Claying & magic sponges - Oh WOW How did I not know?

Claying & magic sponges - Oh WOW How did I not know?

Author
Discussion

daveenty

2,358 posts

210 months

Wednesday 25th March 2015
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danp said:
dxg said:
Aren't magic sponges supposed to be really bad for leather? In that, they're actually really abrasive...

I'm sure I read that somewhere...
Sounds like they are essentially like using very fine sandpaper, so yes probably!
I just bought 10 on a whim, then read up about them. I won't be using them on the car at all I don't think, they seem to be far too harsh. Pretty convinced that the kitchen will be spotless quite soon though. smile

Agree with all the other comments regarding the clay mitt. Much easier than a bar and less time to do the job.

danp

1,603 posts

262 months

Wednesday 25th March 2015
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I'd add baby wipes to the list, hadn't used them pre-children but so useful for a multitude of jobs, inc around the car (eg dashboard, under bonnet, door shuts etc etc)

After_Shock

8,751 posts

220 months

Tuesday 31st March 2015
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Gad-Westy said:
Been using a clay mitt for a year or so and its fantastic. So much easier than mucking around with a clay bar. Never tried a magic sponge though...
Agreed on the mitt great invention, only onto my second one in about a year as well, last surprisingly well considering the cost.

Oh and don't use the sponges on your paint, they are very harsh, great for shifting crap but hardly kind to the paint.

swisstoni

16,931 posts

279 months

Thursday 2nd April 2015
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Re clay mitts. With a clay bar you are supposed to mould the clay from time to time to expose a clean surface. How do you maintain a clean surface of a mitt?

Dolf Stoppard

1,322 posts

122 months

Saturday 4th April 2015
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My approach is to simply dunk it into a bucket of PH neutral shampoo. Works perfectly. I wouldn't even recommend using detailing spray to wet panels - shampoo and water works just as well (if not better) and is cheaper.

PositronicRay

26,998 posts

183 months

Wednesday 8th April 2015
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Impressed with my mitt wink I'll give it another couple of goes then a decent waxing.

Magic sponges don't seem to do anything much, at least there cheap and disposable. The engine degreaser also recommended in this thread was distinctly average.

Quinten

1,142 posts

241 months

Wednesday 8th April 2015
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I got some magic sponges from far far away delivered at a £1 for 10... have yet to give them a go... sounds like a quid wasted wink

CallorFold

831 posts

133 months

Wednesday 8th April 2015
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Had a go with my order of "Magic Erasers" last night - Ebay purchase after they were mentioned on this thread.

They worked pretty well, only used them on interior, no paint work.

My plastics and dashboard are fairly textured and I found the sponge left little specs of white everywhere. Left it to dry and gave it a quick dust off with a microfiber cloth and it picked them all right up so no real issue there.

Rubbed everything down with the Eraser, then went round with Back to Black. It's left a nice clean finish, but it's not half as spectacular as I was expecting....I guess after all it is only a sponge!

1 sponge was good for 1 interior cleaning session, it's gone in the bin now.

7/10 maybe for an overall review biggrin you can't really go too far wrong when you're getting 10 of them for Sub £2

MagicalTrevor

6,476 posts

229 months

Wednesday 8th April 2015
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Dolf Stoppard said:
My approach is to simply dunk it into a bucket of PH neutral shampoo. Works perfectly. I wouldn't even recommend using detailing spray to wet panels - shampoo and water works just as well (if not better) and is cheaper.
Is PH neutral shampoo a product that nobody on here argues about? I don't believe so a product exists! hehe

CRB14

1,493 posts

152 months

Friday 10th April 2015
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I bought one of these mitts this week and hope to use it tomorrow (weather pending) so will report back. My car is 2.5 years old and never been clayed so the results will be interesting.

daveenty

2,358 posts

210 months

Saturday 11th April 2015
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The clay mitts are good, and make life easy. smile

As for the "magic sponge", I'm pretty disillusioned really. I did a bit of research on them and it was mentioned that they were quite abrasive, so I didn't fancy using them on the car. I did however try them on a couple of kitchen cupboard doors which had specks of grease on them. The sponge thing didn't really have much effect so I ended up using a soap solution and cloth.

Said doors were a gloss white finish. Emphasis on were. They're now a flat/matt white thanks to the sponges, so it's out with the SRP this morning in the hope I can bring them back, otherwise I'll be going over the rest of them to get them to match. frown

TX1

2,361 posts

183 months

Saturday 11th April 2015
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Got a clay mitt last year however have not had the time to use it as yet, looking forward to get it tested.
Magic sponges work basically like very fine sandpaper, nothing magical about them.

CRB14

1,493 posts

152 months

Saturday 11th April 2015
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I can confirm the mitts are very very good. 33k miles of crap was lifted off without a problem. A layer of R222 paintwork cleanser then some Collinite wax and the car is back in top condition. Thanks for the recommendation.

LordHaveMurci

12,040 posts

169 months

Sunday 24th May 2015
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Finally got around to using mine - OMG!

Even the OH is impressed & that takes some doing!

Just need to open that Autoglym HD wax now...

NailedOn

3,114 posts

235 months

Thursday 11th June 2015
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Is it OK to use these magic sponges on paintwork that has had post-manufacture protection? I am thinking of products like GuardX and Autoglym.
Cheers.

daveenty

2,358 posts

210 months

Thursday 11th June 2015
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Do not use magic (or any other) sponges on paintwork. For your car's sake.

The clay mitts mentioned above should have the desired effect. Magic sponges will take the protection off and also the gloss.

NailedOn

3,114 posts

235 months

Friday 12th June 2015
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Thanks for the warning.
Crikey!

TOV!E

2,016 posts

234 months

Tuesday 30th June 2015
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[quote=Riktoid]You do know where the water and stuff you jetwash off your car etc goes? [/quote


What a TOSSER you are..........

blade7

11,311 posts

216 months

Saturday 11th July 2015
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Gad-Westy said:
Been using a clay mitt for a year or so and its fantastic. So much easier than mucking around with a clay bar. Never tried a magic sponge though...
Mine seemed to get filled after doing one car, despite using plenty water/G3 shampoo. Is there any way to clean the mitt or is it finished ?

s4avant

196 posts

196 months

Tuesday 28th July 2015
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I havn't used a clay bar or mit before, but are these products not just very fine abrasives, a bit like T-Cut, that will eventually wear into the paint layer?
Many cars now come with Autoglym, or similar, protective finishes from new.
Will the clay bar remove these?
Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks.