The humble sponge may be good for wiping down your kitchen counter but it can be disastrous for your paintwork if you use one for car cleaning – if you want to clean a car, this is where wash mitts neatly come in.
Sponges may look soft and flexible but they trap bits of grit which when you move the sponge along your paintwork can cause scratches. A microfibre or wool wash mitt on the other hand has a much larger surface area and can effectively filter bits of grit away from your paintwork, limiting the chances of scratches from occurring.
Wash mitts are also designed to lather up car shampoos far better than a shampoo ever could, helping cleaning products work more effectively. This also promotes better lubrication from the shampoo, which will get your car cleaner and should mean you can use less shampoo per wash.
The best wash mitts 2024 at a glance:
The best wash mitt: Autoglym Polar Mitt – buy from Amazon
Editor’s pick: Autobrite Microfibre Wash Mitt – buy from eBay
Best lambs wool wash mitt: Autobrite woolen Wash Mitt – buy from eBay
It’s probably the simplest and cheapest car cleaning upgrade you can do as part of your car cleaning kit. And the best part is that the results will be spectacular, so here are our favourite wash mitts for afer, scratch-free car cleaning.
The best wash mitts 2024
The best wash mitt
Not only is it lightweight when fully damp, but it's so easy to hold when you wear it, and at no point, did it spare any major bits of dirt when washing a number of cars - including my own. I like the handling, I like the way it feels when fully soaped, and I even like the colour. Granted, there are a few very much like the Autoglym mitt, and are very closely related in terms of design and construction. But the ease of holding it just about surpasses the others and was the most comfortable by a very slight margin.
Review by Aaron Hussain
Pros
- Comfortable to hold while washing several cars in one go
- Incredible at lifting small bits of dirt and making the bodywork immaculate
- Very easy to wash when you're finished
Cons
- The similarity to other brands' mitts restricts any large USP
However, it does lose minimal points because the handle inside isn't as nice to use as the Autoglym's sleeve. But when it comes to the wash itself, it's as good. The materials feel and probably are exactly the same, so no expense is spared when you're cleaning the bodywork and lifting up bits of pesky filth on the bottom of a car. The similarities also mean that it's lightweight even when fully damp with water, making it easy to lift onto the bodywork and begin your panel-by-panel routine.
Review by Aaron Hussain
Pros
- Effortlessly lifts dirt off bodywork and helps get a car clean without damaging it
- Feels quite light, even when fully soaked in water
- Comfortable to hold, albeit not quite as well as the Autoglym mitt
Cons
- Has the same similarity issue as the Autoglym mitt
When washing a car itself, it is incredibly delicate on your paintwork. I've been using it for nearly a year, and in hindsight, my mistake was not using it after spraying a car with shampoo via a snow foam lance. Instead, I've always employed the bucket method, and it becomes quite heavy and damp for my liking. That's not to say, however, that its performance is also compromised. It lifts loose dirt off paint effortlessly and feels very soft in your hands. There was no panel that was left compromised whenever I used it, and it is capable of a routine wash - you just have to take a little bit more care with lamb wool than with other materials.
Pros
- Incredibly soft and delicate to any car's paintwork
- Easy to hold, thanks to the thumb slot
- Does a great deal of removing dirt and residue
Cons
- Takes a long time to properly dry and soften up (up to a few days in my experience)
- Tiny bits of wool have shredded over the car
| Cleaning ability | 4.5 |
| Slickness | 4 |
| Ease of use | 4.5 |
| Maintainence | 2.5 |
| Overall | 4 |
The best mid-range wash mitt
The Gtechniq's WM2 is also made from a super soft microfibre that's designed to lather up a shampoo more effectively and features an internal foam core to keep the mitt wetter and lubricated for longer, again reducing the risk of scratches. The cuffed wrist is nice and snug, even when the mitt is weighed down with water. However, it suffers from the similarity issue once more, where it struggles to gain a USP.
Pros
- Incredibly soft on the paint, thanks to the delicate microfibre construction
- Easy to hold and swipe across body panels as you wash
- Easy to wash and dry afterwards
Cons
- Has the same identity issues as the Autoglym and Autobrite mitts, where it struggles to find a USP
The best budget noodle mitt
Some will prefer the noodles to be on both sides, which is a drawback for this mitt. However, if you're not looking to spend too muuch to get quality results, this is a good path to go down.
Pros
- Good value for money at just over £10
- Machine washable, meaning the after-process is easy
- Ideal for shampooing your vehicle
Cons
- The one-sided design won't suit everyone
The best budget lambs wool mitt
It gently lifts and traps dirt as you go about each panel and even has a small hook on the end in case you want to dry it while handing in the air.
Pros
- Very delicate lambs wool for ultra-soft cleaning
- Has a bug grid, in case things become slightly tricky
- Represents better value than the Autobrite mitt
Cons
- Will take longer than other mitts to wash and dry
These noodles are also durable and absorbent which makes them perfect for any car cleaning task. We're big fans of this example from Chemical Guys for its bright green colour that'll show up dirt and overall quality.
Pros
- Perfect blend of softness and durability
- The noodles cover both sides
- Ideal for deep-cleaning and shampooing your vehicle
Cons
- Noodle wash mitts aren't for everyone
Best wash mitt for detailing
Rrp: $9.99
Rrp: $9.99
The microfibres are exceptionally soft and will prove incredibly gentle on a car's paintwork while a soft inner lining will keep your hands comfortable, if a bit wet.
Pros
- Very soft microfibre that's very delicate on paint
- Easy to wash and dry afterwards
- Great value for money at just over £10
Cons
- Cuff isn't the tightest out of the wash mitts available
Best wash mitt set
The second 'detailing' mitt features a coral microfibre surface on one side for polishing or interior cleaning with a polymesh layer on the other side for lifting stubborn dirt. Both examples feature a very comfortable cuff for cleaning.
Pros
- Great value for money at just over £11 for the pair
- Offers cleaning versatility, including both a noodle and smooth mitt
- Purchase includes two wash mitts rather than one
Cons
- No foam inner core, making things slightly less comfortable than others
What you need to know about wash mitts:
Why are wash mitts better than sponges?
These scratches are tiny, it’s not like someone’s dragged a key along your paintwork, so what’s the point in switching out the trusty sponge? The main reason is that these scratches all add up over time and can contribute to dull, faded paintwork. This is especially noticeable with black cars as the scratches contrast most noticeably with the dark paintwork.
A wash mitt usually can cost less than a tenner and could easily make your car look better and even worth a bit more cash when it comes to selling time, so it’s well worth it. As well as a good cleaning cloth, it’s probably the cheapest but most effective car cleaning upgrade you can make.
How does a microfibre wash mitt clean better?
There are two kinds of cleaning, mechanical and chemical. Mechanical is the physical act of scrubbing a surface, whether it be by hand, pressurised water or a brush. Chemical cleaning is the work of detergents, surfactants and other sciencey things to lift mud. For car cleaning, you’ll ideally want a mixture of both.
Chemical cleaning is fairly harmless so long as you don’t buy incredibly harsh chemicals that can weaken clear coats or discolour trim pieces, a standard car shampoo will often be more than enough for dealing with grime. For a definitive list, you can read up on the best eco-friendly car shampoo products here.
It’s the mechanical cleaning that poses a scratch risk to a car’s paintwork. In running anything over the paintwork, any piece of grit you’ll come across needs to be safely lifted from the surface not pushed into the clear coat to leave lots of nasty scratches. This is where a wash mitt proves so useful, the huge surface area and soft surface offered by the microfibre strands will pull dirt away from the paintwork and massively reduce the chances of scratches occurring.
How do I care for wash mitts?
Quite often wash mitts can be washed in a washing machine once they’ve got a bit grubby. It’s best to wash them solely with other microfibre items to avoid piling from other fabrics getting caught up in the microfibre and also skip the conditioner and tumble dryer. Conditioners can clog the microfibre and excessive heat can melt them. If the microfibre is looking a little tired, some microfibre wash can be used but is by no means essential.
What else can I do to prevent scratches while car cleaning?
Scratches to your car are almost unavoidable in everyday life but there are more steps you can take when washing it to avoid smaller scratches.
For a start, look at buying a pressure washer and a form of pre-wash to dislodge these bits of grit and hopefully wash them away before you even touch your car with a wash mitt.
Also, think about installing a grit guard in your wash bucket. These will filter out dirt and debris in your water, minimising the chance of scratches.
Finally, switch your chamois for a microfibre towel. These are a lot kinder for your car’s paintwork.
Ryan Gilmore is the Deputy Autos and Tools Editor for Parkers, specialising in car cleaning and hand tools. A veteran car cleaner; if it details, waxes or washes he’ll be on hand to make sure it’s worth your money.
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