly detailed every week with spray on detailer and I've been putting a fresh coat of wax either once every month or every other month.

Let me know what you all do and I'll try to make up my mind whether or not I should clay the thing when I give it a fresh wax job in the next couple of weeks. Thanks guys!

[Murr1525]

Re: Question about how often to clay your car

I usually do twice a year.

But if you were to get splashed/sprayed/etc with something that bonds fast a day after detailing, it could need done the next day.

[BillE]

Re: Question about how often to clay your car

Like Mat said, twice a year.

BUT, if you vehicle spends a lot of times outside, not garaged, long travel times, etc, etc. More often MAY be needed. Are you doing the 'baggie test'? That does give a pretty good indication if claying is needed.

Bill

[smack]

Re: Question about how often to clay your car

Since you are on top of keeping it clean you shouldnt need to clay more than twice a year.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Question about how often to clay your car

Claying is done on an as needed basis. Exposure is everything, as is routine maintenance on the vehicle. It is possible that you could fully detail a car this weekend and on Monday it's exposed to something really nasty, like paint overspray due to be parked downwind from an industrial building that's being repainted with a spray process. On the other hand, a weekend toy that is only out a few weekends a year and otherwise pampered may not need to be clayed for a couple of years or more.

Every time you wash and dry the car you should inspect it for both above surface and below surface defects. Above surface contaminants are simple to check for - wash and dry the car and then simply run your hand over the paint. If it's starting to feel rough then you're close to clay time. If not, don't worry about it. At least not right now.

[strader327]

Re: Question about how often to clay your car

Thanks everyone!

[ethereal45]

Re: Question about how often to clay your car

I have a car that sits outside and I clay it about every other month. Our cars that sit inside barely need it every 6 months. Exposure is everything.

[ffboy]

Re: Question about how often to clay your car

Daily drivers require more frequent claying, on my cars at least, I can't get to 3 months without claying, that's how bad our environment is. Consumer level clays aren't that aggressive anyway, so there isn't much risk when claying more frequently than normal.