my vert was shipped over from Hawaii and it had this reddish brown dust embedded in the black top. i scrubbed it using several cleaners and could never get it to come out. finally took it to a detailer who got the dirt out of it and it looks great now.
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My Mustang:
2007 Mustang Convertible. V6. Torch Red with a black top.
8/24/09--Just added my first mod....a flowmaster exhaust system. CAI and tuner up next
I can see like an old wax type residue on my car in some spots, possibly from old wax never been taken off, etc. Will the clay remove all those areas where I this film on the paint? It almost looks like hard water spots on paint? I have a TB Bullitt
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Purerock Racing
Quartz Hill, CA
2001 Bullitt GT TB-5175
I can see like an old wax type residue on my car in some spots, possibly from old wax never been taken off, etc. Will the clay remove all those areas where I this film on the paint? It almost looks like hard water spots on paint? I have a TB Bullitt
Clay would be a good bet. You can also try isopropyl alcohol.
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it almost looks like cloudy areas in/on the paint possibly from wax being applied in the sun and not apply correctly, etc. My wife us to go thru those drive thru car wash things when she had the car. I usually wash it with normal dish soap and water but the water always beeds up afterwards. I think there is just too much was on top of old was on top of even older wax. What else can I use before the clay to remove all that old wax/polish down to the raw clear coat? The car has never been buffed out, but still shines pretty good. I just see some areas that look like a cloudy film is on the paint, it really bugs me LOL
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Purerock Racing
Quartz Hill, CA
2001 Bullitt GT TB-5175
it almost looks like cloudy areas in/on the paint possibly from wax being applied in the sun and not apply correctly, etc. My wife us to go thru those drive thru car wash things when she had the car. I usually wash it with normal dish soap and water but the water always beeds up afterwards. I think there is just too much was on top of old was on top of even older wax. What else can I use before the clay to remove all that old wax/polish down to the raw clear coat? The car has never been buffed out, but still shines pretty good. I just see some areas that look like a cloudy film is on the paint, it really bugs me LOL
If that's the case, and isopropyl alcohol didn't work, I'd follow with a product like Mothers Pre-Wax Cleaner. You can get it at Pep Boys. Meguiar's also has a similar product which you can get at Peps and some other chains, as step 1 of a 3-part cleaner/glaze/wax system.
3M also makes a wax removing product, but it's a tad pricey.
Don't use dish soap for washing as it's harsh and will remove wax. Beading has little to do with wax. Instead use a quality car wash like Mothers or Meguiar's.
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My car has vinyl stripes. Should I clay the stripes? If so, I assume going along the stripes instead of perpendicular would be best, right? If I shouldn't clay the stripes, any tips on how to clay a car while avoiding the stripes?
Also, the sequence of events seems to be:
1. wash
2. dry
3. clay with plenty of lubricant
4. wipe off excess lubricant
5. polish
6. wax
I've done wash, dry, and waxing before, and obviously this thread is about claying, but I've never polished a car and I'm not real sure what supplies I'll need or even how to polish. Any help there would be great, even if you just want to send me a message in order to keep this thread on topic. Thanks!
As for claybaring over stripes - there seems to be two schools of thought... Yes and No ... Clay bar is an abrasive - and of course, you want to keep anything abrasive off of your vinyl stripes... the other thought is, it's not damaging the paint, it would be fine over the stripes.
I am torn here, because it wasn't cheap to buy and install my stripes... so I am probably going to mask them off when I clay my car... My husband thinks I should test on an area I am thinking of replacing... that's an option.
I would highly recommend using caution.
I am currently emailing Rob at Baltimore Street Mods to see what his advice is, as you've brought up an excellent topic! I'll post back what he has to say!!
As for clay... there are two washes in there, not just one... Make sure you read the instructions completely and follow them to the T.
Polishing is probably the easiest step you'll do... each wash has their own instructions, I do all my car work by hand... do small sections at a time, divide your car up visually...
Furthermore, I seal my car after waxing - or you may want to do 2 waxes with a high quality wax... I break it up between 2 days, it is a lot of work.
I'll be sure to post back when I hear from BMS about claying stripes....
Well, lookie -
Here is Rob's response (owner of Baltimore Street Mods):
I have not tried a claybar..... I usually use fnatastik orange cleaner spray and paper towels to clean them, then spray wax to protect against the rain and road debris.
Again, I would highly recommend using caution.
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The greatness of a nation and its moral progress,
can be judged by the way its animals are treated. ~ Gandhi
Actually Judi, Claybar is not necessarily abrasive. I thought the same thing until a member here straightened me out. I say "not necessarily" because it's not relying on an abrasive to clean your paint, but because the deposits it picks up can become abrasive if you don't kneed the bar so you're using fresh clay.
The clay has more to do with picking up the debris embedded in the paint and pulling them out, leaving a smooth finish. That said, it should be fine to use claybar on vinyl stripes. Actually, it would probably do a good job of getting some of the debris out of the softer vinyl. Just be sure to use plenty of lubricant - like spray detailer. And a light touch.
I had a claybar for quite a while, which I refused to use thinking it was an abrasive. After being set straight, I gave it a try on my F-150 and the difference was noticeable and immediate.
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'05 Sonic Blue GT w/ '07 V8 engine, 5-sp, IUP, Beige leather interior, nothing else -
just the way I wanted it. (1 of 113)
OK, so I've added a few things to it. Check my Profile - too many to list here.
Thanks for the info!! That's a great bunch right there!!
I use clay bar and love it... but our member wanted to know if he can use it on his vinyl stripes... Because cars and car finishes are so important to the owners - I don't take questions here lightly... nor do I just go ahead and say it "should" be ok... That's so I can sleep at night without worrying I gave bad advice and someone is now ruining their car...
I am not and was not prepared to give that advice as a "sure thing" so I contacted Rob at Baltimore Street Mods - who has installed and sold thousands of stripe kits... He told me he's never used clay bar on stripes.
IMO it is a very mild abrasive and although it technically is an abrasive - it removes and exfoliates some or parts of surface contaminants and completely removes others... Hmmm, so that leaves me on the fence in the debate on whether it's an abrasive or not... I think it all kinda falls under opinions - when I googled it this AM... let me tell you - lots of opinions out there... even in written articles...Least abrasive, most abrasive, not abrasive ..... ... If you do not lube enough, like you said, you will have problems... we had a member or two on here with that problem... I guess it all depends.
If someone has some time, maybe they'd like to contact Mothers or Maguires and see what they have to say about claying vinyl stripes and post it up!
Good point, Judi, and well taken.
You're right, there's a lot of conflicting information out there about clay. By definition, clay is abrasive. Some industrial clays are so fine, however, they're used as lubricants (in a slurry form, of course). Hence the reason for using plenty of spray detailer.
I think the more prudent question is, does vinyl NEED to be claybared. We remove contaminants from the clearcoat, not so much for the shine, but for what they can do to the paint over an extended period such as pitting and rusting. I'm not sure the claybar would fulfill its purpose on vinyl stripes. Contaminants in the vinyl aren't hurting the paint. Additionally, with the vinyl being softer than paint, regular washing is likely to remove the majority of the contaminants anyway.
I have not used the claybar on the side vinyl stripes on my Mustang, but I have gone over the side stripes on my F-150 with no adverse effect (granted they're thinner and not as prominent). The biggest issue I've seen with claybar and stripes is getting the excess out from the corner where the stripe meets the paint. It's harder to remove than wax, so some people just tape that area off using blue painter's tape.
As for the claybar, like anything else each manufacturer has their own special mix, so reading the directions carefully is a must. I do remember seeing one that explicitly said not to use it on vinyl.
I'll try contacting Maguire's and see what they have to say.
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'05 Sonic Blue GT w/ '07 V8 engine, 5-sp, IUP, Beige leather interior, nothing else -
just the way I wanted it. (1 of 113)
OK, so I've added a few things to it. Check my Profile - too many to list here.
I just got off the phone with a Detailing Specialist at Maguire's and they do NOT recommend using claybar on vinyl stripes. The vinyl surface can be very delicate, and the repeated use of claybar can lead to a chalky surface over time.
So that to me answers the question. Tape off the edge of your stripes and leave them alone. From what I was reading on the Maguire's site, there are more appropriate products for vinyl and trim.
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'05 Sonic Blue GT w/ '07 V8 engine, 5-sp, IUP, Beige leather interior, nothing else -
just the way I wanted it. (1 of 113)
OK, so I've added a few things to it. Check my Profile - too many to list here.
Wow, that's interesting stuff!! Thank you so much for calling and getting that answer for us... I am going to quote you and post it under the "Care for Vinyl Stripes" thread.
Thanks for making that call!
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The greatness of a nation and its moral progress,
can be judged by the way its animals are treated. ~ Gandhi
I just got off the phone with a Detailing Specialist at Maguire's and they do NOT recommend using claybar on vinyl stripes. The vinyl surface can be very delicate, and the repeated use of claybar can lead to a chalky surface over time.
So that to me answers the question. Tape off the edge of your stripes and leave them alone. From what I was reading on the Maguire's site, there are more appropriate products for vinyl and trim.
That is good info. Thanks for finding that out. I would have never thought that the clay bar could be abrasive to vinyl.
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2002 Saleen S/C Coupe
#293 Torch Red
Power in the hands of a few
Just thought I would share. Used Meguiars clay system this weekend, (had to look good for the 4th) and man it looks like a different paint job. The shine is awesome. Took a few hours of elbow grease but was well worth it.
... Clay bar is an abrasive - and of course, you want to keep anything abrasive off of your vinyl stripes... the other thought is, it's not damaging the paint, it would be fine over the stripes. 
(1 of 113)
so I contacted Rob at 
