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So let me see if I got this right, you wash your car with the mitt using soap, rinsing after each pass in your second bucket, and then to rid the mitt of the soap you wash the mitt in detergent - is that right? Why?
I just rinse mine off after I'm done to get the soap residue off... Nothing crazy - just a 5-second spritz with the hose and a ringing out.
I drop it in my bucket afterwards - because I have a Grit Guard in the bottom of the bucket, it does not sit in water afterwards, and dries out just fine. I've been usig the same genuine wool mit for over a year, and it still feels "slimy" in my wash water (the mark of a good mit). When it stops feeling slimy or you feel rough patches in the wool, toss it and get a new one. Also, just for your sanity, use a different mit for the trim and wheel wells - I use a cheapie synthtic mit there, since plastic trim doesn't scratch like clear-coat paint.
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~Matt Cook | Dublin, Ohio | '92 Classic Mini Sprite: "Fiona" + Purple Haze 2005 MCS Cabrio: "Dawn". See old MODs from "Nano" HERE - post #166 - many with How-to links!
I just rinse real well, wring, then hang to dry. Mitt is still in good shape after almost a year. I think as long as you're sure to get all of the dirt out you're ok.
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Luie - 2006 MCS
15% pulley, Dinan CAI, Larini catback Life is good...
I just rinse mine off after I'm done to get the soap residue off... Nothing crazy - just a 5-second spritz with the hose and a ringing out.
I drop it in my bucket afterwards - because I have a Grit Guard in the bottom of the bucket, it does not sit in water afterwards, and dries out just fine. I've been usig the same genuine wool mit for over a year, and it still feels "slimy" in my wash water (the mark of a good mit). When it stops feeling slimy or you feel rough patches in the wool, toss it and get a new one. Also, just for your sanity, use a different mit for the trim and wheel wells - I use a cheapie synthtic mit there, since plastic trim doesn't scratch like clear-coat paint.
Second the second mit of some kind for the wheels and wheel arch/lower plastic trim.
__________________ 2006 Astro Black Ragtop, pure stock, for now. #138 GWR
+1 ^
I use a microfiber mitt on wheels and trim. The wool mitt releases dirt better and is therefore safer for my paint while the microfiber has a tougher time releasing dirt so it is relegated to the lower regions.
I did switch my old MF mit to wheels and tires duty so I'm covered there. I rinsed mine really well in the sink after I finished and hung it to dry in the garage-just perfect this morning. I also found that it's easy to miss some spots on your wheels when you do them at 9:45pm under the light over the garage-too many shadows!
The beauty of 100% wool wash mitts is that the do not hold tightly to dirt- thanks to their very straight and simple fibers. Thus, they are not only the safest type of mitt to use, but they are also very easy to clean!
In most cases (read: when the mitt is not abused or stomped on in a mud puddle, etc), wool wash mitts can just be thoroughly rinsed and then hung to dry.
I hold on tightly to the wrist band and blast it up and down thoroughly with my hose. I also inspect it for any chunks that may have lodged themselves into the wool, but that's rare after a good hose-blasting. Better safe than sorry though.
If you really want to "wash" your mitt, I recommend you use a wool-safe detergent like Woolite (or we, believe it or not, sell a wool-safe shampoo for our wool dusters that works well too). I recommend washing it by hand.
If you really want to wash your mitt in the washing machine, this does wash it quite well but can cause the mitt to fall apart sooner than it would otherwise (they all eventually do fall apart).
I do not recommend machine-drying wool wash mitts as this will really eat into its lifespan.
In summary, it doesn't take much to care for your mitt but you can go crazy with it if you want to with no harm done.
+1 ^
I use a microfiber mitt on wheels and trim. The wool mitt releases dirt better and is therefore safer for my paint while the microfiber has a tougher time releasing dirt so it is relegated to the lower regions.
I agree!
It's smart to use a "lesser" mitt for lower body panels and wheels... any place that has heavy dirt and/or grime.
2006 Astro Black Ragtop, pure stock, for now. #138 GWR
