Meguiar’s provided me with their Smooth Surface Clay Kit to try out and review, but honestly I’ve been using this very same kit many times in the past. The kit has everything you need it in to clay your car: three clay bars, a spray bottle of clay lubricant, and a microfiber towel. It’s a nice package that allows you to clay multiple cars with just one kit, although you might need some extra clay lubricant and microfiber towels to do so.

Using a clay bar prepares a car for further car detailing that may be needed. Whether you are doing paint correction with polishing or compounding, or maybe you just applying a wax, you will be doing it using an applicator that abrades against the surface of the vehicle. If the car wasn’t clayed prior to doing those things, then very particles will still be on the surface of the paint. Therefore, doing any sort of detailing work will effectively take those particles and scratching them all over the surface of the paint. Using a clay bar (after an exterior wash), is a critical first step towards preparing your car for additional detailing work.