Advertiser Disclosure
Once you’ve gone over the car with a foam cannon, you should look to use a wash mitt for the hand-washing aspect. A wash mitt is to replace a washing sponge (or whatever your preferred method of cleaning.)
Use one bucket for the soapy water, another bucket with clean and fresh water in it for rinsing the mitt. Dip the mitt in the soapy water. Wash the panel. Then, clean the mitt in the second bucket before going back to the soap. Yes, it takes longer, but the results are worth it.
Lambswool vs Microfiber
There was a time that man-made synthetic materials couldn’t offer the same level of luxuriousness or softness that nature could provide. Lambswool was always the de facto #1 choice for plush, luxury feeling softness. Today, that’s changed.
A quality microfiber material may not be softer than lambswool, but experts will tell you that it’s the equivalent of it. It has added capabilities of holding more water. Plus, it’s machine washable and more importantly, cheaper. It begins to make sense as a wash mitt.
The Best Car Wash Mitts
Chemical Guys MIC_493 Chenille Microfiber Wash Mitt
- Rating: 4.9 / 5
- Brand: Chemical Guys
With words like ‘extra plush’, ‘big, fat & plump’ you’d expect something like a big pillowy wash mitt. That’s exactly what the Chemical Guys deliver. It’s big, soft, and pillowy like a plump marshmallow.
This double-sided wash mitt measures up at 12″ x 8″ and is made from an extra-plush chenille microfiber with ‘chubby spun strands’ – meaning that it’s thick. The strands do an excellent job of lifting the dirt away from the surface and containing it so it doesn’t find its way back.
The Chemical Guys MIC_493 Chenille Microfiber has a greater absorbency than lambswool, and it’s 100% machine washable, which is recommended each time after you’ve used it. Thanks to the thickness, they say that it’s softer than a lambswool equivalent, but in reality, it would be hard to prove that.
As it’s made from a microfiber material, you should never use a fabric softener in the wash (it affects the absorbency and softness.) To keep it lint-free, you should always wash separately (or with other wash mitts.) It’s available in a range of colors, which is useful if you want to color code. For example, one for the bodywork, another for the wheels or so on.
Relentless Drive Ultimate Car Wash Mitt
- Rating: 4.7 / 5
- Brand: Relentless
Very similar to the Chemical Guys wash mitt, only this comes in a packet of two. The size is almost identical too – 11.5″ x 8″. Again it’s double-sided has an elasticated cuff and is made from a premium chenille microfiber cloth.
It’s lint-free, scratch & swirl-free thanks to the thick and highly absorbent microfiber strands. It wipes away dirt, grime, and debris with ease, keeping it trapped within the microfiber ‘fingers’. It holds more water than a regular sheepskin (lambswool) mitt and has an inner mesh lining. It’s also 100% machine washable. Same advice: Never wash microfiber with fabric softener, always wash on its own.
Meguiar’s X3002 Microfiber Wash Mitt
- Rating: 4.5 / 5
- Brand: Meguiar’s
The strands on the Meguiar’s wash mitt are shorter than some of the competition, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It means that it has more dirt-shifting power. It’s able to carry a lot of suds, so re-dipping in the water is lessened. Plus, you’re able to get through a car quicker, with less effort.
It’s a decent size at 10″ x 8″, lint and swirl-free and unlike some of the competitors, Meguiar’s say that it can be used wet or dry, with something like their detailing mist spray. Some of the other brands could possibly be used dry, but they don’t mention it. It’s completely machine washable and reusable, and double-sided with an elasticated cuff. What else do you need?
BlueCare Automotive Premium Wash Mitt
- Rating: 4.1 / 5
- Brand: BlueCare
This pack currently comes with a free microfiber polishing cloth, but that’s not really important. You aren’t buying it for the cloth.
The fact is, the material is good quality plush chenille microfiber. It uses large fluffy ‘fingers’ to trap and wipe away the dirt and comes with a lifetime warranty. It’s ultra-absorbent, fully machine washable and sized at just under 10″ x 7″.
They do say it’s a wet or dry mitt, and it has a loose but elasticated cuff. What really sets the BlueCare mitt apart from the rest is the customer service. They seem to go beyond the expected and deliver a service that would make America proud.
Mothers Genuine Lambswool Wash Mitt
- Rating: 3.8 / 5
- Brand: Mothers
The thing with a lambswool mitt is that it needs washing thoroughly after each use, but this has to be done by hand. Then, it has to air dry. Do not throw this in the dryer.
I like the design of the Mothers wash mitt – with a separate thumb. It helps to give you more control and feels more ‘natural’ (if that’s such a thing). The thick woolen pile gives excellent cleaning abilities. It helps to lift and trap the dirt until you’re ready to rinse it out in the clean bucket.
A knitted cuff helps to keep it on your wrist, and it’s 100% non-linting and made from all-natural fibers.
Mary Moppins Pure 100% Lambswool Wash Mitt
- Rating: 3.6 / 5
- Brand: Mary Moppins
Regular readers of my reviews will know that I love a play on words. Mary Moppins has to be right up there for genius-nous?
This is a high-quality and well constructed, 100% natural wash mitt using pure lambswool, which sits on a real leather backing. It’s extremely soft and plush, with a dense covering of wool to clean the most stubborn stains from whatever it is that you’re washing.
Same as the Mothers wash mitt, it has to be washed and dried after every use, and can only be hand-washed and air-dried; failure to look after it like this and it’ll be worthless as a soft wash mitt.
There’s not a huge amount to choose from between these two lambswool mitts. Aside from the Mothers version having a separate thumb, either product will give you a quality wash without scratching or swirling.
