How to Tell If Your Car Needs Claying

Claying is one of the most overlooked steps in car care. Many people skip it because they don’t know when it’s needed. In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to tell if your car needs claying, why it matters, and the simple test you can do in less than a minute to find out.

What is Claying?

Claying is the process of using a clay bar or clay mitt to remove bonded contaminants from your car’s paint. Washing alone can’t remove these because they’re embedded in the clear coat. Clay safely pulls them out, leaving paint smooth and ready for polishing or protection.

The Baggie Test: The Easiest Way to Know

The fastest way to check if your car needs claying is called the “baggie test.” Here’s how it works:

1. Take a thin plastic bag (like a sandwich bag).
2. Place your hand inside and lightly glide it across clean paint.
3. If you feel bumps, grit, or roughness—the car needs claying.

Without the bag, your hand may not feel the contamination, but the bag magnifies surface texture so you can feel it instantly.

Common Signs Your Car Needs Claying

• Paint Feels Rough: Even after a wash, the surface doesn’t feel smooth.
• Loss of Gloss: Contamination scatters light, making paint look dull.
• Water Beading Fails: Coatings or waxes stop working because contaminants block bonding.
• Visible Specs: Tiny black or orange dots (rail dust or iron fallout) that don’t wash away.

Types of Contaminants Clay Removes

• Industrial Fallout: Tiny metallic particles from trains, factories, and brake dust.
• Tree Sap: Sticky deposits that harden onto the clear coat.
• Overspray: Paint mist from body shops or construction.
• Tar & Road Grime: Sticky asphalt particles.

How Often Should You Clay?

How often you clay depends on your driving environment:

Myths About Claying

• Myth: Claying scratches paint.
  Truth: When used with proper lubrication, clay is safe and won’t scratch clear coat.
• Myth: If the paint looks shiny, it doesn’t need clay.
  Truth: Contamination isn’t always visible but can still affect gloss and protection bonding.
• Myth: New cars don’t need claying.
  Truth: New cars often have transport fallout, rail dust, or overspray from the factory.

Pro Tips for Claying

• Always use plenty of clay lubricant (or car soap solution).
• Work in small sections and check your clay often.
• If the clay gets too dirty, fold and knead to expose a clean surface.
• For faster work, use a clay mitt instead of a traditional clay bar.

Real-World Example

One Jimbo’s Detailing customer brought in a daily-driven SUV that felt rough even after washing. The baggie test revealed heavy contamination. After a full clay and polish with Picture Perfect Polish, the difference was night and day—the metallic blue paint looked like glass, and Tough As Shell bonded perfectly for months of protection.

Extra Q&A on Claying

Q: Can I clay too often?

A: Yes. While claying is safe, it’s abrasive at a microscopic level. Limit to a few times a year unless you live in heavy fallout zones.

Q: Do I always need to polish after claying?

A: Not always, but polishing after claying ensures maximum gloss and prepares paint for protection.

Q: Can I clay glass and wheels too?

A: Yes, clay works great on glass and wheels to remove bonded contaminants and brake dust.

Related Posts

• When Should You Clay Your Car?
• Do You Need to Polish Before Ceramic Coating?
• The Correct Order for Car Detailing – Wash, Clay, Polish, Protect