DFB5.0
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Wash media is the term used to describe the various forms of mitts, pads and sponges used to perform the contact wash. And boy has this area of detailing come a very long way in the last 15 to 20 years.
Full disclosure, I washed my cars with foam sponges for longer than I care to admit to. But I dare say most would have been the same or continue to do so.
In this thread, I'll cover the different materials and formats of wash media.
Wash Media Materials
Foam –
Typically offered at the lower end of the market, foam is cost effective, easy to care for and easily replaced. Although there are some exceptions, you are more likely to cause wash induced scratches and swirls with foam.
Wool –
A material used for decades and one many swear by. It’s a naturally soft fiber, environmentally friendly and sustainably produced. It does however tend to grab and hold onto contamination, and personally, I have never really liked wool for this role.
Microfiber –
Effectively the standard material for car washing, microfiber is durable, soft and ideally suited to softer paint or darker colours. It also seems to release contamination more effectively than wool.
Chenille –
This is technically microfiber but arranged very differently, so I'm considering this as a separate material. These items are the noodle-style wash mitts and pads.
Wash Media Types
Sponges –
In this case, I’m referring to the foam blocks that are most people’s starting point in detailing. They are cost effective, available everywhere, simple, and easy care for.
Surprisingly, foam sponges are making a bit of a comeback. There are now several specific foam sponges used for rinse-less washing, the cross hatching creates a gridwork of “fingers” that trap, and then release contamination. Koch Chemie have also started offering a sea-sponge looking material, which apparently is extremely good, although its going to take a lot of bribing for me to try one.
Benchmarks – in my case, I only use The Rag Company Ultra Black Sponge, specifically designed for rinse-less washing, but can also be used for soap and bucket washing.
https://detailingshed.com.au/products/the-rag-company-ultra-black-sponge
Ultra Black Sponge | The Rag Company
https://detailingshed.com.au/products/koch-chemie-washing-sponge
Wash Mitts –
Available in wool or microfiber, these are effectively worn as a glove. Personally, I don’t like wash mitts, I find them cumbersome to put on and remove. Compared to a wash pad, you need to contort your hand to swap sides as you work section by section.
Benchmarks – there is a lot of variety here, I used the Carpro Microfiber Mitt for many years as its very easy to put on and take off. If you prefer a cuffed wash mitt, then the TRC Cyclone or Ultra would be where I would look, that or the Microfiber Madness DeliMitt is ideal for soft or delicate paints.
https://www.waxit.com.au/collection...ts/carpro-microfiber-mitt?variant=35396543697
CARPRO Hand Wash Microfiber Mitt (carpro-us.com)
https://detailingshed.com.au/produc...e-ultra-wash-mitt-with-cuff-korean-microfiber
The Cyclone Ultra Wash Mitt & Wash Pad Combo | The Rag Company
https://store.primefinish.com.au/collections/microfiber-madness/products/microfiber-madness-delimitt
Microfiber Madness DeliMitt - Skys The Limit Car Care (carpro-us.com)
Wash Pads –
Unlike a wash mitt, a wash pad contains an inner foam structure which helps distribute pressure points more evenly. That foam will also hold and release soapy water, especially important if you don’t use a foam cannon to apply soap directly to the car. I like wash pads because they are more flexible, allowing the user to flip the pad as needed. Like wash mitts, wash pads are available in wool or microfiber.
Benchmarks – wash pads seem to be a much of a muchness. I use TRC Cyclone or Ultra series, but Microfiber Madness have good options, I also like Carpro’s DabDab. Again, the Microfiber Madness DeliPad is great for ultra soft surfaces.
https://detailingshed.com.au/products/the-rag-company-the-cyclone-ultra-wash-pad-15cm-x-20cm
The Cyclone Ultra Wash Pad | The Rag Company
https://detailingshed.com.au/products/platinum-pluffle-hybrid-weave-microfiber-towel
The Cyclone Bone Microfiber Wash Sponge | The Rag Company
https://www.waxit.com.au/collection...products/carpro-dabdab?variant=39694032830553
CARPRO DabDab Wash Tool (carpro-us.com)
https://store.primefinish.com.au/co...adness/products/microfiber-madness-delipad-xl
Microfiber Madness Incredipad XL - Skys The Limit Car Care (carpro-us.com)
Towels –
Many prefer this method, using multiple microfiber towels to wash the car, swapping to a clean towel after finishing each section. This is said to be one of the safest ways to wash your car as a used/dirty towel never re-enters the bucket or returns to the car. In theory, you could do this with mitts and pads as well, although at significantly higher cost. Towels are also the best choice for rinse-less washing, again, a used towel never returns to the bucket or car. You also have the ability to fold the towel in a way that gives you eight different cleaning sides.
Benchmarks – two towels stand out to me for this role, the TRC Platinum Pluffle and the TRC Eagle Edgeless 500. Both are plush and soft towels in a square orientation, which is great for folding into equal sections. The Platinum Pluffle is offered in three sizes, but you want the smallest 40cm x 40cm version for this role. I’m now using the Eagle Edgeless 500 as my rinse-less wash towel.
https://detailingshed.com.au/products/highest-quality-hybrid-weave-microfiber?variant=18460495937593
Platinum Pluffle Microfiber Detailing Towel | The Rag Company
https://detailingshed.com.au/products/eagle-edgeless-500?_pos=1&_sid=f4712f6a3&_ss=r
Eagle Edgeless 500 | The Rag Company
Tips, Tricks & What to Look For
- Wash media is subjective. Personally, I hate wash mitts, but I can see why some would like the safety net of having a wash mitt and the reduced risk of dropping on the ground.
- For Chenille wash media, these are said to be less effective at cleaning because of how they limit consistent contact with the surface being cleaned.
-With the exception of items used for wheels, I wash and care for wash media like any other microfiber towel. After use, they are machine washed in warm water with Rag’s to Riches, air dried indoors, then stored in airtight containers.
- Along with drying towels, your wash media will be touching the car the most often. As such, investing in high quality wash media is very important. And swap or demote them as needed, they are a consumable!
- Both The Rag Company and Microfiber Madness sell extra-large wash pads, the 10X from TRC and the IncrediPad XL from MM. Be mindful that these pads hold a LOT of water, as result they are very heavy when fully saturated. This can be good or bad depending on your preferences. On smaller cars, these offerings are just too big and cumbersome, on larger vehicles with big flat panels, they offer some efficiency gains.
https://detailingshed.com.au/produc...crofiber-wash-pad?_pos=1&_sid=fdb42d015&_ss=r
The Cyclone Ultra 10X Microfiber Wash Pad | The Rag Company
https://store.primefinish.com.au/co...ess/products/microfiber-madness-incredipad-xl
Microfiber Madness Incredipad XL - Skys The Limit Car Care (carpro-us.com)
- When filling buckets, I add a generous slug of soap directly to the wash pad rather than into the bucket itself. This allows you to fill the bucket properly without ending up with a half full bucket and an overflow of suds. (This method is mostly reserved for those who apply the soap via a foam cannon……….in other words, the single bucket method.)
- Always, always have separate wash media for wheels. These small mitts are brilliant for cleaning wheels, about the only time I prefer a mitt over a pad. If you need something smaller, then the Maxshine or Flexipad versions are a good options.
https://detailingshed.com.au/produc...el-mitt-15-x-18cm?_pos=3&_sid=8ea3b7ed1&_ss=r
Cyclone Ultra Wheel Mitt | The Rag Company
https://detailingshed.com.au/produc...sh-mitt-2pcs-pack?_pos=1&_sid=8ea3b7ed1&_ss=r
Lambskin Wheel Mitt | Merino Wool Cleaning Pads | Obsessed Garage
Happy Washing!
Full disclosure, I washed my cars with foam sponges for longer than I care to admit to. But I dare say most would have been the same or continue to do so.
In this thread, I'll cover the different materials and formats of wash media.
Wash Media Materials
Foam –
Typically offered at the lower end of the market, foam is cost effective, easy to care for and easily replaced. Although there are some exceptions, you are more likely to cause wash induced scratches and swirls with foam.
Wool –
A material used for decades and one many swear by. It’s a naturally soft fiber, environmentally friendly and sustainably produced. It does however tend to grab and hold onto contamination, and personally, I have never really liked wool for this role.
Microfiber –
Effectively the standard material for car washing, microfiber is durable, soft and ideally suited to softer paint or darker colours. It also seems to release contamination more effectively than wool.
Chenille –
This is technically microfiber but arranged very differently, so I'm considering this as a separate material. These items are the noodle-style wash mitts and pads.
Wash Media Types
Sponges –
In this case, I’m referring to the foam blocks that are most people’s starting point in detailing. They are cost effective, available everywhere, simple, and easy care for.
Surprisingly, foam sponges are making a bit of a comeback. There are now several specific foam sponges used for rinse-less washing, the cross hatching creates a gridwork of “fingers” that trap, and then release contamination. Koch Chemie have also started offering a sea-sponge looking material, which apparently is extremely good, although its going to take a lot of bribing for me to try one.
Benchmarks – in my case, I only use The Rag Company Ultra Black Sponge, specifically designed for rinse-less washing, but can also be used for soap and bucket washing.
https://detailingshed.com.au/products/the-rag-company-ultra-black-sponge
Ultra Black Sponge | The Rag Company
https://detailingshed.com.au/products/koch-chemie-washing-sponge
Wash Mitts –
Available in wool or microfiber, these are effectively worn as a glove. Personally, I don’t like wash mitts, I find them cumbersome to put on and remove. Compared to a wash pad, you need to contort your hand to swap sides as you work section by section.
Benchmarks – there is a lot of variety here, I used the Carpro Microfiber Mitt for many years as its very easy to put on and take off. If you prefer a cuffed wash mitt, then the TRC Cyclone or Ultra would be where I would look, that or the Microfiber Madness DeliMitt is ideal for soft or delicate paints.
https://www.waxit.com.au/collection...ts/carpro-microfiber-mitt?variant=35396543697
CARPRO Hand Wash Microfiber Mitt (carpro-us.com)
https://detailingshed.com.au/produc...e-ultra-wash-mitt-with-cuff-korean-microfiber
The Cyclone Ultra Wash Mitt & Wash Pad Combo | The Rag Company
https://store.primefinish.com.au/collections/microfiber-madness/products/microfiber-madness-delimitt
Microfiber Madness DeliMitt - Skys The Limit Car Care (carpro-us.com)
Wash Pads –
Unlike a wash mitt, a wash pad contains an inner foam structure which helps distribute pressure points more evenly. That foam will also hold and release soapy water, especially important if you don’t use a foam cannon to apply soap directly to the car. I like wash pads because they are more flexible, allowing the user to flip the pad as needed. Like wash mitts, wash pads are available in wool or microfiber.
Benchmarks – wash pads seem to be a much of a muchness. I use TRC Cyclone or Ultra series, but Microfiber Madness have good options, I also like Carpro’s DabDab. Again, the Microfiber Madness DeliPad is great for ultra soft surfaces.
https://detailingshed.com.au/products/the-rag-company-the-cyclone-ultra-wash-pad-15cm-x-20cm
The Cyclone Ultra Wash Pad | The Rag Company
https://detailingshed.com.au/products/platinum-pluffle-hybrid-weave-microfiber-towel
The Cyclone Bone Microfiber Wash Sponge | The Rag Company
https://www.waxit.com.au/collection...products/carpro-dabdab?variant=39694032830553
CARPRO DabDab Wash Tool (carpro-us.com)
https://store.primefinish.com.au/co...adness/products/microfiber-madness-delipad-xl
Microfiber Madness Incredipad XL - Skys The Limit Car Care (carpro-us.com)
Towels –
Many prefer this method, using multiple microfiber towels to wash the car, swapping to a clean towel after finishing each section. This is said to be one of the safest ways to wash your car as a used/dirty towel never re-enters the bucket or returns to the car. In theory, you could do this with mitts and pads as well, although at significantly higher cost. Towels are also the best choice for rinse-less washing, again, a used towel never returns to the bucket or car. You also have the ability to fold the towel in a way that gives you eight different cleaning sides.
Benchmarks – two towels stand out to me for this role, the TRC Platinum Pluffle and the TRC Eagle Edgeless 500. Both are plush and soft towels in a square orientation, which is great for folding into equal sections. The Platinum Pluffle is offered in three sizes, but you want the smallest 40cm x 40cm version for this role. I’m now using the Eagle Edgeless 500 as my rinse-less wash towel.
https://detailingshed.com.au/products/highest-quality-hybrid-weave-microfiber?variant=18460495937593
Platinum Pluffle Microfiber Detailing Towel | The Rag Company
https://detailingshed.com.au/products/eagle-edgeless-500?_pos=1&_sid=f4712f6a3&_ss=r
Eagle Edgeless 500 | The Rag Company
Tips, Tricks & What to Look For
- Wash media is subjective. Personally, I hate wash mitts, but I can see why some would like the safety net of having a wash mitt and the reduced risk of dropping on the ground.
- For Chenille wash media, these are said to be less effective at cleaning because of how they limit consistent contact with the surface being cleaned.
-With the exception of items used for wheels, I wash and care for wash media like any other microfiber towel. After use, they are machine washed in warm water with Rag’s to Riches, air dried indoors, then stored in airtight containers.
- Along with drying towels, your wash media will be touching the car the most often. As such, investing in high quality wash media is very important. And swap or demote them as needed, they are a consumable!
- Both The Rag Company and Microfiber Madness sell extra-large wash pads, the 10X from TRC and the IncrediPad XL from MM. Be mindful that these pads hold a LOT of water, as result they are very heavy when fully saturated. This can be good or bad depending on your preferences. On smaller cars, these offerings are just too big and cumbersome, on larger vehicles with big flat panels, they offer some efficiency gains.
https://detailingshed.com.au/produc...crofiber-wash-pad?_pos=1&_sid=fdb42d015&_ss=r
The Cyclone Ultra 10X Microfiber Wash Pad | The Rag Company
https://store.primefinish.com.au/co...ess/products/microfiber-madness-incredipad-xl
Microfiber Madness Incredipad XL - Skys The Limit Car Care (carpro-us.com)
- When filling buckets, I add a generous slug of soap directly to the wash pad rather than into the bucket itself. This allows you to fill the bucket properly without ending up with a half full bucket and an overflow of suds. (This method is mostly reserved for those who apply the soap via a foam cannon……….in other words, the single bucket method.)
- Always, always have separate wash media for wheels. These small mitts are brilliant for cleaning wheels, about the only time I prefer a mitt over a pad. If you need something smaller, then the Maxshine or Flexipad versions are a good options.
https://detailingshed.com.au/produc...el-mitt-15-x-18cm?_pos=3&_sid=8ea3b7ed1&_ss=r
Cyclone Ultra Wheel Mitt | The Rag Company
https://detailingshed.com.au/produc...sh-mitt-2pcs-pack?_pos=1&_sid=8ea3b7ed1&_ss=r
Lambskin Wheel Mitt | Merino Wool Cleaning Pads | Obsessed Garage
Happy Washing!
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