There are many things you can use to wash your car: microfiber towels, sponges, mitts, and even brushes. This article will compare car wash mitts and sponges to see which is better.
Wash Mitts vs Sponges: Which Should You Use?
The best car wash mitts, especially those made of chenille microfiber and lambswool, are formulated not to scratch your car.
This is even more so when you consider that the caterpillar-like strands of a typical chenille mitt act as a shield between the mitt’s liner and your car’s surface, reducing the possibility of your clear coat being affected.
It’s also worth noting that microfiber mitts can hold a lot of soapy water, making for a smoother wash with reduced friction.
While sponges are probably the most traditional material used to wash cars, they are not suitable for clear coats. Their flat surface can hold small sand particles between them and your car’s clear coat, leading to scratches.
Sponges also do not hold suds as well as microfiber, which further reduces the lubrication between them and your car surface, increasing the risks of scratches.
Finally, unlike mitts with pockets for your hands, sponges are easy to drop and get dirty. This could clog the sponge’s pores with dirt, resulting in scratches and swirl marks.
Choosing The Proper Wash Mitt: Helpful Suggestions
There are various wash mitts, but some are more effective than others at clearing your car of dirt and other debris. If you are considering switching to a wash mitt, here are a few options to keep in mind.
- Microfiber Chenille Mitts
There is a good reason why these are among the most well-liked mitts. Their caterpillar-like fabric fingers are great for retaining suds and give an uneven surface for removing debris that is not baked on.
There are also cuffless chenille mitts if you fear the cuff possibly damaging your paint. But even for those with cuffs, there should not be much to worry about.
- Wool Wash Mitts
Some detailers prefer using lambswool wash mitts (or Merino wool mittens) if you maintain your car relatively clean because they are incredibly soft and can contain a lot of suds.
Choosing between lambswool and chenille microfiber boils down to one’s preference. But the former is typically more expensive and more challenging to keep clean.
Plus, the longer, hair-like fibers and slightly softer texture of the Merino wool mitts allow them to pick up tiny dirt particles.
Use The Right Mitt On Your Car
It is clear that wash mitts are safer than sponges for washing cars. But which mitt should you choose? That depends almost entirely on which option you feel most at ease with.
Check out TorqueDial for more information on maintaining your car.
