Sponge or brush

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Sun 19 Mar 2006 16:05
Sponge or brush - BobbyG
For as long as I remember, I have used one of thee telescopic brush things to wash my car. Just dip it in the bucket before washing then going through the usual routine with Autoglym etc.

Brush has seen better days, should I buy another one or should I be using a sponge? What do others use?

Don't want to be rude but not intersted in the "I have never washed my car brigade"
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Sun 19 Mar 2006 16:10
Sponge or brush - doug_r1
Both, I find the brush doesn't lift the greasy film you get at this time of year, so a sponge is necessary as well. I usually give it a once-over with my 'seen better days' brush, the type you're supposed to put a soap pellet in the handle and fix the hose to. I use it with a bucket of car shampoo, and then a second go with the sponge, once the grit is removed.
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Sun 19 Mar 2006 16:13
Sponge or brush - steveb
Recently switched from a sponge to one of those cotton fluffy pad type things from Halfords - also comes as a 'mit'. They hold a lot of water and you can cover a large area from one dip in the bucket. Also less chance of picking up grit on a sponge and then dragging it across the paint..........


........and I wash my cars weekly..........

Steve
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Sun 19 Mar 2006 17:12
Sponge or brush - BobbyG
Also less chance of picking up grit on a sponge and then dragging it across the paint..........

Steve, this is one of the things I was thinking - surely there is better chance of grit being caught up in a sponge with a flat surface, than a brush with bristles?
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Sun 19 Mar 2006 17:46
Sponge or brush - steveb
Steve, this is one of the things I was thinking -
surely there is better chance of grit being caught up in
a sponge with a flat surface, than a brush with bristles?


Yep - therefore rinse with hosepipe on 'jet' setting to shift grit, cotton pad and soapy water etc to wash, then hose off with clean water. Perfection would be filtered water at this stage so no drying marks. Reality is a Turtlewax drying blade to shift the excess standing water, followed by a leather.

Then we get into polishes and waxes which is a whole new thread.........

Steve
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Mon 20 Mar 2006 08:00
Sponge or brush - L'escargot
Perfection would be filtered water at this
stage so no drying marks.


Dry it with a chamois leather and you don't need filtered water.
--
L\'escargot.
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Mon 20 Mar 2006 23:24
Sponge or brush - steveb
>> Perfection would be filtered water at this
>> stage so no drying marks.
Dry it with a chamois leather and you don't need filtered
water.
--
L\'escargot.


I got that part........

Problem is in hot sun (!) the water evaporates before you can get to it with the leather - not a problem at this time of year I admit..............

Steve
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Sun 19 Mar 2006 21:28
Sponge or brush - Bill Payer
Recently switched from a sponge to one of those cotton fluffy
pad type things from Halfords - also comes as a 'mit'.
They hold a lot of water and you can cover a
large area from one dip in the bucket. Also less chance
of picking up grit on a sponge and then dragging it
across the paint..........

Why doesn't the mit pick up grit, just like a sponge?
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Sun 19 Mar 2006 21:46
Sponge or brush - steveb
Why doesn't the mit pick up grit, just like a sponge?


Don't use the mit, however the 'surface' of the cotton pad is a lot softer and more flexible than the surface of a new sponge, which IMO can be quite hard until it has been used a few times. Then it starts to break up / lose chunks etc.

Steve
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Sun 19 Mar 2006 16:19
Sponge or brush - Altea Ego
Before the 'Ran I always used to:

Hosepipe to wash the grit off the car. Bucket with warm water and washing gloop and sponge. Hosepipe off. Leather dry.

Now its down the jet wash bay and:
6 minutes of foamy brush, 6 minutes of high pressure lance.

------------------------------
TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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Sun 19 Mar 2006 17:48
Sponge or brush - Roberson
I prefer a sponge to a brush, as the latter never seems to clean as well a sponge.

Currently, I?ve just been adding some 'Kirkland Multipurpose Cleaner' from Costco in to a bucket of warm water. Mind you, got be careful with that MPC as it'll strip paint when concentrated, so when washing the car it must be nearly 1 part cleaner to 100 parts water! Then just wash it all down with the sponge (creates plenty lather too) and rinse off with a gentile spray from a hosepipe (no ban up here, thank you very much)

Prior to our garage being extended (and the tools within going into storage) I used to use a pressure washer, which technically means washing with a brush. I found this an OK method as long as copious amounts of soapy water were being pumped out of the brush. But even then, I seemed to miss more that I do with a sponge?

Actually, since 'temporarily' converting back to sponges, I?ve noticed a reduced amount of holographic swirls in the paintwork. I still get them, but not as quick or as bad.
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Mon 20 Mar 2006 08:55
Sponge or brush - Xileno {P}
I use two sponges, one for the paintwork and a separate one for the wheels and tyres. This way any grit doesn't get transfered to the panels. When the one I use for the panels gets shabby, it gets delegated to the wheels and a new one bought.
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Mon 20 Mar 2006 09:32
Sponge or brush - Geordie1
A USA based motoring website that I access has a detailing expert who advocates that the use of a sponge should be avoided at all cost re the dragging of minute grit particles across the bodywork and the consequent encouragement of 'swirl' marks.

The expert also strongly advises the process of 'claying' prior to applying the polish. I have asked what that process entails and I am awaiting a response. Anyone got the answer?
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Mon 20 Mar 2006 11:11
Sponge or brush - Geordie1
Did a bit of 'Googleing' re this claying malarky and exactly what it is can be found on www.web-cars.com

www.performancemotorcare.co.uk will take you to a claying product called Meguiars Quik Clay Detailing System.

I am really interested in this process and wondered if anyone who has tried it can offer any comment, positive or otherwise.
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Mon 20 Mar 2006 11:57
Sponge or brush - oldgit
Did a bit of 'Googleing' re this claying malarky and exactly
what it is can be found on www.web-cars.com
www.performancemotorcare.co.uk will take you to a claying product called Meguiars Quik
Clay Detailing System.
I am really interested in this process and wondered if anyone
who has tried it can offer any comment, positive or otherwise.


Might I suggest that you visit a VW enthusiasts website i.e www.uk-mkivs.net where there is a section on car detailing, where many people who've got the energy and time use clay bars etc.

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Mon 20 Mar 2006 12:24
Sponge or brush - Geordie1
Many thanks for that info 'oldgit'some very useful stuff there.
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Mon 20 Mar 2006 12:01
Sponge or brush - J Bonington Jagworth
Anything that requires a hose is probably not a good idea, this year!

I'm not too worried about the hosepipe ban, though - I've already got one...
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Mon 20 Mar 2006 13:08
Sponge or brush - turbo11
I use sponges.I use a large jumbo one for the bodywork.A smaller one for the wheels and sills.I also change them regularly so they don't amass too much grit.
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Mon 20 Mar 2006 13:46
Sponge or brush - barchettaman
The most important thing is to have 2 buckets - one with just water. Wash, then rinse sponge in just water, then back in soapy bucket, repeat. That way the soapy water stays clean.

Lambswool mitts are meant to draw the grit etc into the body of the mitt, reducing scratching of surface (apparently). I just use a sponge.

I´m trying the Meguars claybar thingy later this spring when the Barchetta gets its proper clean.
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Mon 20 Mar 2006 14:08
Sponge or brush - boxsterboy
The most important thing is to have 2 buckets - one
with just water. Wash, then rinse sponge in just water, then
back in soapy bucket, repeat. That way the soapy water stays
clean.
>>


Exactly, surprised no-one else has mentioned it.

I favour strong hose down to remove loose dirt, etc, a mit for the body and glass, a sponge and a brush for the wheels, follwed by a chamois down afterwards.

But one of our tenants runs a hand car wash site, and on cold winter days it is very difficult not to resist his offers of a free wash! (for the car, that is!)
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Wed 22 Mar 2006 17:51
Sponge or brush - J Bonington Jagworth
"large jumbo one"

Is there a small jumbo one..?
:-)
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