Washing - brush or sponge?
#1
Washing - brush or sponge?
What's the general concensus on the benefits of washing the car with brush or sponge?
With the dreadful, soft paint finish on modern cars it's important to use the most gentle method. I would prefere to use a brush as it's less likely to rub any dirt into the surface as a sponge could. However, finding a really soft bristle brush is not easy. I'm sure some on the market are a little too stiff and might promote swirl marks. At the moment I tend to use a combination of both, depending on which part of the car it's used on.
Any recommendations for a good, soft wash brush?
JohnD
With the dreadful, soft paint finish on modern cars it's important to use the most gentle method. I would prefere to use a brush as it's less likely to rub any dirt into the surface as a sponge could. However, finding a really soft bristle brush is not easy. I'm sure some on the market are a little too stiff and might promote swirl marks. At the moment I tend to use a combination of both, depending on which part of the car it's used on.
Any recommendations for a good, soft wash brush?
JohnD
#6
Originally Posted by p1doc
arent most towels too harsh as well ?
martin
martin
They should be ok, mine are still very soft after about 9 months and 20 ish washes.
Trending Topics
#8
i have to say i have not tried towels but could be worth a try,the paint on the sti seems to be much worse than on p1-it has been back for several touch ups and a respray of the fog covers under warrranty
martin
martin
#9
Originally Posted by p1doc
i have to say i have not tried towels but could be worth a try,the paint on the sti seems to be much worse than on p1-it has been back for several touch ups and a respray of the fog covers under warrranty
martin
martin
#10
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Cas Vegas
Posts: 60,269
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sponges are fine!! They're just made of soft rubber with bubbles in. Your enemy is dust and grit. Just use plenty of clean water, don't rub hard, and leave the wheelarches, wheels and undersides of the trim till last! I always rinse each sponged part of the car with the hosepipe before the shampoo dries, too. Finish off with a proper chamois.
#11
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Location: Location:
Posts: 1,097
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
On a previous car, I used a brush for a while, but even with the soft bristles, the temptation is there to apply more force than necessary. After a few weeks I noticed swirl marks and lines, so the brush was only used for the wheels after that. On the Subaru I use a new sponge every wash, they are around 99p from places like halfords, even cheaper from pound shops and the like (3 for £1).
#12
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: SMACS member,Resident valeter/pc installer
Posts: 1,472
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Using a brush or sponge can trap grit and scratch the paint.
Best option is a lambswool mitt.
7 or 8 quid from halfords.
If you really want to look after your paint, use 2 buckets, one with wash solution, the other with just water...
Wash the car ,then rinse the mitt in clean water, put mitt into wash solution etc.
*****
Best option is a lambswool mitt.
7 or 8 quid from halfords.
If you really want to look after your paint, use 2 buckets, one with wash solution, the other with just water...
Wash the car ,then rinse the mitt in clean water, put mitt into wash solution etc.
*****
#14
Scooby Regular
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Let there be light***sound***drums***guitar
Posts: 553
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
1: Cellulose sponge to do from the roof to half way down the doors.
2: Sponge number 2 can be polyurtethane foam use this in the bottoms of the doors.
3: Sponge number 3 to be used only for sills and wheels.
LOTS OF WATER
2: Sponge number 2 can be polyurtethane foam use this in the bottoms of the doors.
3: Sponge number 3 to be used only for sills and wheels.
LOTS OF WATER
#16
Use a terry towel wash cloth to wash the car & then put it in the washing machine afterwards with the big bath towel (washed without conditioner) used for drying the car !
That way the towels will be clean & grit free before the next use
NEVER USE A SPONGE OR CHAMOIS on the car ! The sponge holds dirt & grit & gets left in the bottom of the dirty bucket & the chamois is dirty too & usually get hung over the side of the dirty bucket !
Use clean dirty free cloths etc then you wont get the spiders web little scratches on the paintwork !
Decent cloths can be machine washed every time they are used & therefore are clean each time they are used !
That way the towels will be clean & grit free before the next use
NEVER USE A SPONGE OR CHAMOIS on the car ! The sponge holds dirt & grit & gets left in the bottom of the dirty bucket & the chamois is dirty too & usually get hung over the side of the dirty bucket !
Use clean dirty free cloths etc then you wont get the spiders web little scratches on the paintwork !
Decent cloths can be machine washed every time they are used & therefore are clean each time they are used !
#17
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Tyne Tees Scoobies
Posts: 2,689
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
here is what i do.....rightly or wrongly
1. Jetwash with clean water to remove any loose grit and road film
2. Jetwash with Meguires foam bath, to lubricate paint
3. Wash by hand with Clean sponge, Meguires foam bath
4. Jetwash rinse to remove foam
5. Dry with Clean drying towel
6. Wax
1. Jetwash with clean water to remove any loose grit and road film
2. Jetwash with Meguires foam bath, to lubricate paint
3. Wash by hand with Clean sponge, Meguires foam bath
4. Jetwash rinse to remove foam
5. Dry with Clean drying towel
6. Wax
#19
Scooby Regular
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Wolverhampton
Posts: 480
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by *****
Using a brush or sponge can trap grit and scratch the paint.
Best option is a lambswool mitt.
7 or 8 quid from halfords.
If you really want to look after your paint, use 2 buckets, one with wash solution, the other with just water...
Wash the car ,then rinse the mitt in clean water, put mitt into wash solution etc.
*****
Best option is a lambswool mitt.
7 or 8 quid from halfords.
If you really want to look after your paint, use 2 buckets, one with wash solution, the other with just water...
Wash the car ,then rinse the mitt in clean water, put mitt into wash solution etc.
*****
2nd vote for lambswool mitt.
And let the car shampoo do the work for you. Don't put pressure on the paintwork scrubbing the dirt off as you wash, this will cause damage also.
Use a quality wax or sealant on the paint and the dirt will wash off much easier too.
#20
Here's what I do :
1) Drive to local hand wash place.
2) Sit in car while 4 albanian imigrants wash the car.
3) Drive through the air drying machine.
4) Sit in car while another 4 albanian imigrants dry the car properly, polish windows and dress tyres.
5) Pay them £6.
6) Drive home.
I used to spend a good 4 hours cleaning my Impreza when I had one only for it to get dirty again straight afterwards. I even used to use wax wizard products and get upset everytime I looked at the car in direct sunlight and saw swirl marks in the paint.
I know have much better things to worry about and spend my time on.
1) Drive to local hand wash place.
2) Sit in car while 4 albanian imigrants wash the car.
3) Drive through the air drying machine.
4) Sit in car while another 4 albanian imigrants dry the car properly, polish windows and dress tyres.
5) Pay them £6.
6) Drive home.
I used to spend a good 4 hours cleaning my Impreza when I had one only for it to get dirty again straight afterwards. I even used to use wax wizard products and get upset everytime I looked at the car in direct sunlight and saw swirl marks in the paint.
I know have much better things to worry about and spend my time on.
#21
Soft Terry Towels (small ones from Costco) for my car and a sponge for the wheels.
Tried drying with a towel but it just wasn't absorbant enough for me so had to resort back to the good ol' Chamois.
Tried drying with a towel but it just wasn't absorbant enough for me so had to resort back to the good ol' Chamois.
#22
Scooby Regular
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Wolverhampton
Posts: 480
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by SirFozzalot
Soft Terry Towels (small ones from Costco) for my car and a sponge for the wheels.
Tried drying with a towel but it just wasn't absorbant enough for me so had to resort back to the good ol' Chamois.
Tried drying with a towel but it just wasn't absorbant enough for me so had to resort back to the good ol' Chamois.
#24
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (1)
I use the flash carwash kit, no drying necessary with any leathers or towels, thx to the de-ionising filter jobby Comes up better than using a chamois to be honest, and saves on a good hour of drying. Washing/Shampoo with a sponge is fine as long as u rinse off the grit b4hand. Instead of using the flash rinser, I use my own pressure washer for that. Its obviously so much more effective at removing under arch/body crap.
#25
Scooby Regular
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Wolverhampton
Posts: 480
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by bioforger
I use the flash carwash kit, no drying necessary with any leathers or towels, thx to the de-ionising filter jobby Comes up better than using a chamois to be honest, and saves on a good hour of drying.
I can dry a car in five minutes with a small microfibre towel. By the time you wait for a car to air dry I can have it waxed as well.
#26
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: SMACS member,Resident valeter/pc installer
Posts: 1,472
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wax wizzard has recently been found out about where he got his products from...
So called mc2 cleaner formulated by himself and priced at around £25 for 5l, can infact be bought from a janitor website for £5.49 plus vat for 5l.
Its been chemically assayed to be proven its the same stuff too.
For more info see TT forums.
*****
So called mc2 cleaner formulated by himself and priced at around £25 for 5l, can infact be bought from a janitor website for £5.49 plus vat for 5l.
Its been chemically assayed to be proven its the same stuff too.
For more info see TT forums.
*****
#27
I personally prefer to use the breath of 18 year old female Brazilian virgins to gently expel all dirt and muck from my car, saves any messing around with sponges, brushes, towels and other implements that may scratch and leave horrible marks on my car.
Dave
Dave
#28
Originally Posted by Dave_A
I personally prefer to use the breath of 18 year old female Brazilian virgins to gently expel all dirt and muck from my car, saves any messing around with sponges, brushes, towels and other implements that may scratch and leave horrible marks on my car.
Dave
Dave
(18 year old Brazilian virgins?? in your dreams mate!)
JohnD
#29
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (1)
Originally Posted by Andrew Timmins
An hour of drying?
I can dry a car in five minutes with a small microfibre towel. By the time you wait for a car to air dry I can have it waxed as well.
I can dry a car in five minutes with a small microfibre towel. By the time you wait for a car to air dry I can have it waxed as well.
#30
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: In a V6 Mercedes
Posts: 2,327
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by JoeyDeacon
Here's what I do :
1) Drive to local hand wash place.
2) Sit in car while 4 albanian imigrants nick my wheels.
3) Drive through the hair drying machine.
4) Sit in car while another 4 albanian imigrants nick my fog light covers an rear spoiler. 5) Pay them nothing as they can sell my wheels and spoiler 6) Drive no where as iv'e got no wheels.
I know have much better things to worry about and spend my time on,
like looking for new wheels !!
1) Drive to local hand wash place.
2) Sit in car while 4 albanian imigrants nick my wheels.
3) Drive through the hair drying machine.
4) Sit in car while another 4 albanian imigrants nick my fog light covers an rear spoiler. 5) Pay them nothing as they can sell my wheels and spoiler 6) Drive no where as iv'e got no wheels.
I know have much better things to worry about and spend my time on,
like looking for new wheels !!
Last edited by scoobfan; 17 March 2005 at 08:26 PM.