what is the best mitt/sponge to use to wash my car?
#22
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i use a shammy. its 100% reccomended for black since for washing and drying of course cause black shows everything. i keep mine wet always. once im done using i clean it and keep inside clean water to keep moist. every1 is different but thats what a old timer taught me.
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i detail alot of black cars. I use wool mits before on the pre wash... but after i buff the car i use a new 3m foam pad for washing the cars. its similar to using the foam mit or micro fibers. Thats the only thing i personally have found that wont scratch a finish after buffed. I then come back and dry the car with a clean shammy that is a seperate one for using after i buff the car
look at it this way as well. a wool wash mit is the same as a wool cutting pad.
look at it this way as well. a wool wash mit is the same as a wool cutting pad.
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i use a shammy. its 100% reccomended for black since for washing and drying of course cause black shows everything. i keep mine wet always. once im done using i clean it and keep inside clean water to keep moist. every1 is different but thats what a old timer taught me.
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Same here!! Sheepskin mitt is the best I have used. Grout sponge are so cheap that I always have a few laying around so I can just toss out the dirty one and get a new one..
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The best wash mitt to use is high quality microfiber, when I say high quality I mean nothing from Pep Boys, Auto Zone, Advanced and especially WalMart.
Now even with a high quality wash mitt you can still scratch your cars paint if not done correctly.
Before you get sarted make sure you have a dedicated wash bucket and a grit gaurd, you can get grit guards from just about any detail supply site.
Now lets get started.
Start by rinsing out the bucket.
Drop in the grit guard.
Place youjr high quality wash mitt in the bucket and load the was mitt with soap and fill the bucket with water.
Rinse the car from top to bottom to remove the heavy loose dirt.
Starting with the roof clean one panel at a time, rinse the mitt after each panel and dunk it in the bucket and run it across the grit guard to remove any dirt from the mitt.
When washing DO NOT move in a cirular pattern like Mr. Miyagi, that might have been good for The Karate Kid but it's not good for your paint.![Grin](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_grin.gif)
When washing the roof, hood and decklid you want to go front to back.
When washing the sides and buimpers you want to go straight up and down
Rinse the car and dry with a high quality microfiber drying towel.
This is the best way to wash your car without causing scratches.
I know from experience, this is my third black car I've owned.
![](http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s12/poneklr/042708_1376.jpg)
![](http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s12/poneklr/042708_1378.jpg)
![](http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s12/poneklr/041008_1333.jpg)
Now even with a high quality wash mitt you can still scratch your cars paint if not done correctly.
Before you get sarted make sure you have a dedicated wash bucket and a grit gaurd, you can get grit guards from just about any detail supply site.
Now lets get started.
Start by rinsing out the bucket.
Drop in the grit guard.
Place youjr high quality wash mitt in the bucket and load the was mitt with soap and fill the bucket with water.
Rinse the car from top to bottom to remove the heavy loose dirt.
Starting with the roof clean one panel at a time, rinse the mitt after each panel and dunk it in the bucket and run it across the grit guard to remove any dirt from the mitt.
When washing DO NOT move in a cirular pattern like Mr. Miyagi, that might have been good for The Karate Kid but it's not good for your paint.
![Grin](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_grin.gif)
When washing the roof, hood and decklid you want to go front to back.
When washing the sides and buimpers you want to go straight up and down
Rinse the car and dry with a high quality microfiber drying towel.
This is the best way to wash your car without causing scratches.
I know from experience, this is my third black car I've owned.
![](http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s12/poneklr/042708_1376.jpg)
![](http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s12/poneklr/042708_1378.jpg)
![](http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s12/poneklr/041008_1333.jpg)
![](http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s12/poneklr/041008_1330.jpg)
#30
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For those of you still reading this thread.. here is all you need to know:
ArcticZ28 - Sheepskin
ZaneO - Sheepskin
Gipraw - Sheepskin
between the three of us, we probably have over 20,000 cars worth of detailing experience.
As ArticZ28 has already mentioned, the issue with MF wash mitts and sponges is the lack of nap, which creatly increases the chance of introducing defects onto the surface during the washing process.
Lots of nap, and lots of suds is the recipe you are looking for.
Richie Carbone posted a good wash method below, although I would substitue sheepskin for micofiber on the mitt, and for black, I would add a second bucket to use the two bucket method.
ArcticZ28 - Sheepskin
ZaneO - Sheepskin
Gipraw - Sheepskin
between the three of us, we probably have over 20,000 cars worth of detailing experience.
As ArticZ28 has already mentioned, the issue with MF wash mitts and sponges is the lack of nap, which creatly increases the chance of introducing defects onto the surface during the washing process.
Lots of nap, and lots of suds is the recipe you are looking for.
Richie Carbone posted a good wash method below, although I would substitue sheepskin for micofiber on the mitt, and for black, I would add a second bucket to use the two bucket method.
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THe concern isn'twith dropping it .. the concern is with the dirt particles that are suspended in the wash solution, or that may still be present on the car in body seams, along trim, or any number of other places.
My point in continuing this discussion is not just to sway your opinion on this, but to also let the rest of the people reading this understand that, while it is working for you, that it is NOT just as safe as using a sheepskin, or even the Lake Country foam wash mitt.