The 15 Best Clay Bars For Car Detailing

Are you looking for the best clay bar to get the job done? Look no further! I have put together a list of the very best on the market as well as reviews of each.

What exactly is the purpose of a clay bar? A clay bar is a resin compound that is used to remove stains and marks from your car body that a normal wash won’t.

This includes glass, metal, rail dust and brake dust which is great if you have what seems like an un-cleanable car.  The only way you can remove these stubborn stains and marks is through the best clay bar!

Due to the material of a clay bar (generally synthetic), the block will connect to anything that is sticking out from the surface.

Whatever gets stuck will then be removed thanks to the clay bar ‘grabbing onto’ the particle.

I must mention here that it is important to make sure your car is washed and sprayed with a clay lubricant so any loose debris doesn’t scratch your car.

Pay attention to the instructions that come with your clay bar! The other huge benefit of a clay bar is that it won’t remove any paint.

The 15 Best Clay Bar For Car Detailing

1. Mothers 07240 California Gold Clay Bar System

Mothers 07240 California Gold Clay Bar System is another best seller and highly rated clay bar.

This clay bar will remove embedded grains of metal, tree sap and any other debris attached to the paint of your car.

This clay bar won’t pull any paint off with it and will leave your car feeling incredibly smooth and ready for a wax!

The kit includes 2 clay bars, a spray bottle of instant detailer and a microfiber towel.

Mothers 07240 California Gold Clay Bar System works well on clear coat finishes as well as on plastic, trim and glass, as well as matte-finish plastics that are free of coatings.

2. Meguiar’s G1016 Smooth Surface Clay Kit

Meguiar’s G1016 Smooth Surface Clay Kit is a smooth clay that is very easy to use.

The kit comes with 2- 80gram clay bars, the clay lubricant spray as well as a microfiber towel. The clay is non-abrasive and will remove surface bonded contaminants.

Using Meguiar’s G1016 Smooth Surface Clay Kit will restore your paint finish to smooth and very easy to wax!

Meguiars are a trusted brand when it comes to car cleaning products and the Meguiar’s G1016 Smooth Surface Clay Kit is one of their top sellers.

3. Meguirs Mirror Gaze Detailing Clay

This Clay bar by meguirs is designed to effectively remove bonded surface contaminants such as overspray, rail dust, and freshwater spots. It works quickly to eliminate stubborn stains and leave a mirror-like gloss finish. This leaves a clean and bright surface without compromising on the paint and general coating.

Of the worries of using a clay bar is the effect it has on your car’s clean surface. This clay is non-abrasive and safe to use on delicate car surfaces. It is safe to use on clear-coat and single-stage paints without worrying about scratching or fading.

The best thing about this clay is the many ways you can use it. It works well for painted surfaces, glass, metal and plastic. It delivers to the expectations regardless of the surface you use it on. It is easy to apply and does not require a series of preparations to get started.

The application involves preparing the surface first. The first stage is to lubricate the surface using M34 Mirror Glaze Final Inspection or to use D155 Last Touch Spray Detailer. The next step is to rub the clay until you achieve the mirror-smooth effect gently. These simple steps work in minutes to even out the specific surface.

4. IPELY Car Clay Bar

If you are struggling to get the right shine for your car, you should consider getting this IPELY clay bar. It is easy to use and will leave your car clearer and smoother. The bar is suitable to use on paintwork, glass, clear optical plastics, wheels, carbon fiber, polished metal, and exhaust tips.

This clay bar is a complete necessity for your car; thanks to its ability to work on multiple surfaces.  It comes in a pack of four bars providing you an economical and lasting solution to general car stains. The bars come in perfect sizes for you to use for a long time. Additionally, these bars provide an excellent grip to help you exert the necessary pressure to get rid of debris and other stains.

The IPELY clay bar works well when used with water that has a cleaning agent added to it. Also, a mild detergent is necessary to ensure all the dirt and stains are removed. The clay bar is soft enough to deform and work it through different surfaces. The results are polished, smooth and clearer surfaces.

5.Meguiar’s C-2100 Professional Detailing Clay

Meguiar’s C-2100 Professional Detailing Clay, Aggressive is perfect for stubborn debris and contaminants.

This is completely non-abrasive and is safe on clear coats and single-stage paint. It can also be used on paint, glass, metal, and plastic.

It is just the detailing clay so bear in mind that you will need to purchase a lubricant to use this effectively.

Meguiar’s C-2100 Professional Detailing Clay, Aggressive comes with fantastic reviews so if you are struggling to remove stubborn debris give it a try.

6. Clay Magic Blue

Clay Magic is a professional grade clay bar that is affordable and effective.

This clay bar can be used on chrome, aluminum and plastic surfaces. It also comes with a microfiber towel for ease of use.

This along with the price makes it a very popular choice when it comes to clay bars.

This clay bar is a non-abrasive, safe and easy to use.

7. Mothers Speed Clay

Mothers Speed clay is a fast and durable solution to stubborn stains on pain surfaces. It is versatile and easy to use without the need for multiple preparation stages. The clay is useful and is as simple as washing or spray waxing a surface for a perfectly smooth finish.

This patented rubber polymer technology quickly rubs and removes surface and embedded contaminants on various paint surfaces. It removes paint overspray, fresh tree sap, water spots, rail dust light oxidation, and bird dropping. With this, you can be sure of a quick and effective way to get rid of such stains. The good thing is that it can work on a chrome, glass and smooth plastic surfaces without leaving scratches.

It is essential to understand the reason why a car clay bar is vital. If such contaminants are left on your car’s surface, they can cause molecular breakdown of the paint which can lead to a faded surface and expose it to further deterioration. Mothers Speed clay will stop the damage and help to restore the shine on your car’s surface.

8. Griot’s Garage 11153 Paint Cleaning Clay

Griot’s Garage 11153 Paint Cleaning Clay works well to remove any sap, environmental debris and other contaminants from your paint.

With regular use this clay bar will help to prevent oxidation of your paint. Paired with a car wash and wax this is an effective way to maintain your car.

Griot’s Garage 11153 Paint Cleaning Clay is safe to use on all paint and can also be used on glass to clean it. Although griots do a specific glass clay bar too.

One 8 ounce bar can clean up to 7 vehicles but this depends on the contamination of the vehicle.

9. Senrokes Clay Bar Car Detailing Clay

The Senrokes Clay bar is made of high-quality clay material with a smooth texture. This prevents scratching when cleaning the surfaces of your car. The bar is easy and convenient to use helping you to get rid of stubborn stains and contaminants on different surfaces of your vehicle. With just a soak in water and a mild detergent, you can clear out any dirt for a smooth surface.

The bar works by clearing dirt deep in the lacquer surface. It works well on glass surfaces as well as chrome-plated surfaces. The clay bar can be used many times as long as it is stored safely. Keeping it in a Ziploc bag or the original plastic wrap will retain its softness. Also, you can mist some clay lube in the bag to keep it flexible and soft.

It is essential to note the right way of using the clay bar for effective cleaning. You should ensure the rub is gentle to prevent scratching when exerting too much pressure. Also, you should dry the clay bar naturally before the next use to retain the quality. In the event it picks up dust or drops to the floor, use a knife to cut the dirty surface, clean it and air-dry it.

10. Chemical Guys CLY_113 OG Clay Bar & Luber Synthetic Lubricant Kit

Chemical Guys CLY_113 OG Clay Bar & Luber Synthetic Lubricant Kit uses flex clay technology to remove contaminants.

For use on paint, glass, plastic and metal surfaces this clay bar is versatile and easy to use.

This clay bar is suitable for light/medium-duty and comes with a lubricant and microfiber towel.

Chemical Guys CLY_113 OG Clay Bar & Luber Synthetic Lubricant Kit is engineered to last longer and clean more vehicles. This is safe to use on old and new paintwork as well.

11. Chemical Guys CLY_402 Medium Clay Bar

Chemical Guys CLY_402 Medium Clay Bar is ideal for those who already have lubricant and a microfiber towel.

The unique elastic gray clay bar pulls off moderate and rough contamination like a magnet. It works well on paint, glass, plastic and metal surfaces and safely and effectively removes contaminants.

Chemical Guys CLY_402 Medium Clay Bar is a great clay bar but you will need to purchase a lubricant and towel if you haven’t already got some.

12. YGDZ Car Clay Bar

The YGDZ car clay bar is designed for easy use and convenience. It comes in a soft and flexible texture which allows deforming to reach every corner of the surface you are cleaning. The bar works to remove various kinds of bolts such as rust, grease, over-spray and dead insects’ contaminations.

The clay bar can be used on different surfaces of your car including the mirrors, bumpers and other paint surfaces. You only need to use it with water that has a cleaning agent and detergent added for quality results. The clay bar is of high quality and comes in two pieces to last you a while. It is perfect for general car cleaning and routine maintenance to keep the surfaces shiny and smooth.

The YGDZ car clay bar needs safe storage to remain effective. You can store it inside a Ziploc bag or wrap it in its original plastic bag. This will ensure it stays soft and flexible for effective cleaning. Before using it, you should dust the car surface to prevent scratches that may affect the paint finish. A gentle wipe is enough to polish the surface for a smooth and clean effect.

13. Chemical Guys Clay Block V2

The ideal clay kit should be easy to use regarding the application, rubbing and finishing. Most of what is available can be messy and ultimately lead to more finishing work. This particular kit from Chemical Guys is designed to help you clean up quickly without the need for multiple application stages.

The kit removes rail duct, paint-over spray, bugs, tar, and stubborn water stains. It works well on automotive paint and glass surfaces. The formulation of this cleaning kit is safe to use on multiple surfaces without the worry of stripping or removing wax or any sealant protection on a particular surface.

Also, it is not harsh and does not scratch or fade off the surfaces. The clay cleaner comes in a comfortable grip design for ease of use and quick removal of stains. One bar can last 15 to 25 full-size vehicles hence economical to use for commercial purposes.

The clay block V2 is designed to provide you with a comfortable grip for easy cleaning. It has a cushion grip that conforms to the shape of your hand to help exert enough pressure over the surface for quality results. The Luber provides a slick non-stick surface for a smooth finish.

14. LEOBRO Car Clay Bar

The Leobro pack comes with four 100 grams bars. It is an economical pack to last you a while. The bars make cleaning easy and deliver more effective results without affecting the quality of your car paint surface. The bar safely removes grease, dead insects’ contamination, micro-iron particles, rust and paint overspray.

The bar is easy and convenient to use and will leave your car beautiful and clearer. The clay bar can be used on different surfaces such as the mirror surface, bumper and other paint coated surfaces of your vehicle. The results are smooth, shiny and bright surfaces.

This clay bar is non-abrasive and is safe to use on light-coat paints. For quality results, you should use the clay bar with water that has a cleaning agent and detergent added to it. The bar has a soft texture which makes it easy to deform to reach the curved surfaces for quality results.

Since this bar can be used for quite some time before it deteriorates, there is a need to store it safely to protect the surface. You can wrap it in its original plastic bag in a shaded place. Also, you can spray come of your clay lube in the bag to keep it soft and flexible.

15. MATCC Car Clay Bar

MATCC Magic Clay Auto Detailing Clay is made of sticky solid gelatin that works effectively to clean the surface of a car.

This pack comes with 2 bars and is suited to cleaning paint, windows, mirrors, floors etc.

Store the MATCC Detailing Clay properly after each use and it will last a long time.

Bottom Line

Chances are you do need a clay bar to remove stubborn particles from your car that a normal wash and wax won’t. They are very affordable and very effective to use! While there are many available you will need to assess the work that needs to be done on your car before making your decision. There are clay bars for aggressive cleaning and those for mild and everything in between! With the use of this guide making your decision should be a lot easier!