I was given an unused brand new wash mitt. it seems to be a synthetic wool wash mitt....yellow, by Viking, with no other labels identifying materials.....it feels very soft, and thick .....any ideas how safe this might be?

 

I'm always a fan of real wool or a 100% cotton mit. The synthetic MIGHT be OK, but I would beware of the stitching that keeps it all together. The cheaper mits often use a nylon thread (read: fishing line) that can scratch your finish badly.

Be sure to rinse well and use a good auto shampoo. I think that most swirlmarks etc. come from bad technique rather than bad equipment (though bad equipment can cause problems too).

 

Sorry, while Viking makes some nice stuff...their cotton chenille mitts are Great...and inexpensive.....the yellow synthetic one is BAD for paint. Do not use it on your paint. Do not!

I save this mitt for use underneath the black rubber/plastic sills and areas you can't reach. (No paint or anything to scratch and these are areas that get REALLY dirty.) I sometimes even reach in the wheel wells with it.

The synthetic fibers make them easy to clean out and you can easily toss them in the washing machine. Mine see most use in the winter with the salty, slushy weather.

 

Brad....is it the fibers that might scratch and swirl, or is it that dirt gets caught in the fibers and won't rinse out?


thanks

 

It's the fibers.

 

I have a cheap "wool" wash mitt from walmart that i don't know if it's real or not. I've washed it quite a few times and a few chunks of fiber has come off, also there are a few holes in it. Does this mean that it's synthetic?

 

It could just be constructed poorly.

A general test for synthetic or polyester fibers: Light a match and then blow it out. As quickly as possible hold the still-hot match head against a fiber of the mitt. Look very closely and see if the fiber just "burns off" or if it "curls up" as if it's melting plastic and getting limp. The latter indicates high polyester or synthetic thread composition.

Be careful, please. Always use adult supervision. (I can't do this without my wife present.)

 

I'll definitely try this out, but I was doing some late night research when i stumbled upon an autopia thread aboout the walmart wash mitt. I definitely remember that the brand name was Eurow, which many autopians use and it seems these are also the same ones that pakshak sells.

It's definitely a relief to hear, but I still need to get to work on those swirls and scratches. I'm gonna be getting some pakshak towels soon, I'm really getting tired of worrying about whether the materials i use are good.

 

I just bought a Turtle Wax brand Chenille Wash Mitt this afternoon. Saw the wool ones right next to them, but was leary of their coarse-ness. Why chance it???

Hugh

 

I have a black magic chenille and tried using it for the first time last week. I like the wool a lot better, it was just much more lubricant and held a lot more soap on the outside. The wool just glides across the paint very smoothly.

The chenille did soak up a good amount of soap and water, but to get to that I had to squeeze the chenille which I didn't see any good in doing while washing.

 

After cotton and wool mitts, I just switched to the Sonus Mitt and I won't go back. It's the softest mitt I've ever felt and still has good pile to keep dirt away from the paint.

 

A trick to keeping them in good shape (and CLEAN) is to wash them every few uses in the washing machine. Wash on gentle cycle. I put them in those zippered meshy bags that are meant for "delicates". This keeps them from getting beat up and keeps any excess fuzz from escaping into the machine. I wash mitts every week.

In fact, my car care hamper is more filled by the end of the week than my clothes hamper.


My name is Brad and I am a detailing geek.

 

That's kewl... I just wanted to put in a good word for the Sonus $8.95 wool mitt, too. I also appreciate the washing/care tips.

Tatt

 

:D Yes good point. I just toss mine in with the load of wash after each use. The wool mitts aren't durable enough to last long doing that but the fiber ones should be fine. I let it airdry though instead of putting through the dryer.