ONR and Dirt on Wash Mitt

M

muscleknight

New member
First time using ONR today and I used this wash mitt as it is what I had available:



Wash Bone
Microfiber Wash Pad



I noticed that this mitt got some dirt on it that wouldn't come off when I dipped it back into the bucket. Is it ok to have some dirt on the mitt when using ONR? I also took the hose and rinsed the mitt but some of the dirt wouldn't come off. The car turned out good and I'm pleased. I just used one bucket with 2 ounces of ONR in 2 gallons of water with a grit guard. The water got a little dirty but not as dirty as some of the pictures I have seen after use. The car also wasn't too dirty either so that might be the reason the water didn't get really dirty.
 
How's it going, muscle? To answer your question, no. It's not good to have dirt on your mitt when washing a vehicle. Every time you make a pass over the paint with a dirty mitt, you take the chance on damaging it.



You'll many different answers as to which is the best washing media and why, but in the end what it all boils down to is what works best for you.
 
Always use 2 bucket method with ONR. I prefer to use either a microfiber mitt or one of the monster microfibers from CG and follow up with a WW to dry.
 
Yeah, there is something in ONR that makes the dirt stick to whatever you are using to wash with.. That is one of the things I don't like about ONR..
 
muscleknight said:
First time using ONR today and I used this wash mitt as it is what I had available:



Wash Bone
Microfiber Wash Pad



I noticed that this mitt got some dirt on it that wouldn't come off when I dipped it back into the bucket. Is it ok to have some dirt on the mitt when using ONR? I also took the hose and rinsed the mitt but some of the dirt wouldn't come off. The car turned out good and I'm pleased. I just used one bucket with 2 ounces of ONR in 2 gallons of water with a grit guard. The water got a little dirty but not as dirty as some of the pictures I have seen after use. The car also wasn't too dirty either so that might be the reason the water didn't get really dirty.
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I have 3 of those wash bone mitts and I have retired the 1st one to strictly wheel/tire use bc it is dirty. When ifirst got it, I liked this mitt but it does retain too much dirt and it is difficult to clean it. I prefer the Proline grout sponge - much easier to use and cleans up easily every time.



I will use the 2 wash bone sponges for the very bottom of the car - like wheel wells and underneath skirts - or I might try to sell them.
 
If you mitt gets dirty, you should switch out to a new miit as you wash.



I will soak mitts in a bucket with car soap or mf detergent to clean mf mitts used with ONR.
 
Mark77 said:
Yeah, there is something in ONR that makes the dirt stick to whatever you are using to wash with.. That is one of the things I don't like about ONR..
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This is why I quit using ONR and went back to QEW. When using plush MFs to wash a few cars with ONR, I would go home and throw them in the wash while still wet. They never came clean.
 
gmblack3a said:
This is why I quit using ONR and went back to QEW. When using plush MFs to wash a few cars with ONR, I would go home and throw them in the wash while still wet. They never came clean.
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You mean ONR is actually worse than QEW for this? I haven't used up my QEW yet because I usually do traditional wash but I always considered QEW terrible for dirt-staining the wash media and figure that ONR was the same, not worse!
 
I just used it for the 1st time yesterday, and I have the SAME problem! My chenille fiber mitt is soo dirty! I tried to wash it off with soaking it in Dawn + warm water, and it's better, but it is still dirty. Then I tried diluted Woolite, and it helped some, but my mitt is still dirty. I guess this is a "thing" with ONR, but I've never seen it before while washing a car. It wouldn't just wash off with water. But I have to say my car is very clean now, and I loved using the ONR. Just washed the car with the wet sponge, and dried behind it with a chamois cloth. Easy!



So, what is the best sponge to use with ONR? I've heard a grout sponge is good. Any other suggestions?
 
muscleknight said:
First time using ONR today and I used this wash mitt as it is what I had available:



Wash Bone
Microfiber Wash Pad



I noticed that this mitt got some dirt on it that wouldn't come off when I dipped it back into the bucket. Is it ok to have some dirt on the mitt when using ONR? I also took the hose and rinsed the mitt but some of the dirt wouldn't come off. The car turned out good and I'm pleased. I just used one bucket with 2 ounces of ONR in 2 gallons of water with a grit guard. The water got a little dirty but not as dirty as some of the pictures I have seen after use. The car also wasn't too dirty either so that might be the reason the water didn't get really dirty.
Click to expand...



I also use the Bone with ONR. I always rub the bone against the grit guard to remove any dirt particles that could scratch the paint. After I am done washing with the bone, there is some darkening of the beige color so I put the bone in the washing machine and it comes out clean.
 
Today I tried to hose the car down first to get most of the sand and salt off before using ONR..

The water stayed crystal blue while the mitt(Chenille mitt) got black from the dirt still left on the car..
 
rad21 said:
After I am done washing with the bone, there is some darkening of the beige color so I put the bone in the washing machine and it comes out clean.
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Same with the MF covered foam pads I use. Washing them makes them look clean.
 
ONR seems to stain the wash media a little more than QEW, but still not a big problem.



I am using QEW now, because it is available locally, and didn't find ONR that much better in any regards.



What I mostly have been using is a Chenille mitt that I buy from a dollar store for $1. So I have a lot of them, using a new one on polished black paint. When quite a few get dirty, they get machine washed and come out 90% clean.
 
I used ONR for the first time today to clean up my GS430. It had a fresh detail prior to a Christmas trip to VA in the middle of a 2 foot snowstorm. Fresh polished finish really seemed to keep salt and gunk from sticking to it as much, but it was plenty dirty by the end of the 1100 mile trip. Barely got into the 30s in GA today, so I figured it was a good time to try ONR in the garage. Worked really well and I followed the videos posted here on use. I used a Meguiar's microfiber mitt and it was dark and dirty by the time I finished. I always prewash my detailing rags in the laundry sink with a capful of liquid tide after I'm done using them. This gets about 95% of the dirt/dark coloration out and a followup in the regular washer returns everything to new looking.
 
This seems to get all the staining out for me. 1) Spray the mitt(s) with generous amounts of OXI Clean. Rub the product into the mitt as thoroughly as you can making sure to get the heavily stained areas. Let the mitt(s) sit for 5-10 minutes. 2) Mix 1/2 oz of Micro-Restore into 2 gallons of hot water in a car wash bucket. 3) Place the stained mitt(s) in the solution and let sit overnight. 4) Launder using a hot/cold wash cycle plus an extra rinse and an ounce of Micro-Restore.



You will be shocked at how dirty the pre-soak water gets. ONR encapsulates the dirt and binds it to the mitt.
 
IMO, the stuff left on the mitt isn't as much dirt as oil based grime. The actual dirt releases very well, I usually have a nice layer at the bottom of my bucket. The stuff that is on the mitt is the same slime that is left on the bucket walls. I see no issues with any of the stuff, what is more important is the results of your wash. If you aren't getting any marring, what exactly is the problem?
 
yakky said:
IMO, the stuff left on the mitt isn't as much dirt as oil based grime. The actual dirt releases very well, I usually have a nice layer at the bottom of my bucket. The stuff that is on the mitt is the same slime that is left on the bucket walls. I see no issues with any of the stuff, what is more important is the results of your wash. If you aren't getting any marring, what exactly is the problem?
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yakky has it completely right. This is a "feature of ONR" and not a "problem." It was chemically designed to bond and hold tiny particles and keep them encapsulated. The only thing that puzzles me is that so many have trouble getting wash media clean. I have used the grout sponge, chenille mitts, MF mitts and towels, etc...and never had anything permanently stain unless used on the rims or arches. I would say those two situations were more the type of stuff I was cleaning more than the ONR though. Maybe this is just a discussion of semantics. Define the "dirt" stuck in the mitt with a different term than we use for the "grit" that scratches and the discussion may make more sense. As per a discussion with Dr. G the stains are part of the process and pose no threat like larger particles would. I trust him as a chemist to know his product better than the end user and after doing hundreds of ONR washes, I trust the process.
 
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