Simple 2BM question: how many passes before rinsing wash media?

[newb001]

How many passes do you do with your wash mitt/sponge before rinsing in rinse bucket, collecting more soap and wiping again?

Does it differ based on using a sponge vs. a sheepskin mitt vs. MF mitt?

For sake of this question assume the car is not that dirty (actually, perhaps let me know how you do things differently on a dirty car vs. not-that-dirty car).

If a car isn't that dirty is it ok to just do a whole door/window at a time (maybe skipping the lower part in case that has some caked on dirt?)

In a lot of the professional videos I've watched, the person will do an entire door or an entire half panel, or even a door, window and part of roof before returning to the buckets (they just go all over the place before rinsing). I can't imagine that's proper. But wasn't sure if I should do just two or three passes before rinsing my mitt. Is that overkill (or is it never overkill and it just depends on how careful each individual wants to be)?

I want to be as careful as I can without overdoing it to the point of driving myself crazy/tiring myself out before I'm done with half the car... Just trying to find a good balance.

Thanks for your thoughts!

[cobalt9123]

I break my car up into several pieces, and each time I'm done with that piece, I will return to the rinse bucket with a grit guard and then to the wash bucket for another section. It will differ with how soiled the paint is, that's for sure. And for the bottom half of the car, I switch wash mitts. Then, after the whole car's paint is finished, I come back with the original mitt and wash the windows.

I will have a thread on something similar to this coming soon

[jpegs13]

That's how I do it as well

[newb001]

Thanks for the info. That's essentially what I've been doing as well, but can you further clarify what you mean by several 'pieces'? For example, is a door (not the window or bottom half) a 'piece'. Is half the hood a 'piece', etc...?

Thanks again!

[cobalt9123]

Thanks for the info. That's essentially what I've been doing as well, but can you further clarify what you mean by several 'pieces'? For example, is a door (not the window or bottom half) a 'piece'. Is half the hood a 'piece', etc...?

Thanks again!

A "piece" for me is:

• Half of my hood
• Half of my roof
• The whole upper part of my trunk

The other "pieces" are too hard to describe without a picture, but these pieces should give you a pretty good idea of the surface area I'm talking about

[newb001]

A "piece" for me is:

• Half of my hood
• Half of my roof
• The whole upper part of my trunk

The other "pieces" are too hard to describe without a picture, but these pieces should give you a pretty good idea of the surface area I'm talking about

Great, thanks again!

[newb001]

Sorry, quick follow-up: I also wanted to ask how much pressure everyone uses with their sponge/mitt. Do I just barely glide it along the paint, or do I apply some moderate pressure? I've seen some pics of people using the zymol sponge for example, and in the pics it looked as if they were really pushing the sponge into the paint (i.e. the sponge was very 'squished')...

[LegacyGT]

I use just the weight of the mitt when filled with water.

[cobalt9123]

Sorry, quick follow-up: I also wanted to ask how much pressure everyone uses with their sponge/mitt. Do I just barely glide it along the paint, or do I apply some moderate pressure? I've seen some pics of people using the zymol sponge for example, and in the pics it looked as if they were really pushing the sponge into the paint (i.e. the sponge was very 'squished')...

Do not use pressure. Let the mitt's weight do the work.

Here's why:

When you move that mitt across the paint, you are accumulating dirt particulates in your mitt whether it be microfiber, sea sponge, wool, or whatever.

At this point, your sponge is essentially sand paper. The only thing keeping those particulates of dirt from scrubbing the surface like sand paper is the water and car wash shampoo you use. This is why people make more of an emphasis on car soap lubricity instead of foam.

Pushing down on the mitt or adding more pressure than necessary can force those dirt particles on the paint, creating swirls and scratches, which is the opposite of what you want to do.

If something won't come off with 1 or 2 passes with the weight of the mitt, you should either use a specialty sponge and chemical, or a clay bar and lube.

[oldmodman]

A "piece" for me is:

• Half of my hood
• Half of my roof
• The whole upper part of my trunk

That is exactly what I consider to be "one mitts worth" before rinsing and re-soaping the mitt.