Rob Tomlin
Lotus Exige S
Pennypacker said:
Why take the chance?
What does a natural sea sponge offer that you can't get from something like a sheepskin?
Sponge or mitt?
- Thread starter imported_sal3291
- Start date
Why take the chance?
What does a natural sea sponge offer that you can't get from something like a sheepskin?
I've been using the Home Depot grout sponges since last summer with conventional washes. They've worked well for me, and have not caused any marring that I've detected.
I just did my first ONR two days ago and elected to use a Eurow sheepskin mit that I picked up at Wal Mart for that.
I just did my first ONR two days ago and elected to use a Eurow sheepskin mit that I picked up at Wal Mart for that.
Pennypacker
New member
Rob Tomlin said:
I suppose I don't think there's any more of a chance with a sea sponge than any other wash media if used properly.
The big advantage to me is that I think sea sponges rinse cleaner than other media options while at the same time being soft and malleable--grout sponges rinse clean but they're too firm for my taste; sheepskin are soft and pliable, but don't rinse as cleanly. Sea sponges have the best of both worlds to my mind. They're also able to hold a lot more soapy water which allows for better control in dispensing whatever amount of wash solution is necessary to clean a given area (more useful for conventional washing as opposed to foam-gun washing). And in my experience, they last longer than sheepskin, more than offsetting the slight increase in price.
Saleenman607
Member
Pennypacker....where do you purchase these critters called sea sponges if I may boldly ask? I'm going to try one out on my Mother in Laws car.:dance
Pennypacker
New member
Saleenman607 said:
I happen to like the ones from TOL and Florida Sponge Company (the latter courtesy of Spilchy...thanks Spilchy!). You can also get good ones from ABC Window Cleaning Supply, but you need a minimum order of $45 (not a problem for me as I like a lot of their brushes and bottles and other odds and ends--and who doesn't need a plastic 3-D Coyote to keep birds away from their car
). ABC Window Cleaning Supply, Inc. - Detail
Top of the Line Giant Sea Sponge
I didn't really care for the ones from Autogeek though--just my preference. So if you don't like your mother-in-law much, I'd get those.
ndtechie05
New member
I just received my red Ulti-Mitt and SchMitt Grout Sponge yesterday...I never trusted those mitts until doing some further reading here and I have yet to use them. I always have used a MF mitt...the one with the long "tenticles".
-Brett
-Brett
Spilchy
New member
Pennypacker said:I happen to like the ones from TOL and Florida Sponge Company (the latter courtesy of Spilchy...thanks Spilchy!). You can also get good ones from ABC Window Cleaning Supply, but you need a minimum order of $45 (not a problem for me as I like a lot of their brushes and bottles and other odds and ends--and who doesn't need a plastic 3-D Coyote to keep birds away from their car
ABC Window Cleaning Supply, Inc. - Detail
Top of the Line Giant Sea Sponge
I didn't really care for the ones from Autogeek though--just my preference. So if you don't like your mother-in-law much, I'd get those.
You're welcome! :2thumbs:
I also have great luck with these guys:
Buy the Acme Sponge & Chamois Company SW#1-1011C Sea Sponge, 10-11 inch at Hardware World - The world's #1 home hardware site
The ones I got from them were awesome. They had huge flat surfaces the size of a sheepskin.
I love the sea sponge because when wet with soap, they are softer than silk. Nothing is as "orgasmic" feeling
It's amazing. Also, nothing else comes closer to rinsing cleaner. The grout sponge can't compete with these features. Further, they swell to a "million" times their weight in water. Nothing holds more soapy water. In fact, I have to dump out my rinse bucket because it over flows and some times I have to make a new bucket of wash solution! That's how much water they "sponge" up and then release. They fit into every nook and cranny imaginable. You can take an 11 inch or 12 inch sea sponge and squeeze it into the size of a golf ball in your palm. Sea sponges last a long time so the steep price pays for itself in the long run.Nothing is better than the real thing. Just like sheepskin comes straight off the animal (the hide is in the inside of the mitt) the sea sponge comes right from the ocean. They are clean and safe to use just like anything else that comes from the ground or an animal. They go through a cleaning process. A quick rinse and you're good to go. I have NEVER experienced any damage because of a new unclean sponge. The fear is so overblown that it is ridiculous and I've become tired of calming people down. Most people who bring up this "fear" are those who haven't even used it. But for the most part, those who use them regularly will agree with me.
If sea sponges were cheaper and the overblown "fear factor" were not issues, I guarantee it would be as popular as sheepskin. If people will rub a cheap, synthetic, fake sponge made for tiling floors and walls then I suggest trying the real thing.
The one thing sea sponges may not be good for is ONR. I have not used it with ONR and there was a bad experience here about it.
EDIT:
Anyone wishing to try one, it must be a Sea Wool Sponge. Acme makes a very good sponge as well as Florida Sponge Company. Try to get unbleached.
Might want to be careful with Florida Sponge Company.
Spilchy
New member
kpounds said:
I had an issue with them, but it was resolved. Basically they don't have too good a communication system. I ordered the largest sponge they have. However, they have to harvest it first so there can be a delay in receiving. The sponges aren't always readily available. The thing is, they don't tell you so you're left in the dark.
There are the other places to check. If anyone buys, just remember sea wool sponges harvested in Florida.
CMA sells nice ones too. They are a bit small though but excellent quality. Don't buy the ones in Home Depot.