Clay Lubricants

Clay lubricant is the slippery layer between clay and paint: it lets the clay glide instead of grabbing and marking the surface. We stock dedicated lubes including CarPro Immolube and Alchemy Qube Lube, and some quick detailers double as a clay lube: ValetPro lists Citrus Bling as one.

How to choose

Check whether it is ready to use or a concentrate. Some are sprayed straight from the bottle. Others are concentrates that are diluted with water, which goes further if you clay more than one car. The label gives the ratio.

Good to know

• Use more than you think. Soak the panel and the clay, work a small section at a time, and re-spray the moment the clay starts to grab. Running dry is what marks the paint.
• Clay in the shade on a cool panel so the lube does not dry before you finish the section.
• Before a sealant or coating, wipe the lube residue off with Panel Wipe & IPA so the coating bonds to bare paint.

Is clay bar lubricant necessary?

Yes. Lube is what lets the clay glide over the paint: without it the clay grabs and can mark the surface. Keep both the panel and the clay wet, and spray again the moment it starts to drag.

Related: Decontamination, Clay Bars, Iron & Fallout Removers, Tar & Glue Removers. Popular brands here: CarPro, Alchemy, ValetPro.