Why use a washmit?

2.5RS

2.5RS

New member
After discovering this wonderful site, and starting my collection of products, I purchased a good quality sheepskin washmit. I have discovered that I really don't like washmits at all, they seem awkward. I've read about more than a few people who us MF towels when doing a no-rinse wash such as ONR or QEW. Makes sense I suppose, if MF isn't going to scratch up my paint when they are dry why would they soaked with soap and water right? I know the theory is that the dirt will work its way into the mit and away from the paints surface, but I don't know if I believe it actually works that way in practice. So, I suppose my question is what if any specific advantages do sheepskin/chenille washmits have over using a couple of good quality MF towels? What do you use and why? If you prefer sponges or brushes please feel free educate me on the benefits of those as well.



:nixweiss



- Andrew
 
I've always used lambswool mitts, but I find them rather clumsy as well.



I'd like to try a microfiber mitt. They usually have a small layer of foam in the middle.



The only reason I see not to use a mf, is that generally they tend to hold on to dirt and not let go of it, which is good for the paint, but a pain when it comes to washing them for re-use.
 
I'm a fan of the grout sponges from Home Depot. They pick up dirt well and release it just as well. The added benefit is you can soak the sponge in the wash solution, so you give it a squeeze over the car to prelube it. The sponge also helps a lot when claying the paint with a soap mix since you can use the just mentioned method to keep the surface slick.
 
truzoom said:
I'm a fan of the grout sponges from Home Depot. They pick up dirt well and release it just as well. The added benefit is you can soak the sponge in the wash solution, so you give it a squeeze over the car to prelube it. The sponge also helps a lot when claying the paint with a soap mix since you can use the just mentioned method to keep the surface slick.
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Totally agree!
 
i'm the same way. I just don't like using a mitt to wash with. I use a sea sponge and I love it. it is so porous, that all the dirt gets pulled away from the surface, and one quick rinse, and every little speck of dirt will come right out of it. the only downside is it is not that good against heavy buildups of dirt and grime, so I got a wash brush to use on my lower panels.
 
truzoom said:
I'm a fan of the grout sponges from Home Depot. They pick up dirt well and release it just as well. The added benefit is you can soak the sponge in the wash solution, so you give it a squeeze over the car to prelube it. The sponge also helps a lot when claying the paint with a soap mix since you can use the just mentioned method to keep the surface slick.
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I have tried this a week ago, its quiet different than using a washmit
 
The only drawback that I can see by using a mf towel is that mf naturally holds dirt in. Just like the mf mitts, if you don't rinse well enough, you could potentially grind the dirt right into the paint.



Yes, when dry, mf is the best thing to touch your paint with, but you're not just dealing with soap and water here, you also dealing with (in some cases) a great deal of dirt and other debris.



I'm not saying that it *can't* be done, but please use caution and ALWAYS rinse very thoroughly.
 
Ever wonder why you use a QD with a MF towel... and the bottle says "Do not use on heavy grime/dirty surfaces" That's why you don't use a MF towel to wash your car with.
 
With the foamgun method, I personally think it's irrelevant what type of tool you use, brush, mitt, whatever. I think I'm going to be a foamgun nazi from now on, I think everyone who wants to call themselves an autopian doing a "traditional" wash should be using a foamgun! :)



It's just like claybarring, without lubrication it owns paint, but with proper lubrication it does a wonderful job.



I love my microfiber mitts. They're easy to use and they work well. Paired with the foamgun and a rinse bucket you should be on the way to a non-marring wash.
 
Chris223 said:
Ever wonder why you use a QD with a MF towel... and the bottle says "Do not use on heavy grime/dirty surfaces" That's why you don't use a MF towel to wash your car with.
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Actually I think this is because you're not using enough QD to actually lubricate an MF properly on anything beside light dust, not because you're using a microfiber.



This is how no-rinse washes work, I think. You're essentially making a big bucket of QD of sorts.
 
Yep I am using a foam gun and eurow and sonus MF wash mitts

The eurow's are huge and hold amazing amount of solution and rinse free with a hose or in bucket really well.

Sea sponges and lambswool brush for wheels and arches (sponge for arch)
 
The eurow's are huge and hold amazing amount of solution and rinse free with a hose or in bucket really well.
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Thats pretty much what sold me on them, and I have used them ever since. If there soft enough to sleep on (My daughters claim) then there ok for my cars.......

A couple other facts other then they're incrdibly soft:

They fit "like a glove".

You wont drop them.

They contour so theres actually less pressure applied to get into/around areas.

Easy to wash (just rinse in clear water) :clap:
 
JDookie said:
The only drawback that I can see by using a mf towel is that mf naturally holds dirt in. Just like the mf mitts, if you don't rinse well enough, you could potentially grind the dirt right into the paint.
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This is true of pretty much any media used for washing though correct? Rinsing out seems to be the most important step in keeping old dirt from hurting the paint. I'd be using more than 1 MF for washing, in fact I don't mind buying a half dozen or so and designating them specifically for washing.



The grout sponge seems interesting, perhaps I'll pick one up from Home Depot and try it out (soapy) on a CD and see what happens.



a.k.a. Patrick and SVR, forgive my ignorance but what is a eurow? just a brand of sheepskin mit or something entirely different?



- Andrew
 
a.k.a. Patrick and SVR, forgive my ignorance but what is a eurow? just a brand of sheepskin mit or something entirely different?
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Correct, a very widely known and respected product. Talked about quite frequently here and on other forums..........
 
On the mitts vs. towels thing, IMO it's a matter of how much pressure gets applied. I can wash much more gently with a mitt (full of wash solution, held shut at cuff, barely whisked across the surface of the paint) than I can with a towel (which can't self-lube/flush the way a solution-filled mitt can).



2.5RS said:
This [retention of dirt and need for rinsing] is true of pretty much any media used for washing though correct? Rinsing out seems to be the most important step in keeping old dirt from hurting the paint...
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Yeah, it's the dirt getting pressed against the paint that causes most marring.



[Insert Accumulator's broken-record lecture about the free-rinsing nature of BHBs here..]
 
I completely disagree with the assertion that mf doesn’t release dirt well. On the contrary, my experience has been that mf released dirt extremely well.



I would agree that objects that “snag� like twigs and leaf material will get caught I the fibers. Those can also get caught in sheepskin but I do agree that it’s harder to get them out of mf. I don’t get that kind of junk on my cars (or it disappears with the first rinse) so mf works fine for me.



I also find putting on mitts cumbersome. I usually just fold the cuff inside and hold it like a very flat sponge.



If you like the feel of a sponge and want to use mf there are mf covered sponges available.



I also agree with Accumulator that a BHB’s are excellent for rinse-out/dirt-release,





PC.
 
I am not gonna say which one is better or worse but i will give my input on the sheepskin washmit from BCC.



I polished my car not too long ago and visualy recorded how the paint is as far as swirl marks. I only found a few deeper scratches that i will have to take care of later on. After about 10 washes it still looks the same way. I use sheepskin washmit, 2 buckets and a Cobra drying towel. I will be polishing my car with OHC and orange pad soon cause the dealer gave me a nice present with my car DEEP ETCHING :cry:
 
a.k.a. Patrick said:
Thats pretty much what sold me on them, and I have used them ever since. If there soft enough to sleep on (My daughters claim) then there ok for my cars.......

A couple other facts other then they're incrdibly soft:

They fit "like a glove".

You wont drop them.

They contour so theres actually less pressure applied to get into/around areas.

Easy to wash (just rinse in clear water) :clap:
Click to expand...



I haven't tried the eurow lambswool yet, just the MF but gave them some ideas to improve the product
 
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