Jambo
Member
Registered: 8th Sep 01
Location: Maidenhead, Drives: VXR Arctic
User status: Offline
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Ok may sound like a silly question to some,
But i have always used a sponged to wash my car, i hear this is bad as it scratches it?! SInce i have just had my car repainted, do i go and buy a puppy skin mitt or just carry on with my brand new AG spnge Mrs Jambo go me??
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Sean-B
Member
Registered: 1st May 07
Location: Wolverhampton Drives: 200SX S14a
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Lambs wool wash mit will be much better. Two bucket method is really good as well.
A drying towel over a leather is much better also.
Black cars are hard work 
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Neo
Member
Registered: 20th Feb 07
Location: Essex
User status: Offline
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Agreed. Get some high qaulity Microfibre towels for Cleaning and Drying.
Do you have a pressure washer Jamborino ? If so use that to get the majority off first  And get a decent sealant for it, that way you slightly reduce the chances of damaging the paint next time round
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Ojc
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Registered: 14th Nov 00
Location: Reading: Drives : Clio 197
User status: Offline
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If you don't want a mitt use this, it's what I use.
http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/washing-and-drying/microfibre-wash-sponge/prod_13.html
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Ojc
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Registered: 14th Nov 00
Location: Reading: Drives : Clio 197
User status: Offline
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You need this for drying, get a couple of them seeing as you have quite a big car.
http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/washing-and-drying/miracle-dryer-ultra-plush-25-x-36-/prod_362.html
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Ojc
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Registered: 14th Nov 00
Location: Reading: Drives : Clio 197
User status: Offline
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Or these
http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/microfibre-cloths/cleanyourcar-huge-39-fluffy-39-drying-towel/prod_634.html
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SetH
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Registered: 15th Jul 01
User status: Offline
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regardless of wether you use a mitt or a sponge dont swirl around in circles when you are cleaning. one pass, gentle wipes without too much pressure is all you need. The less you physically touch your paint the better.
If you have a pressure washer get a snowfoam attachment and some snow foam and do a prewash. this will take a lot of crap off your car and thus you wont be rubbing it into the paintwork when you go over with shampoo and mitt.
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Ben J
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Registered: 31st Jan 05
Location: Cheshire
User status: Offline
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Yep...i'd recomend getting Snowfoam and a lance as Seth has said, and a soft lambswool mitt will be much better than a sponge. I've got a Dodo Juice Wookies Fist. Also you MUST use two bucket method. Buy brand new buckets and make sure you never mix them up. Keep one for wash, one for rinse.
Drying can also cause swirls. I'd reccomend a Dodo Juice Supernatural drying towel, its huge and really, really soft.
[Edited on 25-11-2009 by Ben J]
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Jambo
Member
Registered: 8th Sep 01
Location: Maidenhead, Drives: VXR Arctic
User status: Offline
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I do the two bucket method, otherwise the car just doesnt get clean...
I find it hard not to use pressure as it doesnt lift grime otherwise.
How much is a snow foam lance? I have a pressure washer but find it useless for removing dirt, just handy for soaking/rinsing properly.
Do halfrauds sell em?
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Sean-B
Member
Registered: 1st May 07
Location: Wolverhampton Drives: 200SX S14a
User status: Offline
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All on that cleanyourcar.co.uk
polishedbliss.co.uk is also good and has fantastic tutorials
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John
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Registered: 30th Jun 03
User status: Offline
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You can use a sponge if it's a Zymol Zymol Zymol one, apparently, that somehow doesn't scratch.
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Jambo
Member
Registered: 8th Sep 01
Location: Maidenhead, Drives: VXR Arctic
User status: Offline
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I need to buy it today as i have no other time to wash the car due to work, so i shall get a mit thing
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Marc
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Registered: 11th Aug 02
Location: York
User status: Offline
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Megauirs wash mitt for me 
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AndyKent
Member
Registered: 3rd Sep 05
User status: Offline
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I like using my lambswool mitt, but the bloody thing takes about 3 days to properly dry out 
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Ian W
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Registered: 8th Nov 03
Location: Wirral, Merseyside
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by AndyKent
I like using my lambswool mitt, but the bloody thing takes about 3 days to properly dry out
Why do you need to dry it out ? If its been cleaned then its getting wet anyway 
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AndyKent
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Registered: 3rd Sep 05
User status: Offline
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Because if its left on a shelf damp it won't take long to start going mouldy.
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Rich H
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Registered: 26th Oct 05
Location: West Sussex Drives: E46 M3
User status: Offline
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Lambswool mitt and two buckets to wash. Ultra soft microfibre drying towels to dry. Typical you need it today as I have both that I could have hooked you up with! 
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Rich H
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Registered: 26th Oct 05
Location: West Sussex Drives: E46 M3
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by John
You can use a sponge if it's a Zymol Zymol Zymol one, apparently, that somehow doesn't scratch.
Reduces chances of scratching as they are formed with no silicone whatsoever, whereas normal cheapo sponges are. Definitely better than using a normal sponge; totally different feeling to use too, but I gave up on them as I was killing them in a fortnight, and at £6 a go, not worth it imo.
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SetH
Member
Registered: 15th Jul 01
User status: Offline
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quote:
find it hard not to use pressure as it doesnt lift grime otherwise.
This is because your paintwork has not been treated or prepped properly. Once you have cleansed, sealed and waxed your paint you will find it a doddle to wash. I only need to gently wipe a mitt over my car and all the grime comes off instantly, it just doesnt stick to the bodywork.
Its worth doing a couple of big details a year and putting in a lot of effort tbh. Then when you come to wash your car it will be that much easier and you can do some maintence treatments throughout the year.
If not then the muck is just going to stick to your paint and youll be going at it each time just to clean your car causing swirling, scratching in the process.
when my car has been freshly deatiled during the summer months I can almost clean it using pretty much touchlesss washing.
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