# Anyone every used clay bar to get glass really clean? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 20, 2019, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-every-used-clay-bar-to-get-glass-really-clean/837326 "2019-07-20T00:00:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-every-used-clay-bar-to-get-glass-really-clean/837326/1 "2019-07-20T00:00:24Z")
There’s at least one video on Youtube where the car enthusiast guy suggests using [clay bar](https://www.washos.com/blog/clay-bar/) (which I gather is usually used to clean a car’s paint) to also clean the windshield. He says it loosens and removes impurities that a glass cleaner won’t get. So his method is to wash the windshield with a glass cleaner, rub it with clay bar and lots of misted water, wash it again with class cleaner to remove anything the clay bar loosened up but didn’t remove, and then dry with a microfiber cloth. Then to keep it easy to clean he recommends using regular auto paste wax. He says the wax lasts 4-6 months, and makes the windshield easy to keep clean with a damp cloth or paper towel. Has anyone tried either clay bar or paste wax, or both, in this way? ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-every-used-clay-bar-to-get-glass-really-clean/837326/2 "2019-07-20T00:20:58Z")
If I want to get the glass really clean, I use very fine steel wool. I never heard of clay bar before today. I may have to try one out on my car and bike. ---
**Author:** ![BobBitchin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@BobBitchin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobBitchin)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-every-used-clay-bar-to-get-glass-really-clean/837326/3 "2019-07-20T00:49:06Z")
I’ve seen a video of a guy who does a $5000 wash and detail on cars. He had the clay bar and an ultrasonic meter to measure paint depth as he rubbed out and polished the paint before waxing.:eek: ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-every-used-clay-bar-to-get-glass-really-clean/837326/4 "2019-07-20T01:43:40Z")
I was wondering if this was one of those dubious Life Hacks involving modeling clay. I came at that one maybe 6 different ways in my head, and it doesn’t seem like it would have the desired results. So, I’m gonna take it as a given that modeling clay is a different thing from a clay bar. What’s clay bar made from? ---
**Author:** ![BobBitchin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@BobBitchin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobBitchin)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-every-used-clay-bar-to-get-glass-really-clean/837326/5 "2019-07-20T02:19:06Z")
I found this…it looks like special clay. > **[Auto detailing clay, detail clay bar, clay lubricant, Pinnacle Poly Clay,...](https://www.autogeek.net/detailing-clay-bar.html)** > > How to Use Auto Detailing Clay - How to Use Auto Detailing Clay Clean With Detailing Clay! If detailing clay is new to you, you might be thinking, What is detailing clay and what can detailing clay do for my car? The short answer is that auto ... ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-every-used-clay-bar-to-get-glass-really-clean/837326/6 "2019-07-20T02:37:13Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > I was wondering if this was one of those dubious Life Hacks involving modeling clay. I came at that one maybe 6 different ways in my head, and it doesn’t seem like it would have the desired results. What you do, is you take some vinegar, and some baking soda. Each one individually has great cleaning powers, but put them together and BAM I read it on Quora, I swear. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-every-used-clay-bar-to-get-glass-really-clean/837326/7 "2019-07-20T04:33:06Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > I was wondering if this was one of those dubious Life Hacks involving modeling clay. I came at that one maybe 6 different ways in my head, and it doesn’t seem like it would have the desired results. > > So, I’m gonna take it as a given that modeling clay is a different thing from a clay bar. What’s clay bar made from? I think it’s in the link. I gather it is usually artificial. ---
**Author:** ![Hi\_Medlo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hi\_Medlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hi_Medlo)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-every-used-clay-bar-to-get-glass-really-clean/837326/8 "2019-07-20T12:38:17Z")
I’ve done the clay/microfiber cloth thing and it works very well. So well that I just marveled at the clarity of what I was seeing. It’s a lot of work to do right, though, especially on a big, steeply angled windshield. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-every-used-clay-bar-to-get-glass-really-clean/837326/9 "2019-07-20T13:10:11Z")
I haven’t done it on glass but I have done it on my car’s finish and it makes an amazing difference. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-every-used-clay-bar-to-get-glass-really-clean/837326/10 "2019-07-20T14:36:15Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > I haven’t done it on glass but I have done it on my car’s finish and it makes an amazing difference. Yeah, I’ve been using car clay for years on my vehicles’ paint, and the difference is truly amazing. That gritty feel to the surface is gone; your car’s paint surface is like glass. I buy mine from [Griot’s Garage](https://www.griotsgarage.com/product/paint+cleaning+clay.do?sortby=ourPicks&from=fn), along with their [Speed Shine](https://www.griotsgarage.com/product/speed+shine.do?sortby=ourPicks&from=Search) product, which acts as a lubricant for the clay while also giving your car a protective shine. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-every-used-clay-bar-to-get-glass-really-clean/837326/11 "2019-07-20T21:17:34Z")
I’ve used a clay bar in the past and it worked as advertised. However, there are now [clay bar mitts](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=clay+mitt&i=automotive&ref=nb_sb_noss_1) that are easier to use and are reusable. Dude on the LegitStreetCars youtube channel does all his cars with this, then buffing compound and then seals it with a nano ceramic coating product that looks pretty spectacular. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-every-used-clay-bar-to-get-glass-really-clean/837326/12 "2019-07-20T23:48:43Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > I’ve used a clay bar in the past and it worked as advertised. However, there are now [clay bar mitts](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=clay+mitt&i=automotive&ref=nb_sb_noss_1) that are easier to use and are reusable. Dude on the LegitStreetCars youtube channel does all his cars with this, then buffing compound and then seals it with a nano ceramic coating product that looks pretty spectacular. Thanks, I’m going to order one of those. My clay, which has lasted for years, is getting pretty grotty. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2020, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-every-used-clay-bar-to-get-glass-really-clean/837326/14 "2020-02-21T08:41:07Z")
above post reported