CLEAN / PREP
Cleaning, or Surface Preparation, removes stubborn, bonded above surface contaminants such as tree sap, industrial fallout and tar, as well as below-surface defects, like stains, blemishes and oxidation. After your car is washed and dried, pass your fingertips over the surface. Do you feel roughness? If so, these are above-surface, bonded contaminants, that can be removed using Meguiar’s Smooth Surface™ Clay Kit.
Generally, you’ll notice this contamination on your car’s horizontal surfaces, but you may also see small, dark spots /specks on the rear and lower surfaces of a light coloured car. Over time, these contaminants will dull yourpaint and rob your car of its shine.
Fortunately Meguiar’s Clay Kits include everything you need to safely and easily remove bonded contaminants. And no, clay bars are NOT only for professional use.
Simply use half a bar of our non-abrasive clay (~ 25 grams), work it in your hands making it malleable enough to fold into a disk about 5cm across. Ensure the clay and panel are well lubricated with Meguiar’s Quik Detailer and work the clay from left to right, using fingertip pressure only. The bar will grab and gently remove all bonded contaminants without scratching the surface, but leaving it as smooth as glass! The clay is also suitable for headlights, chrome & any high gloss surface.
How much of the bonded contaminant the clay removes depends on the overall level of contamination. Keep folding the clay over and re-shaping it until you no longer have a clean surface to work with. When this is the case you must dispose of the clay and use a new piece. Remove any lubricant residue with a 100% cotton terry towel or a Microfiber towel.
After removing bonded contaminants that you can feel, examine the finish from different angles and light sources to detect below-surface defects like oxidation (dullness), stains/blemishes and fine scratches.
Tip: When working with Ultimate Compound work against the direction of the scratch, and in straight overlapping lines. Before a scratch is worked on, use the finger nail test to see if it can be removed. If you can catch a fingernail in the scratch the defect will probably need to be removed by machine.
To remove scratches and swirl marks Meguiar’s recommend using Ultimate Compound. This product contains Meguiar’s new super micro abrasive technology which quickly removes sub surface defects whilepolishing the surface to a mirror finish. Ultimate Compound is the perfect choice to prepareyour paint surface for your favourite Meguiar’s wax.
Tip: Quik Detailer can be used as lubricant for the clay. Ultimate Quik Deatailer and Gold Class Detailer should NOT be used as a lubricant for clay.
