I detail cars for a living and clay bars are wonderful I use soapy water with the clay bar so everything glides and I am not wasting a bottle of spray wax, just a little tip to save yourself some money.

Looks good though you know it's done when you can shave in the paint lol

 

I have found that if you can get two other people to help the washing, clay bar, washing, drying and then waxing can be done in about 2 hrs.
The key for me is to do a detailed job with the first wash (using dawn liquid) so that the clay bar is not getting too contaminated with dirt.
That reminds me that I need to detail it again.

 

I've heard Dawn strips off the old wax....I seem to remember in the Zaino process they recommend blue Dawn (I've never done a multi-step process, usually just wax)....I love the feel of the clay'd cars. I used to think my wife's car's paint was cheap and shot, and hers is a pearl. The reality was the car has been outside its entire life since late 2011, so simply waxing didn't make it smooth like the car that has been in the garage all its life. It has never been clay'd so now it's the rough one....

 

You are correct dawn or any dish soap strips off any wax on your car. When I detail someone's car I wash first with the dawn dish soap, then rinse off, soap down again using meguiars gold class soap, clay bar the vehicle, use a fresh batch of meguiars soap soap and rinse again, hand dry then apply one coat of wax possibly two depending on what they are paying for if the car needs it etc.

 

I take my car to my local car wash/detail shop about 2-3 times a year for a clay bar and wax detail. I have the same dedicated detailer for the last few years. We are not talking about a 2 hr detailing as this is bascially a car wash operation but I do watch the detailer and he spends more time than they want him to on my car. To date, my car's finish is still smooth as a babies butt when clean. Paint looks new and shines like a mirror. Part of the reason is because most of my car's life has been undercover and out of the sun. Also, I've been dedicated to caring for its finish for the last 9 years and continued to keep it garaged. I am a huge believer of clay bar. It really keeps the contaminates away and allows for a deep shine with the proper wax. I'm talking about a 16 year old car here! Yes regular clay bar and quality wax works! PS....I have not stripped previous wax off before the clay bar waxing process. I'm sure it might be helpful, but I have never found it necessary and still have great results.

 

Love the clay and polish routine. This last time my detailer was running a special on the Ceramic Pro Sport coating for free with exterior detail, so I bit. It’s guaranteed to last minimum 6 months, sometimes up to a year, and not need any waxing in between. Here it is a month later (today). It sits and bakes all day in the sun...working on that situation too, lol.

 

Sweet, the mirror like finish is clearly seen on the rear right 1/4.....that's exactly what I'm referring to sometimes...if there were body work, then the tree would not be reflecting like the car is a mirror, it's squiggly, and I see it all the time in full sun on nice cars, in traffic...