Are sea sponges the best for washing your car’s paint?

**Mr. Gloss** · 06-06-2013, 08:42 AM

I`m considering dumping the Grit Guard and washing with 5 sea sponges instead. I own two black cars. Don`t pity me.

1 for top surfaces
2 for side surfaces
2 for lower 1/4 panel surfaces

The Grit Guard is good in theory, but grit still remains afloat in the solution. The only way to keep the grit below the Grit Guard is not spin or draw the mitt upward out of the bucket.

Do a test with a dye capsule and you`ll see it with your own eyes.

Using a clear bucket, insert a dye capsule beneath the Grit Guard fin to hold it down. Slowly fill with 3 gallons of clear water. Wait for capsule to dissolve. The dye color will remain on the bottom. Work your mitt over the grit guard as usual by spinning it and draw it out. Notice how lifting the mitt draws the spinning solution upward. Vortex.

Give me some feedback.

**IslaTurbine** · 06-06-2013, 08:47 AM

The difference is that most dirt particles are probably heavier than water and will therefore sink to the bottom. Dye is not.

**Mr. Gloss** · 06-06-2013, 08:52 AM

Of course they are heavier, but they are light enough to be disturbed by the turbulence caused by swishing the mitt and lifting it out.

Do a test in clear water using dirt particles and give me some feedback.

The dye only proves that a vortex is formed by swishing and lifting. It`s weight is irrelevant.

**VaderGT** · 06-06-2013, 09:48 AM

I feel the same way that grit gaurds are basically useless to try and keep dirt away from the mitt. I use them but I mainly just use them to scrub the face of my mitt off on them when put in the rinse bucket to try and dislodge any dirt on the mit from last wash

**thomjack70** · 06-11-2013, 11:12 PM

I have used a sea sponge for quite some time with great results, consistently. I do not use a grit guard anymore either after switching to the sea sponge as my primary wash medium.

The sea sponge allows you to employ a technique I found very effective.

Fill the rinse bucket almost full, more the better
When rinsing the sea sponge, gently squeeze it out a few times towards the top of the rinse bucket (benefit of the sea sponge, no rubbing necessary, everything is released)
On the final final squeeze, compress the sponge down completely so it fits in the palm of your hand (will work with a large sea sponge). Once in your hand, it`s virtually unable to absorb any bit of the surrounding water which may contain particulates.
Go back to soapy water, let the sea sponge soak up all that goodness, and continue washing the car.
When returning to the rinse bucket, the particles have settled to the bottom and repeat the process.

After finishing the wash, complete a thorough rinse in clean water and set the sponge to dry. Very low maintenance, highly effective, very durable, best wash product IMO.

**Mr. Gloss** · 06-12-2013, 06:31 AM

thomjack70,

Thanks. I`m going to implement that wash method as soon as my new sea sponges arrive.

**VaderGT** · 06-13-2013, 05:27 PM

So does everyone get them from a car detail store..or does anyone use the ones from Home Depot or Lowes in the painting section. Since they sell natural sea sponges for a 1/4 of the price. I mean they are natural as well figure probably the same thing.

**Mr. Gloss** · 06-15-2013, 05:59 AM

I ordered from a Florida sponge distributor, wholesaler. A nice 7-8" sponge for $18 each, free shipping.

**Da Bank** · 02-28-2015, 01:51 PM

Originally Posted by Mr. Gloss

Of course they are heavier, but they are light enough to be disturbed by the turbulence caused by swishing the mitt and lifting it out.

Do a test in clear water using dirt particles and give me some feedback.

The dye only proves that a vortex is formed by swishing and lifting. It`s weight is irrelevant.

the weight is most definitely not irrelevant. If you had a brick of iron at the bottom of the wash bucket, no vortex you create with a wash mitt would budge it.

But I do agree, the weight of 98% of grit in the bottom of a wash bucket is small enough to be moved or drawn upwards with a vortex. One can draw the mitt out slowly and at a hydrodynamic angle to make this irrelevant, however.

**PA DETAILER** · 02-28-2015, 07:07 PM

Large Natural Sea Sponge

Lake Country Foam Car Wash Sponge

**GearHead_1** · 02-28-2015, 10:13 PM

Not that you were asking but I quite like a natural sea sponge. I do take extra precautions upon receiving one but once they`re clean and my experience is they come pretty much that way, they work very well.

**flatstick** · 03-01-2015, 08:21 AM

I have been using the wool sea sponges for years and prefer them over other media. they are so soft and durable. another nice thing is they are super easy to form any shape for tight crevices.

**PA DETAILER** · 03-01-2015, 09:14 AM

The sea sponge has me intriged. So does it become super soft when it hits the water? I may add one to my next order....

**GearHead_1** · 03-01-2015, 09:22 AM

They have more body than a grout sponge when wet. But not rubberery like a traditional sponge. They hold a ton of water. They are expensive when you consider you`re only buying a sponge but not a product that will break the bank. They do seem to hold up better than a regular sponge. PA Detailer, I`d tell you to give it a shot.