Which Wash Mitt/Pad/Sponge/Brush?

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Boss_429

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OK, which one do your prefer for washing...

100% Cotton Mitt
Lambswool/Sheepskin Mitt
Synthetic Mitt
MF Mitt

100% Cotton Pad
Synthetic Pad

Sea Sponge
Synthetic Sponge

Boar's Hair Brush
Synthetic Brush

Other (that I might have missed)

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Here's the tough part... why do you prefer what you prefer? :D

I've been a long time fan of 100% Made in the USA Cotton mitts for the following reasons:

They are soft. (a least for a while)
The are white. (easy to see the dirt that needs rinsing)
The "mitt" can be rinsed from the inside out.
They rinse clean and easy. (less dirt - less chance for swirls)
They are/were relatively inexpensive.

Unfortunately, they are getting harder and harder to come by. I'm finding the high quality lambswool mitts have most of the same attributes and tend to stay softer longer. So, I'm slowly switching over.
 
Sheepskin mitts.

I know with a lot more certainlty that I'm getting real sheepskin

An inspection , "the pick 'em like fruit" technique at the shelf will reveal which are softest, if any qualify as soft enough to select.

A lot less pilling and linting, if any, as opposed to chenille that may more may not be 100% cotton.

Longevity: if washed either by hand or machine ( hand washable cycle) and very importantly, dried only in the drier inside out.

Ease of availablity: I pay not more than about $5 for them at Wal-Mart and picking the softest has never disappointed me.
 
:yeah

What Bill said. I prefer the sheepskins for a lot of the same reasons. One more reason is that I feel that the nap pulls dirt in and away from the surface, while also rinsing pretty clean in a rinse bucket. I feel that the sheepskin mitts, if used correctly, produce no marring (within reason).
 
I use synthetic wash blocks & mits (gold). I buy them from Meguires and Finish Kare. If my car/truck is really dirty, I'll use the hose to rinse off the mit frequently before dunking it back into the wash bucket. I use a seperate set of mits for the wheels, wells, lower trim, etc...

I've tried the sheepskin mits and IMO they don't load up soap/suds as well. I'm sure a lot of it is in my head......
 
i use sheepskin mitts too but like mgm2003 i'm disappointed with how long they hold soap suds. I started squirting a bit of car wash directly on the mitt - seems to help.

I'm considering trying a sea sponge so I'm anxious to hear opinions on that.
 
I love my Mooseskin wash mitt :D Mmm mmm.
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.j/k. I use Eruow cheapo Wally World sheepskin wash mitt :bow
 
I use the sheepskin, but i dont like the wrist band. I am looking for just a sheepskin pad, that elastic stuff scratches....
 
JeffM said:
I use the sheepskin, but i dont like the wrist band. I am looking for just a sheepskin pad, that elastic stuff scratches....
Click to expand...

Try folding the elastic band back into the mitt - that is if you don't wear the mitt.
 
I use: Sheepskin mitts, chenille (sponge covered) pads, and sponges both sea and synthetic. Of these I do prefer the sponges.

I don't care for mitts of any constructin. I have some difficulty getting my hands in them for one and two, it is a pain to quickly turn them over to get to a clean side. So, you guessed it, I use my sheepskin mitts like a pad.

Back to the sponges:

A fully loaded sponge seems to "float" across the surface while the sheepskin and chenille seem to present more resistance.

A sponge always appears to rinse more quickly and thoroughly than either the sheepskin or chenille.

Sponges require less "maintenance" than either the sheepskin or cnenille.

Nothing (IMO, of course :D ) washes the window glass better than a grout sponge.

When washing a vehicle with particularly nasty lower body panels, you haven't lost a huge investment (referring to a synthetic in this instance, not a sea sponge - I'll cut a sponge in half when I see this and toss it at the end of the wash) if you get some greasy, grimey, mess on your sponge.

Need I continue :cool
 
looks like I'm gonna go and get some washmits!!Was going to ask the same ?...thanks Boss for asking :)...been using some small mf towels
 
I use a MF Sponge i got from Autozone for a few bucks. It hold quite a bit of suds, and really glids over the paint. I can force it into tight places, and it really seems to clean good without much effort. I use a MF towel for the tough spots.
 
No sponges for me. There's not enough nap in them to catch and hold and potential contaminant particle. Just plenty, even more than really necessary, shepskin mitts, changing over to fresh ones plenty frequently.
 
Bill D said:
No sponges for me. There's not enough nap in them to catch and hold and potential contaminant particle.
Click to expand...

Well Bill, I don't want my wash tools to "hold" any contaminants. That's why I rinse my sponges/mitts/pads. But that is what sheepskin and chenille often do. I spend far more time picking "things" out of the nap of sheepskin and chenille than any sponge. Sponges rinse much easier. As far as nap goes, that really doesn't mean much if the offending contaminanet is caught in the lower part of the fiber, that's where it stays. It doesn't magically "walk" up the length of the fiber safely away from the paint surface.

The fact is, a sponge's (or any other tool) potential for marring your paint's surface is relative to the user at the end of that tool.
 
Mr. Clean said:
The fact is, a sponge's (or any other tool) potential for marring your paint's surface is relative to the user at the end of that tool.
Click to expand...

Yes.......and no. :) With a sponge or other washing utensil that has no/little nap, the dirt and contamination have nowhere to go but on the surface. With a chenille or sheepskin mitt, dirt and contamination do not sit on the surface of the utensil as they would with a sponge. There is room for the dirt to "migrate" in towards the inner surface of the mitt. With a sponge, you can literally see the dirt sitting on the surface. If you use a chenille or sheepskin mitt with little pressure, the contamination that is on the inner portions of the nap have far less chance of marring your finish.

Whether or not you want your wash utensil to hold contaminants is not important. The fact is that they all hold the dirt that they pull off the car. The important aspect is where that dirt is when you are rubbing your vehicle's finish with your wash utensil.
 
Mr. Clean said:
Well Bill, I don't want my wash tools to "hold" any contaminants. That's why I rinse my sponges/mitts/pads. But that is what sheepskin and chenille often do. I spend far more time picking "things" out of the nap of sheepskin and chenille than any sponge.
Click to expand...

That is further reason to switch to a new mitt in advance. Using several is standard operating procedure for me. Cheap insurance.

Sponges rinse much easier. As far as nap goes, that really doesn't mean much if the offending contaminant is caught in the lower part of the fiber, that's where it stays.
Click to expand...

That may very well be but a mitt will offer some possibility of a dirt particle to be held in the nap away fro the finish. A sponge has no nap.


It doesn't magically "walk" up the length of the fiber safely away from the paint surface.
Click to expand...

Um..no kidding. No need for condescending remarks here.

The fact is, a sponge's (or any other tool) potential for marring your paint's surface is relative to the user at the end of that tool.
Click to expand...

Yeah, obviously. Everyone's going to make their personal decision on which product to wash with. To each his own.
 
JaredPointer said:
...With a chenille or sheepskin mitt, dirt and contamination do not sit on the surface of the utensil as they would with a sponge. There is room for the dirt to "migrate" in towards the inner surface of the mitt.
Click to expand...
We will just have to agree to disagree. IMO this "migration" is only a theory which has been perpetuated on the detailing forums. It is (again IMO) a theory based on wishes and not fact. Once the chenille mitt or sheepskin mitt "grabs" a contaminant, I don't find that it moves up the fiber at all. But, if you choose to subscribe to this theory, then why not a sea sponge?

JaredPointer said:
...
...The important aspect is where that dirt is when you are rubbing your vehicle's finish with your wash utensil.
Click to expand...
I'm assuming you didn't mean "rubbing". No matter the wash tool, I don't "rub" at all.

But speaking of rubbing. I have always found it ironic that some people love the sheepskin (wool) washing mitt and disparage the sponge (foam or sea), yet prefer a foam polishing pad and shy away from the wool pads while machine polishing, an activity which provides far more opportunity for surface marring if “grit” is introduced between the pad and the surface. :)

If you are flushing your surface well with a pre-rinse, using an appropriate amount of a quality car wash, and using good common sense (rinsing your wash tool often, keeping the rinse water clean etc. etc. ) I see only a small opportunity for marring your paint’s surface no matter the tool you choose.

Unlike some, when it comes to detailing, I have no agenda, no need to sway anyone to my way of thinking. I have no desire to change anyone's mind about which car wash, polish, sealant, wax, drying tool, wash tool, etc. etc. etc. they choose to use. Frankly, I don't care what you use. A poll was formed and I offered my opinion. If you don't agree with me, I won't accuse you of being "condescending" :rolleyes:

I can only suggest that if any reader has been scared off from using a sponge by the doomsayers, then try one on your lower panels and be your own judge.
 
Like I've been saying, "to each his own". I don't see anyone trying to change anyone's mind about what washing material to use. Like you say, what do we care what the other guy uses? We're sharing our rationale, regardless of what someone else may think of it, that's all. Everyone is most certainly entitled to their opinion and need to be the ultimate judge for themselves.

As for "condescending", the tone of that remark earlier sure read that way to me. Maybe I was wrong about it. :dunno But so you know, it had absolutely nothing to do with agreement or not which I could care less about.

Happy washing everyone. :)
 
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