How to Use a Clay Bar on Glass Safely!

Last Updated on 1 month by Ollie Barker

In the past, detailing and cleansing glass surfaces was a painstaking task that required plenty of elbow grease, rinses, and mild acids. Today’s glass cleaners make it easy to get the job done swiftly and safely. One way to say goodbye to streaks is with clay clays bars. How to use a clay bar on glass safely? In this blog, I’ll explain how clay bars work on glass.

Clay bars have been around for decades as detailing products but are now also stocked by most auto accessory shops on account of their aforementioned benefits.

What Claying Does To The Glass?

In order for any surface to be clayed, a bar with abrasive particles must be used. This causes scratches which are a desirable result in the case of glass because the cracks and scratches increase the usable window surface area. This also serves as a great way to remove any built-up debris on a glass surface and also any visible dirt or grime.

How to Use a Clay Bar on Glass Safely

Pre-clean your glass with a glass cleaner or any of our other recommended glass cleaners for maximum results. You should be sure to rinse the glass with clear water, then wipe dry with a soft microfiber towel. Make sure that you are out of direct sunlight when claying your windshield; covering the car may help you to achieve the best results as sunlight can be damaging to some of these products.

For the best results, make sure to apply your clay bar at night when it’s cooler. This will help the bar to function as it does naturally and still give you time to work on areas that other cleaners may have missed during the day while your car is exposed to sunlight.

Steps To Following

Step 1: Use a clean microfiber towel or paper towel to dry the glass thoroughly and remove any water droplets from the surface.

Step 2: Peel off the protective backing from your hardware cloth clay bar.

Step 3: Dust glass with a dusting of the clay bar and work it in using a soft microfiber towel or paper towel.

Step 4: Wipe the glass clean with a clean microfiber towel or paper towel.

Step 5: Allow your glass to dry completely before continuing to use the windshield.

Step 6: Apply one last wipe-down of any remaining water droplets and allow the glass to dry completely before using it again.

Is Claying Glass Surfaces On Your Car Safe?

If you’re looking for how best to clean car glass, you’ve come to the right place. I use clay bars in my own detailing regimen and can say that cleaning glass this way is safe as long as you do not leave the clay residue on for too long.

The hazards associated with claying your windshield are offset by the rewards of a soiled surface free of harmful debris and other grime. The greatest risk that you will encounter is marring your glass surface with the clay bar. Take care when removing the protective backing from the hardware cloth clay bar and be sure to clean any remnants off of the glass surface with a microfiber towel or paper towel before applying it to your windshield.

Check out: How to prevent water spots on your cars!

While some DIYers suggest that glass clays are dangerous, their fears are unfounded. When properly used, clays can actually make your glass safer to use. This is because clays remove particles from the glass surface that can affect visibility while driving and expose drivers to more UV light and glare.

By using clays, you can better ensure that you drive safely and in comfort by increasing the transparency of your windshield.

How To Know If Glass Needs Claying?

There is some debate within the detailing community on whether or not glass needs to be cleansed with a clay bar. Some manufacturers of glass cleaners say that their chemical-based solutions can remove debris from glass surfaces and make them safe to use.

Find out: Best usage of clay bars? Is clay bar worth it?!

While there is certainly some merit to this argument, many detailers continue to clay their car glass to get the best possible results. If you’re wondering how often to clay your car windows, there are some factors that you should consider. If your car is parked under a tree, you may want to clean your car glass more frequently than someone who parks in the garage. Tree sap tends to work its way into the paint and onto the glass, making it a visible problem on both paint and glass.

The same can be said for bugs.

Many people think that the road is littered with bugs, but when you look closer, you’ll notice that many of these craters are full of insects and their remains. These small pieces of debris accumulate quickly on your car’s windshield and can affect visibility while driving. By claying your windows, you can remove this unsightly material and improve your visibility while driving.

How Often To Clay Windshield And Car Windows?

The answer to this question depends largely on the climate you live in and how dirty your car is. If your car is parked outside, it will likely collect more debris than one that is parked inside a garage. Therefore, you may want to clay your car windows sooner rather than later if you live in an area with lots of tree coverage or if it rains frequently.
In my experience, I usually clay my car windshield every 1-2 months.

Conclusion

With the proper care, your glass surfaces can maintain a crystal-clear appearance for years to come. Whether you clean it on a regular basis or once in a while, claying your windshield is one of the most effective ways to keep it clean and protect it from UV damage.