Special funky sponges, melamine foam and those yellow ones you put in warm water?

[MikeFord]

I'm curious about some funky sponges I've seen.
First type are Melamine foam, sold as Magic Eraser, they are white very light when dry, weirdly squishy when wet, short lived, but incredible scrubbing sponges on hard surfaces. Due to the abrasive nature, I suspect automotive use may be limited, maybe glass and chrome?

Second type I've just seen recently on autogeek in I think the perfection brand. They are yellow scrubbing sponges for bugs, tar, and sap, that you use with a wash or detail type spray as a lubricant and soak the sponge for a few minutes in warm water to soften before use. Since I've only seen them in a few brands I am wondering what they are?

Last one was a rubber "clay sponge" Magna sponge at Lanes, last 30 uses, works like a clay bar, except you rinse it out.

Anybody know more about these sponges? I tried some searches but google gave me nothing but ads, and sponge went in all directions here. Second ones, the yellow are very interesting to me for potential sap removal.

Thanks

[BillE]

Re: Special funky sponges, melamine foam and those yellow ones you put in warm water?

I'll be honest and just say...sponges scare the poo out of me. I can just never seem to get them 'clean' after use.

But I will say, using a 'white backed' sponge or a white "Doodle Bug" works wonders on getting bug leftovers off of bumpers and the like. both of these items are made by 3M and (normally) found at your local janitorial supply store.

Just my $.02...

Merry Christmas

Bill

[Murr1525]

Re: Special funky sponges, melamine foam and those yellow ones you put in warm water?

The Magic Erasers tend to be used more for the interior I think.

Havent seen the scrubbing ones, but I wouldnt imagine they are needed too often. There are gentler ways for all that than hard scrubbing.

The Magna sponges have been discussed a lot on here... just have to find the right search term I guess. They work ok, can leave some black marks behind, but easily removed with your cleaning step.

[MikeFord]

Re: Special funky sponges, melamine foam and those yellow ones you put in warm water?

I live in a condo with no option to parking a car under regularly trimmed full size pine trees, so I have constant pine sap cleaning issue, which is behind the search for info on the yellow warm in water sponges (big honeycomb structure good for sticky crud).

I'll try some searches for the magna sponge by name, it seemed like it might be a bit more flexible than clay in use? Also looking up the 3m white "doodle bug" sponge.

Thanks.

[Meticulous-Detail]

Re: Special funky sponges, melamine foam and those yellow ones you put in warm water?

The magic eraser is great for interior scuff marks and wax removal on exterior black trim.

[c5rick]

Re: Special funky sponges, melamine foam and those yellow ones you put in warm water?

I used to use wash mitts, but they seem
to hold dirt particles. I switched to grout sponges and haven't encountered problems

[Murr1525]

Re: Special funky sponges, melamine foam and those yellow ones you put in warm water?

You might want to try glass cleaner on the sap. Would remove wax of course, but so would scrubbing most likely.

But could UQW after or something.

[Meticulous-Detail]

Re: Special funky sponges, melamine foam and those yellow ones you put in warm water?

I have read that WD-40 also works well for tree sap and tar and won't harm the paint, but never tried it.

[TLMitchell]

Re: Special funky sponges, melamine foam and those yellow ones you put in warm water?

I'm curious about some funky sponges I've seen.
First type are Melamine foam, sold as Magic Eraser, they are white very light when dry, weirdly squishy when wet, short lived, but incredible scrubbing sponges on hard surfaces. Due to the abrasive nature, I suspect automotive use may be limited, maybe glass and chrome?

I use the malamine many places around the house as well as on cars. I've removed scuff marks from door panels that I thought were there to stay. I use the bulk ones from ADS, they seem to be a bit more gentle on senstive surfaces yet stout as Magic Erasers when they need to be. I cut small pieces off as needed since use with any moistening, APC etc pretty much wipes it out for future use.

Second type I've just seen recently on autogeek in I think the perfection brand. They are yellow scrubbing sponges for bugs, tar, and sap, that you use with a wash or detail type spray as a lubricant and soak the sponge for a few minutes in warm water to soften before use. Since I've only seen them in a few brands I am wondering what they are?

I have yet to use them but reports I've seen say they remove whatever you attack with them with no marring.

Last one was a rubber "clay sponge" Magna sponge at Lanes, last 30 uses, works like a clay bar, except you rinse it out.

Anybody know more about these sponges? I tried some searches but google gave me nothing but ads, and sponge went in all directions here. Second ones, the yellow are very interesting to me for potential sap removal.

Haven't used these yet either, many pro detailers have reported they've clayed their last car after using these. Supposed to be very good and more cost-effective than clay. YMMV.

TL

[Andy M.]

Re: Special funky sponges, melamine foam and those yellow ones you put in warm water?

I have read that WD-40 also works well for tree sap and tar and won't harm the paint, but never tried it.

I have used WD-40 on tar with no issues. Don't spray it on directly just spray on an older mf towel and work gently. Just clean and protect the area after of course.

Andy

[MikeFord]

Re: Special funky sponges, melamine foam and those yellow ones you put in warm water?

I've also heard the alcohol based hand cleaner works well. Ultimately I have to try and few things see what I like best, but thinning the herd first so I don't buy any junk. OTOH I can't see any of the pro detail vendors promoting anything that isn't at least semi effective.