preferred wash media?

currently i use chenille wash mitts on the cars that i wash. Im interested to know what everyone on the DB forums uses. Im contemplating buying a sheepskin wash mitt, but im not sure if it will be better at preventing swirling of my paint.

any help on this topic will be much appreciated

 

I'm using a sheepskin wash mitt right now, but I have some sponges (Uber and Proline) I'm going to test out.

 

RG sheepskin mitt buddy! Sweet.

 

I have both a Black Sheepskin mitt from Ken at AutowerkesExclusive and a MF one from Chemical Guys.

The Sheepskin from Ken is my new favorite wash mitt. It's incredible!

 

Most wash media, from reputable places, will not mar the paint if used properly. It comes down to knowing how to use it properly and what precautions need to be taken on really dirty cars to mitigate marring.

I have used many and have recently loved using Uber spongers from Phil. I use to use Griot's Garrage MF dread lock style wash pad. Worked great and had no issues but was just too floppy for me and didnt like that as I would sometimes almost drop it because of the weight when it was fully loaded with water/suds. When I used the uber sponge for the first time I fell in love with it, cleans really great, forms to body panels and curves, and does not mar the paint with a quality soap and knowing that you cant just go over super dirty areas (like large amounts of dirt) without trying to get most of it off during pre-wash.

Never used a sheepskin due to maintenance needed to keep them in good condition, some love them but never was keen on them.

 

+1...perfect size mitt, not to big not to small. Love it!

 

Hmm, may have to get a RG mitt next time I order from Ken now.

 

My favorite is the uber sponge

Another popular one is the Dodo Juice Wookie this thing is friggin huge I Want one just because it is cool

 

i was just looking at the detailed image website and the LC grout sponge looked pretty interesting

 

I seem to go in phases. :lol: Right now, I'm on sponges. The famous Lowe's "Pro Line" grout sponge is great. It's very, very soft, it's well sized, and well shaped. I like Zymol sponges too, and am waiting for my first Uber sponge from DD, once they get out from under all that snow. I've often considered trying a sheepskin mitt, but like Ankeet, I find the possibility of having to maintain it in some special way a little offputting. The sponges just go in the wash machine.

Sponges are also cheap - the grout sponge is only $2. Finally, I like that when the sponges start getting tired, I can cut them into pieces, and use them as tire dressing applicators, leather conditioner applicators, etc. Reduce, reuse, recycle. Or something like that.

 

I still use the Zymol sponge that I got from Ken and surprisingly it's still holding up but not as well as it used to. I still do like the Proline sponges but I'm thinking of giving the Uber sponge and RG sheepskin a shot.

 

i currently use this and its been working pretty well for me. holds a ton of suds and just the right size IMO. sometimes i'll switch it up to a proline gs or a sheepskin mitt.

 

Anyone use ShMitt?
The ShMITT Multi-purpose Foam Mitts

 

currently using CG lambswool mitt

 

uber sponge or schmitt for me

 

Does it fall apart like the Zymol sponge after like 3 washs with it? :shakehead:

Seriously, does it?

 

Washing Media

Water Blade - the best-known brand (The Original California Water Blade) is made of medical-grade silicone so it should not scratch. It can be used to remove water without causing scratches by applying very little surface pressure with the blade, wiping with long strokes in one direction only. If there is any grit left on the car after washing, the blade may pick it up and drag it across the paint, much the same as a towel would, this can be avoided by wiping the blade with a clean damp towel after every pass.

The water blade should be protected when not in use. If it is crushed in storage, the edge may take a set and leave a stripe of water on the car, the water blade comes with a protective plastic case, use it for blade storage.

Like any tool, the water blade does require a little bit of technique and practice. The first few times I used mine, it tended to chatter on the surface, resulting in incomplete drying. It turns out this is eliminated by using just the right angle and pressure on the blade. Smoothness can also be affected by the surface condition of the paint (wax, sealant oxidation, etc.) and any coating that might be on the water blade itself.

Caution: do not use- a water blade to remove rainwater as there could be road grit on the paint surface or the rain may contain impurities that could scratch the paint.

(Foam Core) Waffle Weave Drying Towel - this 16-inch x 24-inch Cobra Heavy Duty Waffle Weave is a super-absorbent variation on the original towel. It has a 5 mil sponge laminated between two layers of fabric. The sponge is made of open-cell foam that absorbs a tremendous volume of water. The soft Microfiber fabric is hemmed on the edges with blue satin. The satin covers the stitching on the edges of the towel and provides a soft, rounded edge.

Even the corners of the towel are rounded to allow one continuous strip of satin. The foam padding ensures an even distribution of pressure over the surface and insures less drying-induced marring

Lamb’s wool (Sheepskin) Wash Mitts - natural lamb’s wool will last longer than synthetic's and are by far the gentlest soap applicators in the market, if you’ve ever handled one of these you know how soft and gentle they are against your face and hands, and how perfect they’ll be for your prized possession. These can actually be found at Wal-Mart. Just make sure you select the softest one of the bunch, since they vary being natural.

The main advantage of a lamb’s wool mitt is in the long fine fibre’s that hold plenty of wash solution that gently loosens and breaks up the dirt without trapping it, and then flushing away any harmful dirt and grit. As the dirt film is loosened the dirt particles remain suspended in the soapy solution between the fibre’s, so you need to constantly monitor the accumulation and rotate the mitt on your hand to the clean side as soon as you can see the faintest accumulation of dirt, this is easier if you don’t use the thumb type mitt.

You don’t want to apply any pressure at all when using one, just let the soap and the weight of the saturated mitt do the work for you. I like to use an agitating motion that ensures complete and thorough coverage. Use one side of the mitt for each body panel while constantly monitoring dirt accumulation. After I’ve used both sides of the mitt I dunk it in the wash bucket (which is fitted with a GritGuard) repeatedly to shake loose the dirt, and go on to the next body panel.

You might want to consider using two wash mitts when washing. The newest one for the top half of the car and the older one for the lower half which is usually dirtier, especially near the wheels. You don’t want to contaminate your new sheepskin mitt right away with brake dust. It will come off, but it takes some effort.

Care Instructions- rinse with cool water after each use and allow to air dry inside out. Do not machine wash or dry. Never let it sit in water for a long period of time. Always rinse thoroughly and squeeze out as much water as possible, while making sure not to wring and twist the delicate construction. As it’s hanging to dry, occasionally use my palms to “comb” down the fur so that it doesn’t stiffen as it dries

Chamois Leather - genuine chamois leather is a unique and natural product, which is extremely soft, flexible, and absorbent. Typically chamois leather is used to dry off surfaces after washing; this is due to the absorbency and softness of the leather, the particles are held within the hollow fibre of the leather, eliminating abrasion.
The chamois needs to be damp, but not wet to work, it is made by splitting the skin into two pieces; the selected sheepskins are 100% cod oil tanned to give the luxurious, golden, soft finish that can absorb six times its weight of water, making them ideal for glass surface drying.

The inherent problem of any flat weave drying towel; is that it breaks the surface tension to ‘lift’ the water from the surface along with any protective wax. Modem synthetic materials have gained ground and the use of chamois is being replaced by Micro fibre waffle weave technology as they hold more water (approx. 5 times more water, therefore require wringing out less often) and will not `pull' wax from a paint surface as the ‘dimpled ‘pattern of the towel allows air pockets to break the surface tension and therefore will not allow ‘lift’ like a flat towel surface

Boar's hair Wash Brush - my favourite washing tool, a natural boar's hair brush specifically made for delicate surface washing, a 100% natural boar's hair brush is a soft as a sheepskin mitt and is the only brush that is safe and will not harm or scratch the paint surface. On any vehicle washing tool you need a material that’s very soft, scratch free and has a deep nap

Note: use both the boars' hairbrush and sheepskin mitt by applying very light even pressure and wiping in one direction only, shaking and/or rinsing frequently.

Care: rinse thoroughly in clean warm water and allow to air dry by hanging up.

Boar’s Hair Brush & Flow through Handle - a boar’s hair brush with the benefit of non-surface marring and a constant stream of water flowing through it,
First pass-after connecting the on / off valve on the 40-inch handle to a water hose, gently pass the brush over the paint surface to rinse the vehicle. Turn off the water at the on/off valve and dip the boar’s hair brush into the bucket of car wash concentrate, lightly agitate and then rinse off the soap residue. This tool is a great help with larger vehicles (SUV, Hummer, Motor Homes, etc) the brush measures 10-inches long by 21/2-inches wide; the on/off valve fits a STD garden hose fitting. Groits Garage

Sponges

There are two very different types (a) natural sea sponge (b) synthetic foam, of which there are two types:

1. Closed cell and 2. Open cell. Closed cell foam is very inefficient at holding water so that leaves open cell foam and the natural sea sponge, which is naturally open celled, as the two main sponges for vehicle washing. Synthetic sponges are commonly made from cellulose wood fibres, or foamed plastic polymers. The reason why flat synthetic sponges are not suitable for your paint surface is that they can trap granules of dirt between its surface and the paint and contribute to the formation of micro scratches when trapped dirt is dragged repeatedly across your paint’s surface.

1. Flat Synthetic Sponges - flat synthetic sponges, chamois leather or washcloth's will cause ‘surface tension’ between the flat surfaces of the washing media and the paint surface, thereby removing a percentage of the protective wax or sealant. It can also trap dirt, grit or road debris between the material and the paint film surface causing scratches. Wash brushes, sheepskin mitts or waffle weave towels because of their construction cannot trap anything and are much easier to rinse then a synthetic flat sponge.
The reason I advice against the use of natural or synthetic chamois or flat surface synthetic closed-cell sponges is that grit or dirt can become trapped between its flat surface and the paint causing scratches.

2. Natural Sea Sponge - natural sea sponges release soap and grit far easier and although they feel like dried out cake when dry they get ultra soft when they come in contact with water. They hold a vast amount of water and soap; they are my preferred wash media for delicate paint. Thoroughly flush with clean water (especially before first use) or a Proline Sponge

An extract from one of a series of unbiased Detailing Technical Papers © TOGWT ™ Ltd Copyright 2002-2009, all rights reserved.​

Chances are you'll learn something and advance your knowledge of detailing if you read any of these.

 

No it does not, i have used mine dozens of times and other then a few stains it works just like new!

 

how about for ONR washes? Im not sure if lambswool would be very good for this type of wash

 

i use uber sponges, lc grout sponge and ulti-mitt (red one)

I usually have one of each in my bucket at any one time I am washing a vehicle... along with a short handle boars hair brush, a pinnacle bug sponge and of course a swissvax wheel brush