Washmitt V Sponge

M

Mr Concours

New member
I have always used a sponge to wash my car but have noticed that nearly all the US posters seem to use a washmitt,maybe its a cultural thing but I am pretty sure most of us Brits use sponges.

I have been using a sponge called a microcell made by Decosol for several Years,on a rolling system when I get a new one the old one is relegated to cleaning the lower half of the car.

If a washmitt is better I am willing to change,all the ones in stores over here (Halfords) seem to be synthetic,but I can get a sheepskin one over the net, Groits ect.



Any thoughts for or against?
 
I can't speak for the cultural differences but mitts do have a practical advantage. The pile or nap of the mitt can hold a large amount of car wash solution which makes for quicker washing of large vehicles. And the thickness of the nap holds small pieces of grit much better than a sponge so swirl marks and micromarring can be minimized.



But a sponge is the tool of choice when cleaning a fabric cabrio top or fabric (Webasto) sunroof. A mitt would leave the roof covered in lint or fibers.
 
I used to use the same microcell sponge too.....then I found autopia :)

Check out 7th message down this page http://www.autopia.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=29410&pagenumber=2



It takes a bit of getting used to, using a mit instead of a sponge, but its worth it. I wouldn't bother with the halfords ones, I looked at them and you can see the backing way too easily :down . I won't go back to a sponge again for the paintwork, even though those sponges are good.
 
Quote: Wash mitt Vs Sponge



~One man’s opinion~



I reasonably sure it’s not a cultural thing, :nono

I’ve been using a natural sheepskin mitt for years, both at home (London) and here in Florida for all the same reasons bretfraz states. :xyxthumbs





~Hope this helps~





Experience unshared; is knowledge wasted…/



~ justadumbarchitect * so i question everything *
 
I also perfer using a sheepskin washmitt for similar reasons. They're easy to keep clean and appear to keep free of dirt particles.



Just a note: I use a new mitt for the cleaner upper areas and then use an older mitt for the lower more dirty areas of the vehicle.



There's just something about a sponge possibly holding onto those dirt particles more than with a sheepskin mitt.



Just some additional thoughts...
 
I use a MF mitt and love it. I have no marring at all and I wash 3 times a week. Some complaints I have heard about MF mitts are that they don't release dirt well. I don't find this to be true, my mitt releases dirt well and holds lots of soap and water.



I performed a CD scratch test on a sheep skin mitt, a cotton mitt, a synthetic mitt, and my MF mitt. They all scratched but the sheep skin scratched the most and the MF the least.



I know that you don't use a dry mitt on the car but the test was usefull to compare how abrassive the different mitts are.
 
Lowejackson said:
Cultural? maybe at one time but there are clear advantages to the mitts ie they dont scratch as much.
Click to expand...



When I am over in the States I notice loads of washmitts for sale but hardly any sponges over here (UK) its the other way round, loads of sponges but few washmitts,so I thought it may be 'Cultural', but I guess were are just way behind the US as always.But I just wanted to check that it was for a bona fide reason rather than just availability/convenience.



I also think its telling that so far no one has posted in favour of sponges.
 
Quote: Wash mitt V Sponge





~One man’s opinion~



I used a sea sponge (Pinnicle), a Microfiber wash mitt (Pinnicle) and a sheepskin mitt(Groiots).



Of the three I prefer the natural sheepskin (and I’m sure a synthetic (nylon by-product) may scratch/mar the paint film surface.



The MF mitt I use for the lower portion of vehicles (do a ‘CD test if it doesn’t scratch the CD it probably won’t scratch your paint surface)



The sea sponge has a composition that will allow any grit to betaken up into the open cell structure (unlike a synthetic sponge that is flat and could trap grit allowing it to be pushed over the paint surface with a resulting scratch mark)



I think the point made about US detailers be more advanced with their detailing methods to be valid (with the exception being the UK Autopia contingent)









>Hope this helps<





Experience unshared; is knowledge wasted…/



justadumbarchitect * so i question everything*
 
I used a sea sponge once (can't recall who I bought it from, CMA or Griots or someone). Anyway, I stopped using it after the first wash. I found it to be far too small for washing a car or truck. It was fine for washing a motorcycle or for use around the house. I think I ended up using it to wash floors. But a sea sponge could not IMO compete with a wash mitt.
 
Just to prove the existence of varied opinions here on Autopia :eek: It is my experience/opinion that a sponge, synthetic or natural sea can and does compare favorably with the 100% cotton and/or sheepskin mitts. The chenile (strands) cotton mitts when confronted with any gritty item grabs onto the debris and doesn't release in your rinse bucket. The sheepskin mitts are better at that, but they seem to require their own maintence in the form or grooming to prevent an unsightly nappy appearance. My sponges rinse free and clear, and have no grooming issues:D I have not used a MF mitt.



As for claims of marring in the forms of scratches or swirls, any of the tools we use on our vehicles can be a problem if we let them.



No matter the tool you choose to wash your car, the two bucket method is a real benefit to your wash procedure.
 
I converted to skeepskin when I joined the Autopia community and it's made a HUGE difference. I still have swirls to remove BUT washing with mitts has meant no more swirls appearing. I have 2 sheepskin, 2 MF and a couple of chenile type sponges. The sheepskin mitts came from the Sheepskin shop in Northants (they do mail order) the MF's from Alex C (thanks mate) and the chenile pads are Kent Care Care from Homebase.



I use the sheepskin for the roof, bonnet, all glass and side panels to the 1/2 door line. Chenile pads for the lower door panels and bumpers and MF mitts for the sills.



Basic rules are the 2 bucket method and always wash and rinse your mitts after use. I wash the MF's with my MF towels on a 90 degree wash and 2 rinses and the sheepskin rinse by hand. Chenile pads I generally hand wash.



Washing for me was the cause of most of my problems (that and Renault being unable to paint their cars properly....) so I guess accepting that some of what you think you know might be wrong is the biggest jump you can make - it worked for me.
 
Maybe sponges are used in the UK due to easy availability and high sales as compared to mitts. Another possibility is that Rolls and Bentley recommend using a sponge and a three buckets to wash, in the chauffeur training course. Therefore people believe it is the right thing to do because the company would not to cause damage to their customers cars.



Eric
 
Get yourself a good sheepskin mitt and I promise you wont look back! :xyxthumbs

They perform faultlessly, easy on maintenance and relative inexpensive. Just remember to work the 2 bucket method. ;)
 
Quote: Maybe sponges are used in the UK due to easy availability and high sales as compared to mitts. Another possibility is that Rolls and Bentley recommend using a sponge and three buckets to wash, in the chauffeur-training course. Therefore people believe it is the right thing to do because the company would not to cause damage to their customer’s cars.







~One man’s opinion, observation~



At that time they also recommended using only plain cold water to wash their cars (as did Jaguar, Bentley and Aston Martin) that’s what I was taught to do when I first started out (‘40s) but thinking along with much better product availability has changed things since then.



I’ve also noticed that Autoglym (UK)show a bucket and sponge to wash cars in their Car Care Book, and Zymol sells a Sponge as one of their accessories.









~Hope this helps~





Experience unshared; is knowledge wasted…/



justadumbarchitect * so i question everything*
 
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