Can You Use a Clay Bar on Custom Car Rims?

A clay bar is a simple trick that can be used to keep your car smooth. Sometimes washing and waxing just isn't enough to remove all the dirt and grime that has built up on your car's exterior. The clay bar makes it possible to clean everything from paint to your car's rims without damaging the vehicle, or removing the wax coating.

Description

A clay bar is used in car cleaning to help remove any debris that might be caught in the clear coating over a car's paint. While washing and waxing the car removes dirt on the surface, tiny objects can become lodged in your car's paint and leave it feeling rough even after you've cleaned it. The clay bar is used to smooth out and remove the debris so you car will feel clean again.

Function

To use a clay bar, it must first be kneaded so that fresh clay is exposed. The car is then sprayed down with lubricant, such as clay bar lubricant, which is often sold anywhere that clay bars can be purchased. The clay bar is rubbed over the lubricated surface until it slides along without any effort. The owner then continues to the next section of his car after drying off the lubricant with a towel. It takes a lot of time and hard work to clean a car using a clay bar, especially if a large area needs to be cleaned.

Potential

Clay bars can be used on any part of the car that needs a deep cleaning to remove debris that won't come off with a normal washing. The paint is the most common area of a car that is cleaned, but the rims of the car can be cleaned using a clay bar as well. With custom rims especially, the owner will want to keep them looking nice and shiny. While dirt and debris are less likely to be stuck in the rims of the car, if washing doesn't remove the problem a clay bar can be used.

Warnings

Always use lots of lubricant when using a clay bar. Not enough lubricant can cause it to stick and burn holes in your paint job as well as create scratches. Before you start working, check the area you plan to clean to see if any large pieces of debris can be removed by washing to prevent them from scratching the paint. If you drop the clay bar on the ground, throw it away. It will pick up tiny pieces of dirt that can scratch your car, and should never be used after it has been dropped.

Considerations

Keep in mind that the rims of a car can normally be cleaned with a simple washing. Use the clay bar in moderation with lots of lubricant until you're more comfortable with how it works. It takes a lot of hard work to remove dirt that is deeply embedded in your car so plan to spend a lot of time cleaning. If you are unsure whether you need to use a clay bar or not, have your local mechanic take a look and make suggestions.