How often to replace wash mitts...

YNOT

YNOT

Poorboys Rules!
Guys and gals...how often do you replace your wash mitts?

I've got a few Meguiar's wool-ish type mitts left that I've been using for some time (4 years or so probably) and I found out that they were introducing an immense amount of swirls. I've now pitched them all.

Because they were old, I was really only using them right before I would clay/polish my entire car and that's when I started noticing how horribly swirled my paint was after using them. I've been routinely buying new microfiber mitts from Target every so often and no longer use the wool ones. So far I've had good luck with the microfiber mitts...no excessive swirling.

I've got about 7 newer mitts, but I'm curious as to how long I should keep them before they are too contaminated to use.

Is replacing them every year good...or more often maybe?

I'm not afraid to spend money more often if it means less work re-polishing...just curious as to what's a common replacement period.

Thanks!!
 
That entirely depends on the mitt itself and how often you use them, how you clean them, etc. They are cheap enough that I don't use them longer than 6 months or so, just because. On an especially dirty car, if they just get filthy, I just throw them away and get another one, no need to risk it IMO.
 
This is actually a question I have never seen posted on any detailing forum before. I mean I am sure it has been somewhere, but have just never seen it.

I would pitch a mitt if I notice that it is no longer doing its job effectively. That is, it is no longer cleaning the paint gently and it is beginning to leave damage. Ideally right before this occurs, but it is hard to know.

With wool mitts I would pitch them if they begin to shed excessively or have particulete that becomes trapped that is not easily removed. With microfiber, I would pitch them the the fiber is no longer soft and begins to harden (this should be easy to tell, like a microfiber towel that stiffens).

I have had exceptional length/durability with both natural sea sponges and foam sponges (The LC Ulti-Mitt and the LC Car Wash Sponge). I have two that are more than 3-4 years old and still work great.
 
Usually as soon as I see they are getting dirty or show signs of wear. Usually I soad in dawn every couple of week to clean.
 
I don't replace mine they get downgraded for other purposes, such as wheel wells, rims, engines, exhaust pipes, etc. Anything that I don't care if the mitt gets trashed. The current wash mitt I have is 100% wool and its only used on painted surfaces, soaked in APC and soap then washed once a month or as needed. Once I feel like its starting to loose its smoothness or quality, its down graded and replaced. The last thing that I want to have, is use an old mitt that could cause marring in the paint. Trust me I have hand on experience in this and lesson well learned.
 
Beemerboy said:
I don't replace mine they get downgraded for other purposes, such as wheel wells, rims, engines, exhaust pipes, etc. Anything that I don't care if the mitt gets trashed.
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Actually yes, that's what I do with mine. I said pitch, and I have pitched a few, but I have some older ones especially for those purposes.

In fact, I've got a bunch of microfiber towels and was noticing some are less soft nowadays. I have always bought in fairly big batches of different colors each time, so I've now got my newest ones for QD'ing, second newest for removing wax and swirl removers and my older ones are for door jambs. And my oldest ones get used for plastic interior or wheels if they're not completely trashed. I also wash them separately ie: I won't wash the same MF towels that I wipe wax off with in with the ones I use for QD'ing, etc.

None of my MF towels are so horrible they're leaving swirls behind (in excess anyway) I'm just being cautious. I figure if I buy new ones each year (or sooner) I'll just keep downgrading them until I decide to toss them.

Thanks for the feedback. I guess that's the "catch 22"...you won't know when to replace an old mitt until it leaves you with scratches/swirls and then you realize it's time to pitch it...and re-polish the car.:rofl
 
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