Has anyone used Optimum Big Red Sponge?

[Eldorado2k]

Not really. The BRS will pick up a majority of the dirt and the rinseless will carry some of it away. The towel will pick up a little. No different that a waterless wash like what you are used to doing. The BRS does not scratch if used properly.

So it sounds like the smart thing to do would be: Go over the panel, then flip the sponge over and go over the panel again then dry.

Do you use 1 bucket rinseless? Or 2 buckets? If using 2, do you put solution in both? Do you use ONR or which product?

 

[RippyD]

So it sounds like the smart thing to do would be: Go over the panel, then flip the sponge over and go over the panel again then dry.

Do you use 1 bucket rinseless? Or 2 buckets? If using 2, do you put solution in both? Do you use ONR or which product?

You weren't asking me, but... depends on how dirty. Only with no visible dirt will I do a whole panel with one side of the BRS. If you can see any dirt I would flip and rinse it more often. I usually use 1 bucket with a grit guard. If using 2 bucket I would use soap in both. I've used water rinse bucket with a BRS before and it's a lot of work to wring all the water out before going back into the soap. I don't recommend it..

 

[Eldorado2k]

You weren't asking me, but... depends on how dirty. Only with no visible dirt will I do a whole panel with one side of the BRS. If you can see any dirt I would flip and rinse it more often. I usually use 1 bucket with a grit guard. If using 2 bucket I would use soap in both. I've used water rinse bucket with a BRS before and it's a lot of work to wring all the water out before going back into the soap. I don't recommend it..

I’m guessing you use ONR?

If I ever did it I’d be using Wolfgang Uber or Mckees N-914

 

[Bruno Soares]

I use the BRS with N-914. 2 buckets, solution on just one of them. I spray the panel first with a Kwazar bottle. I usually do one pass with one side of the sponge then another pass with the other side, then dry. My drying towel does not get dirty.

Keep in mind when I’m doing rinseless, which is usually only when it’s too cold to wash outside, I do them often to avoid getting the car too dirty. If it did get to that point due to snow, I’ll do a pre wash with a hose outside as long as the weather is near freezing or above so my driveway doesn’t become an ice rink.

 

[Eldorado2k]

Thanks that’s the answer I was looking for.^

 

[DUBL0WS6]

Not really. The BRS will pick up a majority of the dirt and the rinseless will carry some of it away. The towel will pick up a little. No different that a waterless wash like what you are used to doing. The BRS does not scratch if used properly.

I don't really think any decent sponge scratches. I think some MF mitts will tend to scratch as they may hold particles in them. What I think produces the most scratches is gravel dust from when they tar and chip roads. And gravel dust should be rinsed off first.

 

[RippyD]

I’m guessing you use ONR?

If I ever did it I’d be using Wolfgang Uber or Mckees N-914

Mostly N-914 or Carpro Reset.

I don't really think any decent sponge scratches. I think some MF mitts will tend to scratch as they may hold particles in them. What I think produces the most scratches is gravel dust from when they tar and chip roads. And gravel dust should be rinsed off first.

I have to believe any sponge with enough dirt in it is going to scratch.

 

[The Guz]

So it sounds like the smart thing to do would be: Go over the panel, then flip the sponge over and go over the panel again then dry.

Depends on how much dirt is on that specific panel.

Do you use 1 bucket rinseless? Or 2 buckets? If using 2, do you put solution in both? Do you use ONR or which product?

90% of the time just 1 bucket with N914 or D114. On some occasion I mess with around with EcH20 or the new McKee's SiO2 rinseless wash. I no longer use ONR. I am not making enough solution to save it.

Pre-spray into a pump sprayer by just dumping the sprayer into the bucket of solution.

Same process with wheels and a mitt and/or a brush.

 

[DUBL0WS6]

Mostly N-914 or Carpro Reset.


I have to believe any sponge with enough dirt in it is going to scratch.

Well, yeah but it seems to me that sponges release dirt better than mf covered sponges or mitts.

 

[Nav45]

I am just wondering how the BRS works when using something besides ONR. I know that BRS was supposedly designed to work with ONR but I'm curious to see how it works with other products. Supposedly, ONR brings the dirt particles down to the bottom of wash bucket so you can safely wash the vehicle. Will other rinseless products do the same? I'm kind of hesitant in using other products with the BRS. Appreciate if you can share some of your experience with this.

 

[Bruno Soares]

I am just wondering how the BRS works when using something besides ONR. I know that BRS was supposedly designed to work with ONR but I'm curious to see how it works with other products. Supposedly, ONR brings the dirt particles down to the bottom of wash bucket so you can safely wash the vehicle. Will other rinseless products do the same? I'm kind of hesitant in using other products with the BRS. Appreciate if you can share some of your experience with this.

Works great. I've used it with Uber, N-914, Ech2o, and SiO2 Rinseless from McKee's 37. BRS worked well with all of those.

 

[Eldorado2k]

I no longer use ONR. I am not making enough solution to save it.

How much solution do you make for a typical rinseless? Do you measure out how much water or possibly have your bucket marked to a specific quantity i.e. a mark at every gallon? Or do you choose instead to just measure how much rinseless solution you’re putting into the bucket and just sort of eyeball how much water you put in there?

Trying to get an idea whether your rinseless wash can be accomplished with 1 or 2 gallons per wash.

 

[oneheadlite]

I am just wondering how the BRS works when using something besides ONR. I know that BRS was supposedly designed to work with ONR but I'm curious to see how it works with other products. Supposedly, ONR brings the dirt particles down to the bottom of wash bucket so you can safely wash the vehicle. Will other rinseless products do the same? I'm kind of hesitant in using other products with the BRS. Appreciate if you can share some of your experience with this.

If you look, McKee's 37 has a big gold sponge that looks identical to the BRS. If I remember right, Ivan Lacroix from optimum went to McKee's and musta brought his sponge preference with him.

In my experience I didn't notice extreme particulate sinking using ONR vs any other rinseless, so I'd feel comfortable using whichever rinseless you prefer.

EDIT: Actually, memory did serve right - Optimum (on their Opti-Coat website which has more of their updated products) has a big gold sponge as well. Sure makes me wonder if there's any difference between it and the McKee's one.

 

[Nav45]

Works great. I've used it with Uber, N-914, Ech2o, and SiO2 Rinseless from McKee's 37. BRS worked well with all of those.

Very nice to hear. Thanks.

 

[Nav45]

If you look, McKee's 37 has a big gold sponge that looks identical to the BRS. If I remember right, Ivan Lacroix from optimum went to McKee's and musta brought his sponge preference with him.

In my experience I didn't notice extreme particulate sinking using ONR vs any other rinseless, so I'd feel comfortable using whichever rinseless you prefer.

EDIT: Actually, memory did serve right - Optimum (on their Opti-Coat website which has more of their updated products) has a big gold sponge as well. Sure makes me wonder if there's any difference between it and the McKee's one.

Ah ok, I did not even notice that Mckees has their own version (looks very similar) of the BRS. So I guess the wash media is isn't very specific to one rinseless vs. the other. I guess we fall for marketing sometimes and believe one thing has to be used because it was specifically made for a particular item. And I'm with you regarding the particulates not necessarily sinking to the bottom. Many just float around though I don't think it's a big deal either way.

I go back and forth between the various wash methods and was always curious if the BRS worked with other products. It's a good product no doubt. Thanks!

 

[Bruno Soares]

Pretty sure that new gold sponge is the same from Optimum or McKee’s 37, they’re made by Lake Country. Supposedly softer than the red sponge but I haven’t tried yet as I’m happy with the BRS.

 

[BadgerRivFan]

I’ve used the BRS with ONR, DPC Revive, Garry Dean’s Forever Rinseless, McKee’s Si02 Rinseless, and probably a few others. It worked well with all and I continue to use it along with the new black sponge from the Rag Company.

You should use a grit guard when using one of the sponges, and will need 3 gallons of solution as it takes 1 gallon just to get to the level of the grit guard when using a 5 gallon bucket.

Two gallons of Rinseless solution works just fine if you’re going with the Garry Dean wash method instead of using one of the sponges.

 

[Nav45]

Pretty sure that new gold sponge is the same from Optimum or McKee’s 37, they’re made by Lake Country. Supposedly softer than the red sponge but I haven’t tried yet as I’m happy with the BRS.

I've noticed that there are more options now. I'm also pretty happy with the BRS but just have been hesitant trying something besides ONR with it. Yeah the gold sponge seems awfully similar and I'm not sure if being softer is necessarily a good thing.

I’ve used the BRS with ONR, DPC Revive, Garry Dean’s Forever Rinseless, McKee’s Si02 Rinseless, and probably a few others. It worked well with all and I continue to use it along with the new black sponge from the Rag Company.

You should use a grit guard when using one of the sponges, and will need 3 gallons of solution as it takes 1 gallon just to get to the level of the grit guard when using a 5 gallon bucket.

Two gallons of Rinseless solution works just fine if you’re going with the Garry Dean wash method instead of using one of the sponges.

How is the new black sponge? It seems like a good product and unlike the BRS, it won't stain (or show the stains) as easily. Not that getting rid of the stains is difficult or anything. It seems slightly more ergonomic as well.

Also, after you use the si02 product with the sponge, do you thoroughly clean it or just rinse it out and go to the next rinseless? I'm kind of weird and would chemically clean the sponge after using a si02 product in it. For some reason I'm under the (probably false) assumption that an si02/sealant infused rinseless will somehow mess up my drying towels and render them useless. So I simply separate regular wash products from si02/sealant wash products. I'm sure its all in my head LOL.

 

[Eldorado2k]

You should use a grit guard when using one of the sponges, and will need 3 gallons of solution as it takes 1 gallon just to get to the level of the grit guard when using a 5 gallon bucket.

Two gallons of Rinseless solution works just fine if you’re going with the Garry Dean wash method instead of using one of the sponges.

Makes alot of sense. Thanks for posting.

 

[RippyD]

How much solution do you make for a typical rinseless? Do you measure out how much water or possibly have your bucket marked to a specific quantity i.e. a mark at every gallon? Or do you choose instead to just measure how much rinseless solution you’re putting into the bucket and just sort of eyeball how much water you put in there?

Trying to get an idea whether your rinseless wash can be accomplished with 1 or 2 gallons per wash.

I put gallon marks on a couple of buckets, but I generally just make 5 gallons of whatever I'm using. I always have 2-3 different wash products ready to use.