Getting Your Paint Smooth as Glass: The No-Nonsense Guide to Clay Barring (Mar 2026)

Never clay a car in direct Aussie sun. The lubricant will dry instantly and leave a mess. If you don't have a carport, wait until the arvo when the sun's lower.

Give the car a thorough wash using the two-bucket method. Get all the loose dirt off. This isn't your 'quick servo wash', scrub every nook and cranny.

Spray an Iron Remover on the paint (especially the wheels and lower panels). Let it sit for 3-5 minutes until it turns purple, then rinse. This does the heavy lifting for you.

Check for black spots of road tar behind the wheels. Use a dedicated remover and a microfibre to wipe them away.

You don't need it bone dry, but you don't want water dripping everywhere while you're trying to work. A quick pat down with a drying towel is fine.

Cut your 100g clay bar into 3 or 4 pieces. Knead one piece until it's soft and flatten it into a pancake shape about the size of three fingers.

Focus on a 40cm x 40cm area at a time. Don't try to do the whole bonnet at once.

Generously spray your clay lubricant onto the paint and the clay itself. You want it sliding, not sticking.

Place the clay on the surface. Use very light pressure, just your fingertips to guide it. Let the clay do the work.

Move the clay in straight, overlapping lines. Avoid circular motions; straight lines are safer for the paint.

You'll actually hear the clay 'grabbing' the contaminants. It sounds like a light scratching. As the surface gets clean, it will become silent and glide effortlessly.

After a few passes, flip the clay over. If it looks brown or grey, it's dirty.

Fold the dirty side inwards and knead the clay until you have a fresh, clean surface again.

Once a section feels smooth, wipe away the excess lubricant with a clean microfibre towel.

Put your hand inside a thin plastic sandwich bag and run it over the section you just did. The bag amplifies any remaining grit. If it's still rough, go again.

Be careful around badges and trim. Clay can get stuck in the gaps and it's a pain to get out.

Always start at the roof and work your way down. The bottom panels are always the filthiest, and you don't want to drag that grit up top.

Don't forget your windscreen and headlights! Clay works wonders on glass to remove water spots and bug guts.

Once the whole car is done, give it a quick rinse with water to remove any leftover lubricant residue.

Dry the car thoroughly with a high-quality microfibre drying towel.