Quick, easy question. When I am prepping the car for an exterior detail I usually wash with a citrius based shampoo that strips the wax, then dry before either claying or polishing. However, I have seen some pictures where it looks like people just wash, rinse and clay without the drying step...is that true? Could I save myself a drying step by just claying after the prep wash and rinse? Thanks.

 

Im no pro but it would make sense to me considering that when you clay the paint you want to make sure that it is well lubed... I dont see how water could hurt.

 

I dry my car completely before claying so I can see and focus on troubled areas better.

 

Either way is fine really. Heres my process when the whole car is being clayed. (done out of direct sunlight/ in the garage)

Wash, rinse, clay, rewash with filtered water, blow dry...

So no drying between washing and claying.

 

If you leave the water on the car, you're diluting the concentration of the lube you're using and may actually marr or scratch the paint. We ALWAYS dry the car prior to claying. You then can rinse or use the same towel you used to dry the car, to wipe the paint of the clay lube. Ideally, Wash-Dry-Clay-Rinse-Dry

 

True, good point Moe. Dilution rates should be adjusted accordingly.

 

I'm not so sure that dilution (within reason) would affect the clay lube as your looking to aquaplane the clay using a little surface lubrication