What is the right way to clean a lambswool mitt?

when i'm done using my sheepskin/lambswool mitt when washing, i put it inside the bucket with fresh water after i've re-rinsed it out, and soak it/massage it to rid any leftover soap, etc., out. then, i'll fill the inside of the mitt with water (put the garden hose inside the mitt and hold the cuff tightly and it will flush out debris through the mitt, and you can also rub it as you do so to loosen out any dirt, soap, etc., out) once again. then i hang dry it on a pant hanger with the little clips and make sure to leave the cuff open so it dries up inside too...
 
I usually just work it in the shampoo mix and then rinse it out. But mine have survived washing in the machine on delicate/etc. cycle with Woolite.



Come to think of it, my mitts really don't get very dirty, I hardly ever have to really clean 'em. And they seem to hold up very well...I pretty much just abuse/neglect them but they still last a long, long time.
 
What's wrong with throwing them in the wash...?



I just throw mine in with my MFs used for washing, it works fine. Granted, I only use a wool mitt on dark color cars, I find MF mitts hold up much better.
 
Accumulator said:
I've had wool mitts contaminate MFs with wool lint...never could get it all out.
Click to expand...



Really?



Keep in mind I mostly use MF mitts, I do a load of WW MFs probably 2-3 times a week, and I probably use a wool mitt 4 times a month max, I'm guessing that the wool just sorta flushes out of the MFs during the washes that they don't get used.
 
Bigpoppa3346- Yeah, I had a brain-pause and forgot to take the sheepskin/wool mitts out of the washer. Loaded up a batch of MF towels with them for one cycle and *ZAP*, instant nasty-duty-only for all of 'em. Months later they *still* have wool strands in them :o



Wouldn't have bothered me much had the MFs in question been my wash mitts, but on towels that get used *dry* the wool cross-contamination was fatal.
 
I just hold the mitt by the finger tips and run my hose over it, back flushing against the grain of the hairs. Then I gently squeeze them dry and lay them over the edge of my bucket to try or on my grit guards depending on if I'm carrying stuff in the buckets or not.
 
Accumulator said:
I've had wool mitts contaminate MFs with wool lint...never could get it all out.
Click to expand...



A BIG light bulb went off in my head as I read this! I never thought about this kind of contamination. :think2



I've had great results with tossing my mitts in the wash. I wash them with MF wash along with my drying WWMFs but not the general purpose MFs or any that are used for wax/sealant/polish removal.



Honestly, this method has kept my SS/LW mitts clean and soft. The only complaint is the cuff is separating from the hide, but the mitt itself remains pretty much brand new.
 
Accumulator said:
Bigpoppa3346- Yeah, I had a brain-pause and forgot to take the sheepskin/wool mitts out of the washer. Loaded up a batch of MF towels with them for one cycle and *ZAP*, instant nasty-duty-only for all of 'em. Months later they *still* have wool strands in them :o



Wouldn't have bothered me much had the MFs in question been my wash mitts, but on towels that get used *dry* the wool cross-contamination was fatal.
Click to expand...



Why is the wool cross-contamination fatal? Is it because the wool strands were used for cleaning a dirty car, and therefore dirt/grit possibly entered towels used for polishing? I would imagine that the wool lint would be 'cleaned' in the machine, so even if there is wool lint, there'd be no dirt/grit with the lint.



I always wash my wool mitts with my WW drying towel and occasionally with towels used for QDing or applying a sealant, but I guess I should probably rethink it after reading this post.
 
daneel said:
Why is the wool cross-contamination fatal? Is it because the wool strands were used for cleaning a dirty car, and therefore dirt/grit possibly entered towels used for polishing?
Click to expand...



No, it's not a concern about what might be on the wool, but rather the wool itself.



The same wool that's nice and soft when wet can be too abrasive when dry.



The MFs in question are used dry, and, given the contamination, rubbing them against the paint could result in marring.



I'm not saying that it absolutely *would* result in marring, and some sheepskin mitts are mighty gentle-feeling when dry, but it's a risk I'm not gonna take.



Every now and then somebody here CD-tests a sheepskin mitt or a BHB without wetting it first, and the result is usually a marred up CD.
 
I throw mine in the washer w/ a tad bit of woolite on delicate and hang to dry in the garage. Lessons learned from ruining a couple of mitts:



Wash w/ other wool mitts - I had one, done by itself, get caught up in the agitator so now I use and wash several together to avoid this.



Don't let a mitt stay wet and then wash - I left one wet in a bucket for several days until I had another to do a load. I guess the hide got super soft after being left wet and the mitt literally fell apart (much to my wifes chagrin.)



Other than these I haven't any other ill effects by washing in the machine.



daneel said:
I always wash my wool mitts with my WW drying towel and occasionally with towels used for QDing or applying a sealant, but I guess I should probably rethink it after reading this post.
Click to expand...



My routine for washing car cleaning stuff is - cleanest items get washed first in separate batches i.e. wash drying towels first, then polish/waxing towels, moving onto utility mfs and mitts get washed last.
 
Rinse out the inside first until no more soap comes out of the leather. Then I put onto a grit guard and flush out the wool fibers with open ended hose. The trapped particles will flow right out. I do one side until no more soap, then the other and then the first side again. The mitt should be clean and soap free then.
 
I wash my SM Arnold wool mitts with my microfiber towels and I absolutely have no fiber transfer. I've never seen a single one...no problems here.
 
I've throw mine in the washing machine for years without issues.



I drop in, select mini load, cold water wash/rinse, hand wash cycle (gentler than delicate cycle), no soap.



The residual soap from the car wash solution cleans it and the cold water plus hand cycle prevents the mitt from degrading/fraying.



Like I said, I've done it for years.



But since I discovered sea wool sponges (softer than sheepskin and doesn't degrade) I haven't needed to do this in a while!
 
Spilchy said:
But since I discovered sea wool sponges (softer than sheepskin and doesn't degrade) I haven't needed to do this in a while!
Click to expand...

I've been VERY happy with my SM Arnold mitts as they are insanely plush and soft. However, you have me intrigued...I've never heard of sea wool mitts...tell me more! :bounce
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top