Lambs wool wash mitts

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by Aurora40
Edit: DavidB once suggested washing mitts with towels. I tried this once with my MF's and once with my cotton towels. I won't try it again... The mitts fuzzed the towels up a fair bit. It was easy to remove, but I'd rather not have to bother.

So do you wash the mitt and/or mitts all by themselves?

I don't know why, but it seem hard to wash even a small load through the washer and dryer with only a mitt or two?

I have a brand new mitt and my used one, after you answer, I'll go start a wash load.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

Mike

[gbackus]

Originally posted by Mike Phillips
So do you wash the mitt and/or mitts all by themselves?

I don't know why, but it seem hard to wash even a small load through the washer and dryer with only a mitt or two?

I have a brand new mitt and my used one, after you answer, I'll go start a wash load.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

Mike

I've got about 8 wash mitts(I don't use lambswool anymore, I use synthetic wahs pads) and I usually rinse them out and let them air dry until they start to get dingy. Then I'll move on to another mitt(I use 3 mitts per wash, newer mitts for above the belt line, older mitts for below the belt line and one dedicated junky mitt for wheels/wheel wells/and deep underneath the rocker panels) until they are all dirty and then I'll throw them in the washing machine together. That way I don't get towel lint on my mitts, or mitt lint on my towels

[Tim Lingor]

Hey,

I guess I should have added that I use the washing machine to wash the mitts. I use a liquid soap and allow the mitts to air dry. They have always come out very soft and fluffy. I repeat this washing procedure after every 3-4 uses of the mitt.

Tim

[Aurora40]

Originally posted by Mike Phillips
So do you wash the mitt and/or mitts all by themselves?

I don't know why, but it seem hard to wash even a small load through the washer and dryer with only a mitt or two?

I have about 6-8 or so mitts, so I usually won't do a load until I've about 4 or more of them that need to be washed. I haven't had any problems on the smallest load setting on the washing machine. I guess if I only had one maybe I'd **** it up and wash it with cotton towels.

[Mike Phillips]

Meguiar's Lambs Wool Wash Mitt




Here's a picture of my old one next to a brand new one that has never been used. My old one has only been used with NXT Car Wash and Gold Class Car Wash. It has only been used to wash body panels and glass, never fender wells, wheels tires, etc. It has been used between 15 and 20 times and never washed by machine, only hand rinsed after used and allowed to air-dry.




I would note that when placed back into water, all of the sheepswool fibers separate like it was brand new again. (Very nice feature about real sheepswool compared to the synthetic wash mitts)

[Aurora40]

If you machine wash it and air dry it, it should look more like the one on the right again.

[Lt1Corvette]

I agree. I have noticed once you toss them in the dryer, they return to that "fluffy" state. I have one that I use on the family cars, it has been through probably 30 or more wash and dries on violent settings and still works well. I'll never go back to synthetic, lambs wool is just so much better.

[Buellwinkle]

I have been cleaning my sheepskin mitts in washer and dryers after each use for years without any problems. They will fall apart eventually as will anything sewn together but they do last a long long time.

BTW, PETA does not condone using animal parts to wash cars and suggests alternatives on their website.

http://www.mtd.com/tasty/

[dave_st170]

Is it ok once used to put in a bucket of water and leave in for a while then get most of the water out of it then hang it up in warm cupboard??

Dave

[nogrille]

Dave

that's what I do and it's fine. Once I'm done washing the day I leave the mitt in the "clean" bucket of rinse water. Then when I'm done with the rest of the car I rinse the mitt out in the sink and leave it to soak for a bit. Rinse again and hang it up in the airing cupboard. job done!

Cheers

Paul

[dave_st170]

Cool.

Thanks m8

Dave

[Mark70Vette]

Originally posted by Mike Phillips
That's interesting, I never actually put my hand inside the mitt when I wash our cars. I don't cut the sleeves off, but that's a good tip. I have to wonder how many serious enthusiasts or professional detailers ever put their hands inside a glove style wash mitt?

Hmmmm....

I think I'll post a poll?

Interesting.

Mike

I put my hand inside the mitt, but maybe that's just because I'm kinda clumsy. I've had the mitt slip from my grasp (especially when washing the sides of my cars), and fall on the ground. By wearing the mitt, I prevent that from happening, and keep it from getting contaminated with dirt from the ground. Am I crazy or just clumsy??

[Carrera]

Wool wash mits work much better on flat surfaces. They tend to hold more water/sopap. After washing a car I rise the woll mitt in a clean bucket. Aterwards I gently press the mitt with my two hands in a flat position. Then, I let it dry in the shower. When wet the leather in the mitt becomes softer, so if you treat is roughfy, the mitts won't last much. My mitt has been in service for 30 months wahsing 1.5 cars per week. The mitt is still in an accpetable condition.

[MotorcycleDetailing]

I agree, I'm pretty clumsy when washing my cars, utes and motorcycles and always try to put my hand inside the mitt to stop me dropping it....I don't know about you guys in the US but the wool pads here are ****. They have a nice woolen side that is great but on the other side it has this mesh that is suppose to help cleaning bugs. Too me I would like wool on both sides, then I can swap from left to right side without any trouble and can clean twice as much area before washing the mitt and rinseing the suds off.

[Accumulator]

Rather than put my hand inside a mitt, I fill it with wash solution (by holding it underwater in the wash bucke with the cuff open and facing up) and then I hold the cuff shut. I gently move it across the panels while holding it this way and the solution seeps out of the mitt, providing some extra flushing of the surface being washed.

I also find this method makes it easier to minimize the pressure against the panels (and hence the dirt) which helps lessen the chance of wash-induced marring. When I have my hand inside the mitt it's too easy to end up pressing too hard; I end up "scrubbing" the surface and I get more marring as a result.