Cleaning with Clay

[RhinoNC]

I'm sorry if this is too simple, but how does claying interact with clearcoats?

I keep hearing people talk about clay lifting contaminants out of paint, but the clearcoat is between the two. How do things like clay and polishes act on the paint and stuff in the paint without either a) being blocked by the clearcoat or b) dissolving the clearcoat in order to get to the paint?

[butchdave]

I keep hearing people talk about clay lifting contaminants out of paint, but the clearcoat is between the two. How do things like clay and polishes act on the paint and stuff in the paint without either a) being blocked by the clearcoat or b) dissolving the clearcoat in order to get to the paint?

Keeping things simple, clearcoat is paint - its just clear so that it acts as a protective layer for the decorative coloured paint below it.