Washmitt V Sponge

[Mr Concours]

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?

[imported_BretFraz]

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.

[Joe K -- 01 Green]

Mr C -- I switched after becoming a devotee of this site; lambskin and the two bucket method will minimize the "damage" due to a wash

[tnoy66]

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/showth...0&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.

[togwt]

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 *

[Lowejackson]

Cultural? maybe at one time but there are clear advantages to the mitts ie they dont scratch as much.

[imported_mirrorfinishman]

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...

[armoredsaint]

If it`s good for the sheep, it`s good for me

[C-MDX]

Everyone here is talking about sheepskin mit, how about MF mit?? Any advantages or disadvantages??

[stevet]

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.

[Mr Concours]

Originally posted by Lowejackson

Cultural? maybe at one time but there are clear advantages to the mitts ie they dont scratch as much.

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.

[Mr Monk]

I may be the odd-one-out but I prefer a good ol` sea sponge.



Are there any sea sponge fans out there ?

[togwt]

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*

[imported_BretFraz]

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.

[Mr Concours]

Looks like I will have to do a new thread-Washmitts Sheepskin V Microfibre or Natural v synthetic! LOL