Claying vs. pre-wax cleaners

What would be the main differences between using a clay bar vs. a pre-wax paint cleaner (such as Dodo Juice Lime Prime Lite non-abrasive cleaner glaze) for removing contaminants from paint prior to sealing and/or waxing? Is one of these going to remove things that the other won't? Is doing both steps necessary or recommended?

 

I am not familiar with the pre-wax cleaner you mentioned, but I do know that even using the newest Iron-X cleaner for paint will help remove some deposits on the paint but the Claybar is still needed and used to get the embedded contaminants that are still stuck in the paint out.
Read any of for example, Phil's posts on his Client's cars here and you will see that he uses a product to clean the paint and still uses the Claybar to get the paint as clean as possible before paint correcting.
Dan F

 

I believe (notice I didn't say know) that they each do a different method of cleaning and get different things off the paint. Theorically you could use Iron X to get rid of metalic imbeds, clay to get rid of the rest, polish, and then use a pre wax cleaner to clear off anything left and get benefit from all of them.

 

The clay bar removes above surface contaminants. The pre-wax cleaner is a non-abrasive cleaner that can remove fresh water spots (sometimes), oxidation, etc. They are both good to use prior to applying a sealant if no paint correction is done.

 

The clay/Ironx are to remove contaminants ( fallout, raildust, road tar etc ) from your paint. The purpose of a prewax cleaner is to remove any oils left from claying, polishing etc that may interfere with your LSP bonding to the paint, thus reducing the durability. If you wash, clay, iron x your paint and then follow up with Werkstat Prime Strong you'll be amazed at how much dirt it will pull from your paint.

 

if you are going to polish you clay first, if you clay a car you need to polish. simple rule, but it makes all the difference.

 

Ken said it exactly! But ya if you want to get the most out of your wax then you should use a pre-wax cleaner.