I have searched for the answer to my question and can't find it. So, is it ok to clay my windows/car in the heat/sun? I live in an apartment (no garage) and it is 100 degrees outside. I am thinking the answer is don't do it...but hoping it will be ok.

 

It probably wouldn't be a good idea. When claying you do need to make sure that you keep the surface well lubricated and I'd think you'd have a problem with the lube evaporating too quickly.

 

+1

 

I've done it when its fairly warm, but you have to be quick and really keep the surface slick. Have a lot of Mothers of Meguiars detailer handy.

 

Yeah, I dont think it matters all that much, but HOT is a bad idea. QD evaporates quickly I noticed.

today I Claybarred without qd. I think that's my new technique. wash the car, and while it sopping wet, give it a light claybar. worked fine. worked the same darn way actually I was surprised. I had the same slip going on. However, the paint was cool, when its hot it sticks even with QD spray.

I never do anything on the car when it is in the sun except for november-february. The sun then actually helps clean the car... I live in NY,NY

 

Hot paint and clay don't really mix that well. As above the key to using clay is to keep the surface of your MINI wet so the clay can glide over it without sticking. Clay will get really soft and sticky when warm and your paint will tend to dry out too fast. Instead of using QD you could just use soapy water, but with hot paint the clay will try to stick.
Can you find a shady spot in a park or behind a building? How about a QuickShade pop up tent?

 

Thanks for the advice! You all keep my Stella looking shiny. I'll invest in a pop up tent...because I don't need to be burning in the sun either. Thanks again!

 

I have noticed a few people suggest just using some of the soapy water that you used for washing your car as lube instead. It seems like a much cheaper solution to me and as long as there isnt any dirt in what i dont see any problems with doing that.

 

To really clay effectively the paint surface needs to be cool. I've done demos of claying under the sun on hot paint when there was no choice. One thing you can do is cool the surface by taking a waffle weave towel, soaked in cool water--lay that over the area to clay--for a few minutes--that will cool down the panel. Then you can clay or do whatever for awhile until it heats up again.

Also flood the area with a Quick Detailer as you clay to keep the surface well lubricated.

Wash soap water is fine for some clays---some clays tend to get brittle and crumble is this solution--just try it and find out--then use a QD or clay lube if you experience any problems.

Richard