Why Grit Guards

[sunday joe]

How are grit guards used? Do they just lay in the bottom of the bucket? On another forum it was mentioned wiping the wash mit over the grit guard each rinse. I haven't seen anything else regarding them on this forum. If they just lay in the bottom of the bucket, I don't see the need for them.

[Barry N]

Re: Why Grit Guards

Grit Guards do lay on the bottom of your wash bucket. Their purpose is to prevent your wash mitt from picking up any grit or debris from the bottom of the bucket and re-applying it back onto your car.

[Flash Gordon]

Re: Why Grit Guards

Next time you wash your car, about midway through, look in the bottom of your bucket. You will notice a bunch of **** floating around on the bottom. These particals will get trapped in you wash mit as you keep dunking it for more suds This in turn transfers unto your paint. And then we all know where that leads.....SWIRLS!!!!

[BobbyG]

Re: Why Grit Guards

I have one and I've listened to this here and other forums as well.

What I fail to understand is if the dirt and debris sink to the bottom of the bucket and the mitt more or less floats on the top of the water then the two shall never meet.

The grit guard will keep you from scraping the bottom of the bucket "if" the water gets low enough but it does not trap it there, it merely acts as a roadblock of sorts. I guess it works some but I'm not sure I believe it's as effective as some say.

Rinsing the mitt accomplishes more than a grit guard so an extra bucket of water is the ticket to a dirt free mitt.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Why Grit Guards

The Grit Guard does its thing in a couple of ways:

1. Yes, you can wipe the wash mitt against it to help remove loose debris from the mitt, but that's not the big deal with it....
2. It acts as a baffle at the bottom of the bucket, letting loose debris fall to the bottom but greatly minimizing the swirling action of putting your mitt in to pick up fresh wash solution from stirring all that dirt back up into suspension. That is the big reason for using Grit Guards in your buckets.

The idea behind washing a car, as basic as it sounds, is to remove dirt from the car and keep it off - not take it off the roof, move it to the hood, then push it around on the doors. Get the dirt off the car and onto the mitt, then get it off the mitt and keep it off. That's what the Grit Guard does so effectively.

Is it perfect? Does it totally prevent loose debris from being picked back up by the mitt? Of course not, but every little bit helps. Which is why the two bucket wash method is so popular (with Grit Guards in the bottom of both).

[Flash Gordon]

Re: Why Grit Guards

If your car is super filthy, hit a DIY before you start your process

[BobbyG]

Re: Why Grit Guards

The Grit Guard does its thing in a couple of ways:

1. Yes, you can wipe the wash mitt against it to help remove loose debris from the mitt, but that's not the big deal with it....
2. It acts as a baffle at the bottom of the bucket, letting loose debris fall to the bottom but greatly minimizing the swirling action of putting your mitt in to pick up fresh wash solution from stirring all that dirt back up into suspension. That is the big reason for using Grit Guards in your buckets.

The idea behind washing a car, as basic as it sounds, is to remove dirt from the car and keep it off - not take it off the roof, move it to the hood, then push it around on the doors. Get the dirt off the car and onto the mitt, then get it off the mitt and keep it off. That's what the Grit Guard does so effectively.

Is it perfect? Does it totally prevent loose debris from being picked back up by the mitt? Of course not, but every little bit helps. Which is why the two bucket wash method is so popular (with Grit Guards in the bottom of both).

OH It makes perfect sense and I guess I'll continue to use it!

[cnfowler]

Re: Why Grit Guards

...It acts as a baffle at the bottom of the bucket, letting loose debris fall to the bottom but greatly minimizing the swirling action of putting your mitt in to pick up fresh wash solution from stirring all that dirt back up into suspension...

That's the point I was going to make. It's design reduces turbulence in the water when dipping your mitt in.

Very well explained, Michael.


Colin

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Why Grit Guards

Do have your car with a grit guard in place. See the debris at the bottom of the bucket. Now if you dare, empty your bucket, remove the grit guard, mix your soap solution. wash this half. Were did all the swirls and scratches come from. You will notice a difference.

[BobbyG]

Re: Why Grit Guards

Do have your car with a grit guard in place. See the debris at the bottom of the bucket. Now if you dare, empty your bucket, remove the grit guard, mix your soap solution. wash this half. Were did all the swirls and scratches come from. You will notice a difference.

Agreed and it's easy to see how particles suspender in solution can return to the scene of the crime and inflict swirls and scratches.

You don't mind if i take your work for it do you?

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Why Grit Guards

Agreed and it's easy to see how particles suspender in solution can return to the scene of the crime and inflict swirls and scratches.

You don't mind if i take your work for it do you?

Go right ahead.