How To Clay Bar Your Honda Accord?

By Nick Marchenko, PhD

Updated: August 2, 2023

Ever contemplated the spick-and-span, mirror-finish allure of your Honda Accord? If that thought has crossed your mind, then it's time you acquainted yourself with the artistry of clay bar detailing.

The procedure is as follows: You commence with a clay bar brick, and use it to amass dust and minute particles of dirt from the Honda Accord's bodywork. This technique is deployed prior to polishing or ceramic coating of the vehicle. The intent is to make certain that the Accord's bodywork is pristine and devoid of any pollutants.

On your drives, your Honda Accord accumulates a variety of pollutants such as dirt, dust, debris, and road grime. All these undesirables cling to your Accord's paintwork, rendering it look weary and grimy as if you've just finished a spirited off-road excursion.

This is the situation where the clay bar emerges as a potent and convenient remedy that aids in restoring the cleanliness of the Accord's bodywork.

When Is It Appropriate to Use a Clay Bar for Honda Accord?

The clay bar is a formidable and nifty gadget for detailing the Honda Accord, but its usage should be limited to specific car wash occasions. A clay bar has certain use-cases, which we shall enumerate below.

• A surface akin to sandpaper. If you glide your hand over the Accord’s bodywork and sense a rough texture and minor bumps, it's indicative of dirt accumulation. This could be tree sap, settled dust or dirt, or road debris. In such situations, a clay bar proves invaluable for eliminating these stubborn particles and rejuvenating a smooth bodywork surface.
• Obvious lack of lustre. If you discern that your body paint appears lacklustre and has forfeited its innate gleam, various pollutants have played their part. A piece of clay bar not only eradicates all the dirt, but it also reinstates shine and gloss to the body paint of your Honda Accord.
• Preliminary step before waxing and polishing. Before you treat your Honda Accord with wax or polish, ensure that the surface is absolutely devoid of dirt or other pollutants. The preliminary use of a clay bar eliminates all dirt, facilitating a more robust adhesion of the wax or polish to the vehicle's body surface.

What items do you need to clay bar Honda Accord?

Prior to embarking on the clay bar mission with your Honda Accord, it is vital to ensure you have all the requisite items at your disposal. The list includes:

• Water (buckets of water or a water hose);
• Car shampoo;
• Microfiber towels;
• Soft brush;
• Clay bar;
• Clay bar lubricant

How to select an appropriate clay bar for your Honda Accord?

Choosing the right clay bar is pivotal to ensure all potential contaminants are eradicated, and there's no detrimental effect on your Honda's paintwork during the detailing.

Here are some considerations to keep in mind while selecting a clay bar:

• Softness and harshness. Clay bars can exhibit varying levels of softness and harshness. They typically fall into three categories: mild, medium, and aggressive. The softness level represents how delicately the clay bar will operate on your Honda Accord's paint.

NOTE: If it's your maiden attempt at applying a clay bar to your Honda Accord, it's advisable to opt for the mild and medium variants. An aggressive type of clay bar is employed when there's an abundance of dirt or contaminants, hence care should be exercised not to harm the body paint.

• Dimensions and shape. Clay bars come in diverse dimensions and shapes, such as larger or smaller units. Larger bars are handy for uniform surfaces, while smaller ones excel at treating compact and elusive areas.
• Clay bar lubricant. Lubricant is an essential component of clay barring. It inhibits the clay from sticking to the Accord's body or interacting adversely with the paint. When you purchase a clay bar, it may be accompanied by additional lubricant. However, occasionally you may have to acquire a lubricant separately from the clay.
• Manufacturer and reviews. A product with a notable reputation is generally synonymous with reliability and efficacy. Seek out a celebrated brand in the detailing domain while also perusing reviews about the product.
• Price. Clay bars can have a wide range of prices contingent on the brand, size, and quality. Scout for an option that suits you best. Bear in mind, a higher price tag doesn't necessarily translate to superior performance.

How to clay bar your Honda Accord?

Clay-baring the body of your Honda Accord is not a formidable task, meaning that any auto enthusiast can undertake it. However, adherence to certain guidelines ensures that the task is executed seamlessly and yields a flawless outcome.

Clean your vehicle initially

It is strongly suggested to carry out the clay-barring procedure on a clean vehicle. Thus, prior to commencing the process, all exterior pollutants must be removed, and ideally, a comprehensive detailing should be done.

If you require an elaborate guide on washing your Honda Accord appropriately - we have curated an exhaustive article on this subject, which you can read here.

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Condition a clay bar for use

Mould a portion of clay in your hands until it becomes pliable, and then shape it into a disc, which will be utilised for polishing.

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Initiate with a compact section

Select a compact section of your Honda Accord (2 ft x 2 ft). Apply lubricant over it, and start maneuvering it with a piece of clay in vertical and horizontal motions. You may encounter some friction - the clay will gather grime from the Accord’s body.

Proceed with the body cleansing procedure. If required, add more lubricant if you sense the clay begins to adhere to the vehicle's body.

Inspect your Honda Accord bar intermittently

Occasionally, glance at the piece of clay you're using to scrub the car. If dirt and debris particles have already accrued on it, knead it so that you have pristine clay in your hands and continue the job with it.

Wipe off the lubricant from the Honda Accord with a clean microfiber towel

Remove any remaining lubricant with a microfiber cloth. Then examine the polished surface. It should exude a glossy and immaculate appearance.

To be certain, you need to glide your finger over it - it should exhibit a glass-like sensation. If such an outcome has yet to be realised, reiterate previous steps.

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Advance to another section

Upon accomplishing the sought-after result in one of the sections, progress to the subsequent one. Choose a 2 ft x 2 ft area and replicate the aforementioned steps on it. Don't attempt to treat the entire surface of the Honda Accord in one go - instead, proceed in compact sections until you're done.

Imparting a finishing touch

This process should culminate in either polishing or smearing the Honda Accord’s body with wax - this will enhance the car's aesthetic appeal and bestow it a more glossy finish. It also assists in filling in diminutive cavities on the Accord's body previously occupied by minute dirt particles.

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Where can you use a clay bar, and where not?

A clay bar isn't a one-size-fits-all tool for every surface or part of the Honda Accord. To prevent any inadvertent damage, it's crucial to discern exactly where a clay bar can be employed for removing grime and where it can't.

A clay bar CAN be applied to:

• Paintwork;
• Glass;
• Transparent optical plastics (headlights/tail lights);
• Polished metals (stainless steel, aluminium, chrome, etc.);
• Wheels;
• Carbon fibre;
• Exhaust tips;
• Clear bras

A clay bar CAN'T be applied to:

• Matte paintwork/vinyl wraps;
• Textured plastic trim;
• Rubber (door/window seals, tyres)

Wrapping It All Up

Executing a clay bar treatment on your Honda Accord is not a complex process. However, you must exercise diligence and caution during this task to prevent any inadvertent harm to your car's body paint.

When picking out a clay bar, take into consideration its type, size, and brand, and don't neglect to secure an extra lubricant.

If you meticulously follow all the steps, you'll secure the sought-after outcome, ensuring your beloved Honda Accord maintains a polished and immaculate appearance for an extended period.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Use A Dropped Piece Of Clay Bar?

Regrettably, you can't. A clay bar is a sticky material, and dropping it causes it to gather all the impurities and grime from that surface. Do not use such clay to buff your Honda Accord's body - it will only inflict damage.

Tiny particles of dirt, sand, and debris will function as abrasives, which may even cause scratches on your Accord's body. So if you happen to drop a piece of clay bar, it's imperative to discard it promptly.

What Should I Do Once Clay Baring Is Completed?

Upon completion of the process, you must shield your Honda Accord's body. In this scenario, it is recommended to proceed with waxing or polishing.

Not only will this render your Honda Accord lustrous and rejuvenated, but it will also safeguard the pores of the Accord's body from any form of contamination.