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- Removing Bugs and Tar, Removing Iron and using Clay Bar on your Paint
- Just like washing your car, you need to do it in the shade or in your garage! I get products from Mother’s, Meguiars, Adams, Autogeek, Chemical Guys, The Rag Co. 303, and Turtle Was. I will also go to Amazon to see if I can get the product and save on the shipping.
- You have washed your car and now you may need to remove bugs and tar. You may also need to use a spray to remove iron from your paint. You will only need to remove iron from your car about once a year. Clay Bar will remove all the remaining contaminants on the paint. The iron comes from your brakes. As always, read the instructions on the bottle and wear gloves to protect yourself from the chemicals. If you don’t wear glasses, then wear safety glasses.
- Removing Bugs and Tar
- I just added DP Bug and Tar Remover to products that I use on my cars. It is very good, but I can only use it at home because you have to have water to wash it off. You spray it on the bugs, let it stay on for about five minutes, then wash it off with car soap and water. Do not let the DP Bug and Tar Remover dry on your paint! When I go out of town to a car show I am in a parking lot without water, so I have to go back to Turtle Wax Bug and Tar Remover.
- Removing Iron
- Iron comes from your brakes. I am using Adam’s Iron Remover to remove iron. When you spray the iron remover on your paint it turns dark red or purple when it comes in contact with iron. Do not let it dry on your paint! Hose it off with water.
- Clay Bars, Clay Towels, and Clay Mitts
- After you have removed the bugs, tar, and iron from your paint, now you can remove the last of the contaminants using a clay bar, clay towel or clay mitts. You can get a clay kit from Mother’s or Meguiars. In the kit you may get some clay bars, detailer, and a microfiber towel. You may also get a small bottle of wax. A clay bar is not clay but a flexible resin with abrasive in it like very fine sandpaper. Work the clay bar with your fingers until it is somewhat soft, and until it fits in your hand. DO NOT DROP THE CLAY BAR ON THE FLOOR!!!! If you do, you will have to throw it away! If you drop the clay towel or mitt, you can just hose them off with water and reuse.
- Dry the surface with a microfiber towel and check your work to see how it feels. If your clay bar gets dark spots on it, fold it over and kneed it a few times, then work it into a flat piece like you had before. When you are happy with one part of the car then move to a new part of the paint until you have done all of the paint. Clay barring will not remove scratches, swirls, oxidation, or stains.
