Does clay bar remove wax/sealant?

[Melville]

I'm in the process of a thorough detailing of my car and tomorrow I plan on applying my new Ammo NYC products. There are a lot of steps, and the stuff isn't cheap so I don't want to waste time and money. I clay barred the car (twice) and the next step is a foundation coat. But I don't want to apply that if there is still spray wax on the paint from prior detailings because I want to make sure the foundation gets thoroughly in the paint. About 65% of the things I've read say clay bar removes all wax. The other 35% says it may remove some, but won't take off all wax. To make matters worse, some places say the clay bar may take off the wax but the lubricant you use is like a spray wax.

I know that to be sure I should wash the car with a little dish soap and/or do an IPA wipedown. But it will be hard to find the time to wash the car again and I don't have, and don't want to use, a solvent on the paint.

Any one have any real info on this?

 

[nocfn]

I would suggest a high phosphate soap like joy or dawn, that will de wax but gentle enough to not cause issues. Rinse with cold water but apply it hot, rinse with cold as you go.

 

[Maui]

That depends on what you use for lubricant. Typically I would wash the car with Dawn dish soap prior to the clay bar. If you don't have time to do that you don't have time to wax it.

 

[nocfn]

Thinking the same Maui!!

 

[Melville]

That depends on what you use for lubricant. Typically I would wash the car with Dawn dish soap prior to the clay bar. If you don't have time to do that you don't have time to wax it.

Problem is I have to do a little bit each day (kid, house stuff etc.). And we have hard water so I can't let the water sit or it causes spots. So it's tough after work to wash and then dry the car on top of everything else i have to do. And it's even harder to find time on the weekend with all my other obligations. When I washed it a few days ago I didn't expect to do the full process. I thought I'd just wash and spray wax. But I didn't have time to spray wax or even dry it. So it got spots, so I clayed it. Then I thought, well I've clayed it, might as well go all the way.