Sheepskin Wash Mitts and Black Cars?

superstring · 02-23-05, 11:27

Hi Folks

Just finished doing a search on wash mitts and the concensus on the board seems to be genuine sheepskin. I've been using a 100% cotton mitt for years and one reason I've stuck with it is that it's easy to clean thoroughly in the washing machine. Anyway I'm planning on giving my black Subaru the best detailing it's ever had this Spring and thought I'd try another type of (perhaps gentler) mitt.

So, I phoned a detailing shop in town who I trust and asked if they knew where I could buy a good quality sheepskin mitt locally. Well..... they said not to get a real sheepskin mitt because the wool leaves oils on the car and, on a black car, this would be especially noticeable. They use synthetic "wool" mitts and say there's no comparison, ie the synthetic is much better! No oils, no marring.

Has anyone noticed genuine sheepskin leaving an oily residue? Anyone using synthetic sheepskin?

Thanks!

FalconGuy · 02-23-05, 11:52

in the line of work he is in Synthetics are fine, for what you descibed natural is better. I wouldnt hesitate to advise you to use real sheepskin. Once you try them you wont go back to cotton

Bill D · 02-23-05, 12:17

I must diagree entirely with what they say. I get my sheepskin mitts at Wal-Mart. I evaluate every single one on the shelf first, choosing only the softest to buy. At times, none are soft enough so I walk but most often if I plan to make a"big sheespkin mitt run" I do ok.

I wash them before using just like mfs. This will clean up who knows what accumulated on them since the time of manufacture till the time you bought them home. It ought to remove any loose fibers as well.

My issue with cotton, I assume you mean the chenille weave variety, is that all too often the true content of cotton in the mitt is in question. It really should only be 100% cotton. With chenille, cotton or not, I have had terrible linting issues: lint in the dryer and clogging up the filter. Just too much of a mess for me.

I suppose chenille cotton mitts may have a greater longevity than sheepskin. Sheepskin does degrade. Apparently the rate at which it does so can vary from mitt to mitt. But FWIW, I still have a mitt from 2 years ago, that's still good for wheel duty.

superstring · 02-23-05, 12:30

Thanks for the replies.

Quote:

Posted by Bill D
My issue with cotton, I assume you mean the chenille weave variety, is that all too often the true content of cotton in the mitt is in question. It really should only be 100% cotton. With chenille, cotton or not, I have had terrible linting issues: lint in the dryer and clogging up the filter. Just too much of a mess for me.

No, Bill, my mitts are 100% cotton terry towel. I've not had any linting problems, I wash the mitt after every use and my current mitt has lasted 8 years!

However I think it may be contributing to some micro-marring

Bill D · 02-23-05, 12:36

I'd say 8 years is a bit too long.

Yep, cotton, although it can exist for quite some time, it's "safety for paint" can be short-lived. In effort to cut back on micromarring from cotton as much as possible I've been told some people replace perfectly good looking cotton towels or other cotton supplies because they started to be too rough for the paint.

The chenille may eliminate this somewhat, I'm not sure. I'd highly doubt it would still be safe for that kind of period of time though.

But to play things safe, sometimes it's just best to replace such expendible items quicker than you may think necessary.

Remember, supplies are a lot more re newable than paint.

See what you think of the chenille or the sheepskin.

superstring · 02-23-05, 12:58

Quote:

But to play things safe, sometimes it's just best to replace such expendible items quicker than you may think necessary.

Remember, supplies are a lot more re newable than paint.

Yep, you're absolutely right, Bill! What can I say?

Has anyone tried the SONUS Der Wunder Mitt available from the Autopia store?

blackcaraddict · 02-23-05, 12:59

Quote:

Originally posted by superstring
Hi Folks

Has anyone noticed genuine sheepskin leaving an oily residue?

Thanks!

This is a myth...I have been using the Walmart EUROW genuine sheepskin mitts for 5 years on my old black '96 Cobra, my black '01 Denali and now my black '98 Tacoma 4x4 and never have I had any residue or noticeable marring from the mitts. Just be sure to hand pick the mitts, as some are considerably softer than others.

FalconGuy · 02-23-05, 04:05

8 years, geeez im changing wash mitts every few weeks....... and I thought I was not all that OCD... Guess I am

Accumulator · 02-23-05, 06:06

superstring- Yeah, you'll be a lot happier with something other than the terry mitt. While they wear like iron (I have a Griot's one that must be over ten years old) they really do contribute to the wash-induced marring.

And you can count your lucky stars that you didn't use that "synthetic wool" mitt on your black paint! You would've had an adventure in marring removal if you had

I haven't tried the Sonus mitt, but IIRC it's a MF one. I like MF mitts, but you have to watch 'em. They can pick up, and *hold onto* gritty dirt. It just doesn't rinse out and can result in marring.

And yeah, the chenille mitts can sure make a linty mess in the washer the first few times you launder them! At least with the dryer you can just clean the lint filter.

Find some good sheepskin ones and you should be all set. Of course.. [insert Accumulator's foamgun lecture here

]

tegboy · 02-23-05, 06:09

I have found with the Chenille wash pads, that they dry really stiff and feel horrid. But as soon as they become wet again it softens up.

MongooseGA · 02-23-05, 06:13

Quote:

Originally posted by Accumulator
Of course.. [insert Accumulator's foamgun lecture here ]

Ok...Click here for Accumulator's extreme, non-marring wash technique. Don't bother reading the rest of this link, as I'm now just rambling trying to make this as long as possible...So, how bout 'dem bears? Anyone going into the chat room tonight? I wonder how long this is by now, as I type it into the prompter window. Did I mention this si the link for Accumulator's non-marring extreme wash technique? It's not eaxctly about foam guns, (or is it...?) but it'll help you on your never ending quest for automotive utopia. More commonly referred to as "Autopia".

stevet · 02-23-05, 06:16

Quote:

Originally posted by Bill D
I suppose chenille cotton mitts may have a greater longevity than sheepskin. Sheepskin does degrade. Apparently the rate at which it does so can vary from mitt to mitt. But FWIW, I still have a mitt from 2 years ago, that's still good for wheel duty.

I find if you dry the sheepskin mitts in the dryer they last much longer than chenille mitts. When I let sheepskin mitts air dry they seem to rott and the fur starts to come out in clumps. My current sheepskin mitt is holding up great and I started using it in September.