Anybody know how to remove stain which is created by clay

[Thawatchai Tantakarn]

I am very new in detailing. I did clay without clay lubricant then there is a clay stain on my car. I try to wash but the the stain still be on my car. Could anybody let me have idea to remove that stain.

Thank you

[james751993]

Never clay without a lubricant. That will just result in excessive marring to the paint surface. Use a lubricant like meguiars quik detailer.. its never let me down.
You can probably remove it with a light polish, a picture of it will be helpful.

James

[Mantilgh]

I would try a solvent.

A tar remover like Stoner Tarminator or goo gone.

[idriveblackcars]

Clay staining is very tough to come off. I usually use warm to hot water with a quality clay lube or qd and clay again over the stain. Or wash the car with a stronger shampoo and warm water.

[lawrenceSA]

Is the 'stain' he is referring to not actually just marring from the clay? If so, the solution is to polish the paint with an abrasive.

You should never really clay without polishing, or polish without claying.

[Thawatchai Tantakarn]

Thanks a lot for all kind comment. I will try from the most easy way first and let you know the result.

Very appreciated for all comment.

[faulksy]

You should never really clay without polishing, or polish without claying.

If doing full details maybe but why clay if your car doesn't need to be? If the paint isn't contaminated why inducing marring? That is just more polishing work.

Polishing removes contaminates too but at the cost of your polish pads durability.

My decision to clay is driven by the level of paint contamination

[lawrenceSA]

If doing full details maybe but why clay if your car doesn't need to be? If the paint isn't contaminated why inducing marring? That is just more polishing work.

Polishing removes contaminates too but at the cost of your polish pads durability.

My decision to clay is driven by the level of paint contamination

My reasons are:

a) as highlighted above, polishing off contamination is going to work the pad harder, and pads are expensive.
b) said contamination could embed itself in the pad and then scratch the paint, making more work for yourself

In most situations you would be polishing the paint to remove below surface defects, and if sufficient time has passed for such defects to be instilled in the paint, it is most likely that sufficient time has passed for contamination to build up. Are there going to be situations where you don't need to decon before polishing - yes, but as a 'general guidelines' I still believe decontamination and polishing go hand in hand.


To the original poster, do you have any feedback. I still maintain this is not a stain, but is instead scratches/marring from claying, especially as you said "I did clay without clay lubricant then there is a clay stain on my car. I try to wash but the the stain still be on my car. Could anybody let me have idea to remove that stain"

Thank you

[Mike Phillips]

My guess is - if you didn't use a clay lube, all you're seeing is a smudge.

Take ANY compound, polish or even a wax and lightly rub on the smudge and it will come right off.

If it's not a smudge then it's also NOT a stain but more than likely some type of marring. Marring is the nice fluffy kind word for scratching and if you scratched your car's paint by using clay without clay lube then the remedy is to simple get a polisher and polish the paint.


This is real simple stuff. Noting to be afraid of.

[Eldorado2k]

Polishing removes contaminates too but at the cost of your polish pads durability.

I've tried to compound paint with embedded contaminants and they survived the buffer no problem... Plus trying to polish rough paint that needs claying is a PITA because you can literally feel the pads lack of smoothness while trying to buff the panel.

I couldn't care less if it's shortening the life of the pad. It's lengthening the time of my polishing and ruining the smoothness of the process!