Do You Need to Polish After Claying Your Car?
You just finished claying your car. The paint feels smooth. You’re thinking: do I really need to polish now?
Answer: It depends. Claying and polishing are different steps with different goals. Here’s how to know if you need to polish—or if you can go straight to protection.
Clay vs. Polish: What’s the Difference?
- Clay removes bonded contaminants like brake dust, sap, and industrial fallout
- Polish removes swirl marks, light scratches, and oxidation from the clear coat
Claying makes your paint smooth. Polishing makes it glossy, reflective, and defect-free.
When You Should Polish After Claying
- ❌ You can see swirl marks or haze in sunlight
- ❌ Your paint looks dull or cloudy even after claying
- ❌ You want the best possible depth and gloss before applying ceramic spray or coating
Even the best ceramic spray won’t hide scratches—it’ll just lock them in.
When You Can Skip Polishing
- ✅ Your paint is already swirl-free and glossy
- ✅ You’re just doing maintenance and want speed over perfection
- ✅ You’re layering ceramic over existing protection and just needed to decon
Pro tip: If you clay and then apply Tough As Shell, it’ll still bond well—but polishing first gives it a better surface and longer life.
Best Polish for One-Step Results (Coming Soon)
Most DIYers don’t want 3 bottles, 4 pads, and 6 hours of buffing. That’s why we’re launching Picture Perfect Polish—a pad-dependent compound + polish in one that removes defects and finishes down beautifully.
No dust. No oily haze. Just results.
Quick Process for Best Results
- Wash with The Super Soaper
- Clay with a mitt or bar and proper lubrication
- Polish with Picture Perfect Polish (coming soon)
- Protect with Tough As Shell
Related Blog Posts
Recommended Products
- The Super Soaper – Preps paint for claying or polishing (Amazon)
- Everyday Microfiber Towels – For final wipe-downs after clay or polish
- Tough As Shell – Lock in your results with ceramic protection (Amazon)
Conclusion
Clay gets your paint smooth. Polish gets your paint perfect. If you want your ceramic to pop, your gloss to reflect, and your clear coat to actually shine—add polishing into your process when needed.
And when Picture Perfect Polish drops, you’ll be ready. Until then, prep right, apply smart, and protect everything with Jimbo’s Detailing.
