Best mitt to prevent marring? Sheepskin isn't it.

Wouldn't dirt and particulates remain in the "nooks and crannies" of a grout sponge?



I'll have to get a couple tomorrow to try out. I have to go to Home Depot anyway to get painter's tape.



On another note, I stopped by my local auto body supply place (where I get a lot of my detiling supplies, like the Meg's pro and detailer lines) and they just got in a shipment of Collonite Insulator Wax! They had just closed, but the manager let me in. He had already cashed out the register, but he's putting some aside for me pick up tomorrow, along with some Meg's blue detail clay. :D
 
I like EuroW mitts myself. My Home Depot doesn't carry the grout sponges SpoiledMan uses! They only have the packaged grout sponges and I'm too paranoid to use them on my truck since I've read they aren't the same.
 
Milestones said:
Redline:



Other things to consider that might be causing the marring:



Are you using the two bucket method with grit guard(s)? The benefit of using a sheepskin (or any wash medium) is sharply reduced if steps aren't taken to get the grit out of it and keep grit from getting back in.



What wash soap are you using? These vary greatly in quality from awful to excellent - if you are not using a soap that provides excellent lubrication that could be causing your marring right there.
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I use two buckets with a grit guard in my rinse bucket. I am also using Zaino Z7 car wash.





Milestones said:
Are you lightly gliding the wash mitt over the paint? If you are scrubbing with a fair amount of pressure on the mitt that could causing marring regardless of what kind of mitt/brush you are using.



Are you using a high quality drying towel(s)? A lot of people make the mistake of skimping on the drying towels they use. IMO it's worth investing in some really soft waffle weave MF towels if you are concerned about marring issues (which apparently you are).



Are you dragging your drying towel/absorber across the paint? "Blotting" the paint dry with a waffle weave MF towel is less likely to cause marring than dragging a drying towel across the paint. Any time you drag something across the paint you are risking marring because if there is any loose grit left on the paint at all you will be pulling it across the surface with the towel. Conversely, if you just blot dry, you are taking an extra step to help remove any grit you may have missed before proceeding to claying/polishing/sealing the paint.
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I lightly guide the wash mitt over the paint since the wash tends to have really good lubricity.



I use the Absorber to dry off. I never drag it or swipe it at all on the car. I'll open it up and blot a few areas at a time, rinse it out, and repeat.





Deanski said:
Also, sheepskin quality varies from mfg to mfg. Some are super soft and thick, others are thinner and a bit more harsh. Some almost resemble a wool cut pad. Stay away from those!! Wool is too stiff for washing. The longer the wool, the better. If it gets matted, brush it out (if you have dogs, a slicker brush works well, then comb it) but if it doesn't get unmatted, toss it, get a new one.



Regards,

Deanski
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Hoesnety, it think the problem could be with the mitts I've been using. I've previously used the Eurow mitts, but I don't know how good they compare to the good ones. The Eurow mitts that I see stocked now are a lot thinner than the previous Eurow mitts I;ve bought, so those are out.The Sonus mitt I bought is horrible, it is so small and thin. I would not reccomend it at all.



What is the most large, plush, soft, and thick sheepskin mitt out there from what you all seen? I'm not concerned with the cost, I just want to make sure I'm using the best to wash. Right now it seems the one from Griot's Garage is one of the better options.



Griot's Garage 1-800-345-5789 - Car Care





Thanks for the help and suggestions everyone.
 
The largest, plushest, softest and thickest sheepskin?



Look no further:



Pure Australian Heavy Sheepskin Washmit



Excel Detail's heavy sheepskin mitt takes the guess work out because they segregate their mitts by light, medium and heavy. If you buy the Excel heavy mitt, you can be assured that you are getting an incredibly thick, plush sheepskin - unlike Eurow mitts where you have to sift through them to find the thickest/plushest.



I think Excel used to carry an "extra heavy" mitt as well - but I didn't see it on their website.



I've had great luck with finding thick/plush Eurow mitts at my local Walmarts - but I go through every one on the shelf to pick out the best.
 
I have only used the mitts without a thumb pocket and I like the idea I can spin it on my hand to use the other side.



What is the advantage of a mitt with a thumb?
 
Bunky said:
I have only used the mitts without a thumb pocket and I like the idea I can spin it on my hand to use the other side.



What is the advantage of a mitt with a thumb?
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That it doesn't spin on your hand.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
That it doesn't spin on your hand.
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I knew someone would say that..but is there no other reason? I have never had a problem where it unintentionally moved in my hand.
 
Frito Bandito said:
I like EuroW mitts myself. My Home Depot doesn't carry the grout sponges SpoiledMan uses! They only have the packaged grout sponges and I'm too paranoid to use them on my truck since I've read they aren't the same.
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The packages ones are just a bit more stiff and *might* cause a bit of marring on softer paints when used for an ONR style wash *but* I haven't tried them. They work perfect for a traditional wash even on soft paint. They're probably safe to give a go.:)
 
So, has anyone compared the grout sponges to the sea sponges that were mentioned a few months ago??
 
Someone asked earlier, but I don't think the question's been answered: What's special about a "grout sponge"? How is it different from a "regular" sponge?
 
SpoiledMan said:
Grout sponges that I use are *very* soft.
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Trust me the man knows what he is talking about. I took a chance and I couldn't believe how soft the grout sponges were. It made doing a ONR wash on my cars so much easier.
 
Milestones said:
The largest, plushest, softest and thickest sheepskin?



Look no further:



Pure Australian Heavy Sheepskin Washmit



Excel Detail's heavy sheepskin mitt takes the guess work out because they segregate their mitts by light, medium and heavy. If you buy the Excel heavy mitt, you can be assured that you are getting an incredibly thick, plush sheepskin - unlike Eurow mitts where you have to sift through them to find the thickest/plushest.



I think Excel used to carry an "extra heavy" mitt as well - but I didn't see it on their website.



I've had great luck with finding thick/plush Eurow mitts at my local Walmarts - but I go through every one on the shelf to pick out the best.
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Thanks for the link. Are these mitts made by Eurow? The ones pictured look exactly like them.
 
SpoiledMan said:
I've said it many times and I'll say it again. A $2 grout sponge is your best bet.
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+1



I thought he was crazy (well, actually I still do) when he first mentioned grout sponges, but dang if they don't work really well. ONR or traditional wash, you won't be disappointed. I don't use wash media very often, and when I do it's mostly a BHB, but when I need the extra aggression of a *real* wash media, I grab the grout sponge.
 
SuperBee364 said:
+1



I thought he was crazy (well, actually I still do) when he first mentioned grout sponges, but dang if they don't work really well. ONR or traditional wash, you won't be disappointed. I don't use wash media very often, and when I do it's mostly a BHB, but when I need the extra aggression of a *real* wash media, I grab the grout sponge.
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:chuckle: :D :mad: :grinno: :har: :bat :clap: :funnypost



I know a lot of people think I'm crazy when it comes to these things. Hell, for that matter a bunch of other things. But these just plain work. Buy today and thank me tomorrow.:grinno:
 
Before I get 25 PM's asking where I get these:



Home Depot has these sponges "loose" in a hopper. They're usually priced at $1.97. They also have a 6 pack that's usually $10.99. The loose ones are the deal for soft paint and an ONR style wash. The 6 pack is just a bit stiffer and work well for traditional washes on hard/soft paint. I haven't tried the stiffer ones on soft paint with ONR but I'm thinking that they wont be a problem at all. I need to do some polishing so maybe I'll give it a go.



IMG_2245.jpg
 
SpoiledMan: I just tried your tip about using grout sponges today. I normally use sheepskin washmits... I'm a GS convert. Thank you very much for the tip! :clap:
 
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