Discussion
belleair302 said:
Mitts are great on wheels and lower panels, but the natural sponge is amazing on roofs, doors, boot lids, glass and lights etc. Horses for courses I guess.
How are they so 'amazing' compared to say using washmitts or microfibre cloths? Does the grit stay in the large pores from one wash to the next or can it easily be removed?I use natural sponges and also like the Zymol sponges too, as for sponge = bad, its only the cheap silicone ones that are bad, Wool mits can be a pain for traping dirt and grit in the fibers/pile and thus causing damage, there is no magic product you can use so as not to get swirls etc, it all comes down to technique, ie rinsing, foaming, using a TBM and throughly rinsing your mit/sponge.
As i am washing a car most days i only use the Zym0l sponge as after testing etc i found it to be the best safest method for me,
Any one using a wash it (at least have washed a car 5 times with it first) dip it in a bucket of water and use a nit comb on it
you will see
As i am washing a car most days i only use the Zym0l sponge as after testing etc i found it to be the best safest method for me,
Any one using a wash it (at least have washed a car 5 times with it first) dip it in a bucket of water and use a nit comb on it
you will seepauljc said:
belleair302 said:
Mitts are great on wheels and lower panels, but the natural sponge is amazing on roofs, doors, boot lids, glass and lights etc. Horses for courses I guess.
How are they so 'amazing' compared to say using washmitts or microfibre cloths? Does the grit stay in the large pores from one wash to the next or can it easily be removed?Auto finesse said:
I use natural sponges and also like the Zymol sponges too, as for sponge = bad, its only the cheap silicone ones that are bad, Wool mits can be a pain for traping dirt and grit in the fibers/pile and thus causing damage, there is no magic product you can use so as not to get swirls etc, it all comes down to technique, ie rinsing, foaming, using a TBM and throughly rinsing your mit/sponge.
As i am washing a car most days i only use the Zym0l sponge as after testing etc i found it to be the best safest method for me,
Any one using a wash it (at least have washed a car 5 times with it first) dip it in a bucket of water and use a nit comb on it you will see
I am with james on this, there is no simple answer and a rigorous cleaning regime of your wash tools if probably the only way to go; I have got a wide range of foam and washmitt samples after going to a foam engineer and microfibre wholesaler, and although there are a wide variety of foam materials and types there is no simple answer. I have tried non-bleached sustainable 'farmed' sea sponge against bleached natural sea sponge vs modern PU foam sponges, and the problem with the sea sponges is 1) they are very good at trapping grit *deep* down due to their irregular cell formation and even with washing it is very difficult to ensure they are completely free of dirt (you will never know when the dirt is going to come to the surface or if you have cleaned it entirely); 2) the natural ones are ecologically unfriendly to use and the farmed and untreated ones don't seem quite as soft.As i am washing a car most days i only use the Zym0l sponge as after testing etc i found it to be the best safest method for me,
Any one using a wash it (at least have washed a car 5 times with it first) dip it in a bucket of water and use a nit comb on it
you will seeEven washmitts can trap dirt at the roots of the fibres. Ultimately, removing as much dirt as possible in a pre-soak etc will help, followed by a shampoo that is lubricious enough to lubricate dirt particles.
Maybe I need to invent a dirt vacuum cleaner that doesn't touch the panel but sucks the dirt off it, LOL.
Edited by domster on Monday 7th January 17:41
Hi Tim, yes it's me PD was featured in one article using them, IIRC, as I think he went through a stage of using them, but from what I remember, his favourite was a Z**** sponge. Not sure what he uses now.
Believe me, if natural sponge was the way to go I have been offered a truckload very cheap as a cancelled order for Boots and it would make economic sense. But they are a very tricky proposition as their insides are a labyrinth of sponge pores and fibres and you just couldn't guarantee they're absolutely free of dirt. I am not a massive fan of wash mitts either, due to the dirt getting to the roots, but maybe a really nice microfibre one would be a good way to go. That or a decent PVA sponge. Not sure yet.
PD was featured in one article using them, IIRC, as I think he went through a stage of using them, but from what I remember, his favourite was a Z**** sponge. Not sure what he uses now.Believe me, if natural sponge was the way to go I have been offered a truckload very cheap as a cancelled order for Boots and it would make economic sense. But they are a very tricky proposition as their insides are a labyrinth of sponge pores and fibres and you just couldn't guarantee they're absolutely free of dirt. I am not a massive fan of wash mitts either, due to the dirt getting to the roots, but maybe a really nice microfibre one would be a good way to go. That or a decent PVA sponge. Not sure yet.
There's been a bit of good talk on the B&Q tile/grout sponge (£1.99 ?), but for me it'll always be the sheepskin mitt from www.sheepskinshop.co.uk
edit - fixed url
edit - fixed url
Edited by PJ S on Wednesday 9th January 13:07
belleair302 said:
I somehow doubt Boots would stock decent sponges. The ones I buy fresh from the docks here in Florida costs around GBP 15-20 each and that is before any transportation and taxes.
That's probably why they cancelled the order. These were farmed unbleached sea sponges. I am not sure the quality was up there with the finest sea sponge anyway, or indeed if Boots would be interested in the finest sea sponge.
PJ S said:
for me it'll always be the sheepskin mitt from www.sheepskinshop.co.uk
is that the lambswool or the sheepskin-with-thumb one?Gassing Station | Bodywork & Detailing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff