What is the safest Mitt or Sponge you use that wont scratch the laquer when washing?

Cactus1 said:
With the grout sponge, how many do you use per wash? And do you use 1 bucket or 2 buckets?



I keep the two I use for the top of the car separate from the one I use on the lower parts. They rinse so clean though that sometimes they can get mixed up, so, I tear one of the squares off the one I'm going to be using for my lower sponge to mark it. Also, as my top sponges go bad, about every 6 months, I move them down and get fresh ones for the tops.



One bucket. I do the wheels with a paint brush and misting nozzle so I use very little water there then I mist the whole car, use the top sponges over the car section by section rinsing frequently and sometimes I dry as I go. Then I do the very bottom with the same water I used for the top. I have a screen in the bottom of my bucket that keeps the sponges away from most the grit I rinsed out.





Robert
 
WhyteWizard said:
Have you tried using a nylon polyester paint brush? Purdy Corp - The World's Best Paintbrushes



Robert



Do you mean for cleaning the sponge or the wheels?



I'm not gonna use a synthetic-bristle brush on the wheels, and I only use the GS/ONR on the inner barrels/backside of spokes of wheels that I'm not all that particular about (after getting most of the dirt off via more gentle means). I treat my wheels about the same way I'd treat the hood of a black Bentley ;)
 
I bought the GS from the reccomendations here, IMO is seems kind rough. My microfiber mitt I have feels softer and like it would do less damage. I did do some parts of my truck, but I couldnt get myself to finish the whole thing with it. I didnt notice any marks after the wash. I dunno, maybe im overreacting
 
GeorgesBlazah said:
I bought the GS from the reccomendations here, IMO is seems kind rough. My microfiber mitt I have feels softer and like it would do less damage...



While I'm not a big GS user, it did pass the CD test just fine.
 
Accumulator said:
Do you mean for cleaning the sponge or the wheels?



I'm not gonna use a synthetic-bristle brush on the wheels, and I only use the GS/ONR on the inner barrels/backside of spokes of wheels that I'm not all that particular about (after getting most of the dirt off via more gentle means). I treat my wheels about the same way I'd treat the hood of a black Bentley ;)



A Purdy nylon polyester brush is amazingly soft. When wet, it brushes the dirt off the wheels without any damage. The dirt itself is probably rougher on the surfaces than the brush.



I use a misting nozzle that puts out about 1/3 gallon per minute and brush as I mist the wheel, no detergent, the brake dust comes right off and goes right onto newspaper. There's no run off and the whole wash takes, not counting the bucked of water that gets dumped onto a tree or lawn, bushes, etc. maybe 1/2 gallon of water. I doubt it takes that much actually since the water that gets misted onto the car gets picked up first by the sponges then by the microfiber towel.



Next time you're at Lowe's look in the paint section at the Purdy paint brushes. You could brush your gums with them, but they wouldn't be abrasive enough for your teeth, :)



All the best,

Robert
 
WhyteWizard said:
A Purdy nylon polyester brush is amazingly soft. When wet, it brushes the dirt off the wheels without any damage. The dirt itself is probably rougher on the surfaces than the brush.. You could brush your gums with them, but they wouldn't be abrasive enough for your teeth..



Yeah, but after the experiences that I've posted about before, no synthetic bristle brushes for me, ever.



You're right, the stuff you're washing off is (well, should be) far more abrasive than any wash media. That's what makes marring-free washes such a challenge! I work from the perspective that anything you do to the paint should be OK to do to the surface of your eyeball (abrasion-wise) and you know how it hurts when you get a speck of dirt in your eye.
 
I almost never use soap on my cars. I use a spray nozzle on rinse with a soft microfibre under the water to float the dirt away. Soap shortens the life of the polish. If its a customers car I use liquid car soap because I rejuvenate it anyway. Only during Winter will I use soap on the wheels and lower half and back of the car. Ben
 
Will always use the Lowes GS. Have been for quite a while. I recomend them to all of my customers when they wash their cars. They rinse well and actually push the water out infront of them as you wash. Also, ONR doesn't seem to affect the life of the sponge, even though at 2 bucks who cares. I usually go to Lowes once a month and stock up. I am always worried that when I turn the corner of the grout aisle there will be some imposter product in it's place. I would probably faint then demand they bring them back.



Going to have to try the whole recycled tire applicator idea. I wonder if it will work well Zaino tire dressing though.
 
paintxpert said:
I almost never use soap on my cars. I use a spray nozzle on rinse with a soft microfibre under the water to float the dirt away. Soap shortens the life of the polish. If its a customers car I use liquid car soap because I rejuvenate it anyway. Only during Winter will I use soap on the wheels and lower half and back of the car. Ben



That wash with plain water used to be pretty common. My Jag's owner's manual says to do that, and so does an old "Clean Cars Make Money" pamphlet from the folks at Malm's.



BUT...



Compared to shampoo, water lacks lubricity, encapsulation, and cleaning ability.



I sure don't get how you can wash in the winter without shampoo; the whole of my vehicles (roofs included) get so dirty you can't tell what color they are. It takes more than plain water to get them clean, even the first few passes with shampoo don't do it.



I don't get why a proper shampoo mix would compromise your LSP...Unlike many here, I don't re-LSP our vehicles for months on end (not until the beading or something changes), my shampoos simply don't have any significant detrimental effect on LSPs :nixweiss Well, OK, the Souveran that I use on the Jag doesn't last long, but that wax is almost glaze-like in its (poor) durability, the heat from the engine compromises it quickly on the hood/bonnet anyhow.



I use a *VERY* strong shampoo mix on my (sealed or Collinited) wheels, and sometimes even use wheel cleaners on them. The sealant/Collinite holds up just fine, only needs redone after a few months of such treatment. Ditto for the wheelwells and undercarriage, where even my EFHI mix takes a while to strip the LSP.



Guess this is one that I'll :argue IME if a shampoo strips your LSP, something's wrong.
 
went to lowes tonight and found 2 different proline groute sponges.



one looked to be a peanut shape with holes



and one resembled the zymol sponge exactly.



which one works better?



i picked up the peanut shaped one but am having second thoughts.
 
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