Regularly washing your car is something that many enthusiasts do on a weekly basis. However, there are still people using a standard sponge as opposed to a car wash mitt to work the car wash soap into the paintwork, which is not advised.
The problem with a sponge is that that dirt and other debris collects on the face of the sponge. This means as you wipe the sponge across your paintwork, it wipes the dirt and debris across the paintwork too, which causes scratches and swirls.
Investing into the best car wash mitt such as the Meguiar’s X3002 Microfiber Mitt will trap the dirt and debris into the mitt and away from the paintwork.
Table of Contents
Car Wash Mitt Comparison
| Car Wash Mitt | Type | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Meguiars X3002 | Microfiber | 8 x 10 Inches |
| Mary Moppins | Lambswool | 7 x 10 Inches |
| Chemical Guys Bear Claw | Synthetic Wool | 9 x 7 Inches |
| Adams Polishes | Microfiber | 9 x 8 Inches |
| Relentless Drive Ultimate | Microfiber | 11 x 8 Inches |
| AmazonBasics Mitt | Microfiber | 10 x 8 Inches |
| The Rag Company Cyclone | Microfiber | 6 x 8 Inches |
| Gtechniq WM2 | Microfiber | 9 x 7 Inches |
In terms of the different materials used within a car wash mitt, they are mostly constructed of microfiber or wool. The premium wool wash mitts are more expensive but are softer, which means they are kinder to the paintwork.
Another benefits of the mitt over a sponge is that you can place your hand inside as well as holding it too. Depending upon the type of vehicle, this may be very useful in order to reach all areas of the bodywork.
We highly recommend using the two bucket method for washing your car, which means you may require two mitts for each bucket. Below is a list of the best car wash mitts that will safely remove dirt away from the paintwork when washing your car.
The Best Car Wash Mitt
1. Meguiar’s X3002 Microfiber Wash Mitt
By far the most popular wash mitt is the Meguiar’s X3002, which is constructed of a thick and super-absorbent microfiber. This means it is great at holding extra suds than other cheap wash mitts, which make washing the car faster and safer.
Other features of the Meguiar’s X3002 include:
- Ultra plush microfiber construction
- Lint-free
- Machine washable
- 8 x 10 inches in size
- Can be used for a dry or wet wash
- Absorbs large amounts of water
Overall, it is the best microfiber car wash mitt with soft lint-free microfiber that effortlessly lifts dirt and grime. It is also fairly unique as it can also be used with a waterless car wash for those without access to running water at their car.
Check it Out2. Mary Moppins Lambswool Wash Mitt
For professional or detailing enthusiasts, you may want to spend the extra for a lambswool wash mitt for washing cars. They are more expensive but they are able to hold suds better than microfiber and are far softer.
Features of the Mary Moppins Lambswool include:
- 100% pure lambswool construction
- Real leather backing that attaches to the wool
- Hand washable (not machine)
- Plush and extra soft
- Suitable for all painted and gelcoat finishes
There are some cheaper lambswool alternatives but you will struggle to find many that come with a real leather backing. The main advantage of this is that it can withstand far more rough usage unlike cheap alternatives. Overall, it is the best lambswool wash mitt available but you will have to pay extra for it.
Check it Out3. Chemical Guys ACC144 Bear Claw Mitt
Features of the Chemical Guys ACC144 Bear Claw include:
- Synthetic wool construction
- Elastic cuff that grip onto your hand
- Lint-free
- Machine washable
- Ergonomic fit on both hands
Lambswool wash mitts are notoriously expensive and if you do find a cheap one, it will shed its wool/fur and not last many washes. This is where the synthetic wool option becomes very beneficial as it has the qualities of a premium lambswool car wash mitt but without the price tag. Chemical Guys have done a great job with this bear claw mitt and it offers excellent value for money.
Check it Out4. Adam’s Polishes Microfiber Wash Mitt
Adam’s Polishes are a brand used by many professional detailers and their premium microfiber wash mitt is a great option. Unlike the alternatives, the microfiber pile is long and extremely soft, which makes it very safe on your paintwork.
Features of the Adam’s Polishes Microfiber include:
- 70/30 blend of high quality microfibers
- Long microfiber pile
- Machine washable
- Ultra soft and absorbent
- 9 x 8 Inches in size
Many people may see the price tag and skip this wash mitt but there is a reason why it is more expensive than the alternatives. To begin with, it contains a high blend of microfibers, which makes it far softer. The microfibers themselves are also much longer that makes it able to hold much more suds and wipe away more dirt safely too.
It is a premium microfiber wash mitt aimed at enthusiasts and professionals that want the softness of a wool mitt but the durability of a microfiber mitt.
Check it Out5. Relentless Drive Ultimate Car Wash Mitt
If you are simply searching for the cheapest car wash mitt, then the Relentless Drive Ultimate mitt is the best option. There is also an option to choose an extra large wash mitt (11 x 8 inches) for those that prefer to capture as much water as possible.
Other features of the Relentless Drive Ultimate include:
- Double sided chenille microfiber wash mitt
- Lint-free and machine washable
- Available in a regular and extra large size
- Highly absorbent microfiber
- Secure and comfortable cuff
Overall, the Relentless Drive Ultimate car wash mitt is perfect for those that are on a tight budget. There are many even cheaper alternatives but they simply do not match the quality of this car wash mitt.
Check it Out6. AmazonBasics Microfiber Car Wash Mitt
Although the AmazonBasics car wash mitt may not be your first option, there are many reason why it should. It’s designed to absorb up to 6 times its weight in water and even comes with a one year warranty for peace of mind.
The brand also offer a chenille microfiber wash mitt alternative, which may be the preferred type for many people.
Other features of the AmazonBasics Microfiber Mitt include:
- Lint-free and scratch-free microfiber
- Non-abrasive to the paint
- Interior foam liner
- Elastic cuff to keep the mitt tight to the wrist
- Measures 10 x 8 inches
- Backed by a one year warranty
Although this car wash mitt by AmazonBasics isn’t backed by a reputable detailing brand, it’s still an excellent option. The fact that it’s backed by a one year warranty demonstrates the high quality construction.
Check it Out7. The Rag Company Cyclone Wash Mitt
The Rag Company are a premium detailing brand that are known for their drying and microfiber towels. Their car wash mitt follows that great reputation and is constructed of the highest grade 70/30 blend of split Korean microfibers.
The brand state that the luxurious long fibers are able to quickly and safely remove all dirt or grime without requiring multiple passes with the mitt.
Other features of The Rag Company Cyclone include:
- 6 x 8 inches in size
- 70/30 blend Korean microfiber
- Soft and scratch resistant design
- Super absorbent
- Long lasting durability
Due to the high quality microfiber fibers, you will need to pay a premium price but it’s a worthwhile investment. The Rag Company state that with proper care and washing, their car wash mitt should last many season of usage.
Check it Out8. Gtechniq WM2 Low Friction Wash Mitt
Gtechniq are known for developing high quality products and the WM2 is a great example. It has been specifically designed to provide an ultra low friction glide across the paintwork, which will prevent swirl marks and scratches.
Other features of the Gtechniq WM2 include:
- Low friction design
- 100% split varied length polyester strands
- Holds a large amount of water
- Extremely soft microfibers (420 GSM)
- 9 x 7 inches in size
- Scratch-free and spotless finish
The Gtechniq WM2 is a premium wash mitt that is designed to be as safe as possible to the paintwork. When you consider most swirl marks are caused during the washing process, it’s worthwhile investing into a quality wash mitt to reduce any damage.
Check it OutCar Wash Mitt Buying Guide
It is impossible to safely wash your car without a quality car wash mitt. There is nothing worse for your cars paintwork than using an old wash mitt or a sponge as they will subject the paintwork to fine scratches and swirl marks.
Detailing has moved on from the days where everyone used sponges to wash their cars. They cause more harm than good when it comes to washing your car due to the fact dirt cannot escape from the front of the sponge face.
This means that the dirt becomes trapped and then transferred onto the next area of the paintwork you wipe with the sponge. This is where a wash mitt become very beneficial as they move the dirt away from the paintwork and into the mitt itself because it is not completely flat like a sponge.
To help you make an informed decision buying decision regarding wash mitts, we have produced the below buying guide.
Types of Wash Mitts
When it comes to choosing a wash mitt, you have many different choices but there are three main types of constructions. These include the popular microfiber, lambswool and synthetic wool. Professionals usually prefer to use the more premium lambswool but many are moving towards microfiber wash mitts that feature super soft microfibers. Below are further details of each type of material used.
Microfiber Wash Mitt
For those that want a wash mitt that is relatively cheap but be able to withstand heavy usage, then microfiber is the best option. They are almost all machine washable too as there are less fibers around the wash mitt compared against the wool alternative.
However, they are not as safe as the wool alternatives as they can be more aggressive and they also do not hold as much soap or water.
Lambswool Wash Mitt
Lambswool is the most expensive materials used within the construction of a wash mitt. They are the most absorbent and contain longer fibers to help trap the dirt and bring it away from the paintwork safely.
The softness is key to providing a scratch-free car wash and this is why they are popular among enthusiasts and professional detailers.
Apart from the premium price tag, they are also fairly difficult to clean due to long fibers. In terms of the durability, they are not the best either due to the fact they use real wool, which means you may be replacing them sooner than you think.
Synthetic Wool Wash Mitt
Many detailing brands saw that wool wash mitts suffered from the above drawbacks and decided to develop a synthetic alternative. The synthetic wool wash mitt provides the softness of lambswool but the durability of a microfiber construction.
Which Type To Choose?
The wool wash mitts have been dominating the market for so long and will continue to be popular with enthusiasts and professionals. However, premium microfibers that contain long fibers and are super soft are highly effective and safe.
As you can see from the image of the wash mitts that we tested below, there are two different styles of microfiber wash mitts. You have the cheaper “dreadlock” style, which are great at moving the dirt away from the paintwork but not as soft as the more premium alternatives such as the Adam’s Polishes wash mitt on the right of the below pictures. Extra soft wash mitts are generally more safer and the extra microfiber captures more dirt too, which is why we highly recommend them.
Size
The size of the wash mitt is a matter of personal preference. Some people prefer to capture as much soapy water as possible for extra lubrication on the paintwork. Whereas other prefer to limit the water usage and regularly dip into the wash bucket to refresh the mitt with soap water.
Wash Mitt Cuff
Not everyone has the same washing style as some may place their hand inside of the wash mitt whilst others hold it like a sponge. For those that place their hand inside, you will want to ensure the elastic cuff provide you with a comfortable and secure fit.
Before purchasing, check that the elastic cuff is not too large and that it is elasticated because this will ensure it will not fall off.
Conclusion
If you are currently not using the two bucket method of washing your car, we highly recommend that you begin to. This is the best way to prevent scratches and swirls appearing on your paintwork and generally makes washing your car safer.
We also recommend that you have use two wash mitts when washing your car. One for the paintwork of the vehicle and another for the inside of the wings, wheels, engine bay, exhaust and other areas that become heavily covered in dirt. Of course, for the paintwork we recommend using the best wash mitt you can but for the other dirty areas, any wash mitt will do.
All of our recommendations within this article cover all the different types of wash mitts that are suitable for a range of budgets.
