BRS - Big Red Sponge

[viperking]

Essentially what I've seen you do the vehicle the same way just with the sponge. ..just rinsing it out in the solution instead of grabbing another towel. Less laundry at the end. I have read that if I do do a two bucket, put ONR in the second bucket. Personally I feel safer doing that then introducing dirt to my main bucket of ONR. Just added insurance and piece of mind

 

[BrutalNoodle]

I'm contemplating filleting mine. Just cannot get the hang of this thing. Thinning it might make it more pliable. As is, it's just damn awkward/cumbersome.

Mine had been sitting in ONR solution 3 weeks prior to its first run. I was expecting to be blown away, but came away seriously disappointed. Going to give it another try, which would make this the fifth attempt, before taking a knife to it....

 

[CarolinasFinestDetailing]

I think I might know the answer but have you noticed an increase in marring compared to other rinseless wash methods?

LOL, I'm just being a bit cautious because this is a totally new wash method for me. I've been conditioned to believe that the multiple towel method is the only safe way to do a rinseless wash. It might need some courage on my part to try a new method (haha).

Thanks.

Not at all. Rinseless washing is actually a safer method than traditional soap and water.

 

[Real Riders]

Ah ok. It seems to rinse out cleanly from what I've seen but of course I'm not there in person. Do you use the BRS on your personal vehicles?

Thanks.

I own daily drivers and use the Big Red Sponge on every car with no problems. If you have an exotic car I would just be more careful. When using the BRS wipe with very little pressure to prevent any problems. There is no need to press down hard on the sponge to get the panel clean. Just let it glide across the paint using light pressure

 

[Real Riders]

I bought my BRS directly from Optimum last year but never used it since I preferred doing a PW + WW with MFs over a RW.

I was never told by OPT at purchase time that you have to keep the sponge soaking in a solution of ONR when not in use. Where did this info come from?

The designer of the Big Red Sponge personally told me to always keep the sponge soaking in ONR for best results.

 

[Real Riders]

Also the Big Red Sponge will look dirty and turn darker after multiple uses. The best way to clean the Big Red Sponge is to soak it in Dawn dish soap and then rinse

 

[jmsc]

Marc,

have you tried the OPT blue sponge that AG now carries? your thoughts if you have.

 

[Real Riders]

Marc,

have you tried the OPT blue sponge that AG now carries? your thoughts if you have.

I have not tried the Optimum Waffle Blue Sponge but it's my next product on the list to purchase. I have heard the sponge works well but I understand the downside of the sponge is you are not able to flip the sponge and move to the next panel. It's needs rinsed after each panel

 

[Nav45]

Not at all. Rinseless washing is actually a safer method than traditional soap and water.

I own daily drivers and use the Big Red Sponge on every car with no problems. If you have an exotic car I would just be more careful. When using the BRS wipe with very little pressure to prevent any problems. There is no need to press down hard on the sponge to get the panel clean. Just let it glide across the paint using light pressure

OK great. Is there a benefit of pre-spraying a panel before using the BRS?

In the other rinseless wash methods, people will often times pre-spray a panel to help with lubricity, etc.

Thanks CarolinasFinestDetailing and Real Riders.

 

[Real Riders]

OK great. Is there a benefit of pre-spraying a panel before using the BRS?

In the other rinseless wash methods, people will often times pre-spray a panel to help with lubricity, etc.

Thanks CarolinasFinestDetailing and Real Riders.

Before I start the wash I dip an empty spray bottle in the clean ONR solution and use it for pre soak. Usually I just pre soak the whole side of the car and start washing

 

[VISITOR]

if this big red sponge is as thick as the blue lake country sponge then i can't say i will ever want to try one. it's too thick and they should cut it down about half the thickness...

 

[Real Riders]

if this big red sponge is as thick as the blue lake country sponge then i can't say i will ever want to try one. it's too thick and they should cut it down about half the thickness...

The Big Red Sponge is about the same size and thickness as the Lake Country blue sponge. The main difference is the material. While the LC Blue Sponge works good for regular washes, the BRS is much better for Rinseless Washes and last much longer

 

[Flyphish]

If you wring out the BRS in the same bucket with the clean water, aren't you soaking up some of the dirty water each time you dunk it?

 

[Jaddie]

The Big Red Sponge is about the same size and thickness as the Lake Country blue sponge. The main difference is the material. While the LC Blue Sponge works good for regular washes, the BRS is much better for Rinseless Washes and last much longer

Oh, I thought the Big Red Sponge was the Lake Country grout sponge, just with Optimum branding.

 

[Real Riders]

Oh, I thought the Big Red Sponge was the Lake Country grout sponge, just with Optimum branding.

The Big Red Sponge is completely different than the Lake Country Blue Sponge. The material is softer and the sponge lasts much longer.

 

[Chris Thomas]

The BRS is super soft and very durable...but, you will need to follow any foam wash media with a microfiber towel (either wet or dry) to make sure there is no dirt left on the paint before claying. I have had a few instances where I could not just go from no rinsed panel straight to claying when using a sponge.

 

[Eldorado2k]

Not at all. Rinseless washing is actually a safer method than traditional soap and water.

How?
Btw, I'm not saying rinseless washing is unsafe at all, I'm a fan of waterless, rinseless, and traditional bucket washes, but I can't see how a rinseless wash is somehow safer than a traditional wash considering a bucket wash starts with a full pre rinse with a strong stream of water. At best, a rinseless wash gets a pre spray which helps lubricate the surface and emulsifiy the dirt, but it still needs to be wiped off. Whereas a normL pre rinse with a hose gets most of that dirt off before even having to touch the paint.

 

[Real Riders]

How?
Btw, I'm not saying rinseless washing is unsafe at all, I'm a fan of waterless, rinseless, and traditional bucket washes, but I can't see how a rinseless wash is somehow safer than a traditional wash considering a bucket wash starts with a full pre rinse with a strong stream of water. At best, a rinseless wash gets a pre spray which helps lubricate the surface and emulsifiy the dirt, but it still needs to be wiped off. Whereas a normL pre rinse with a hose gets most of that dirt off before even having to touch the paint.

I am guessing the reason why most say Rinseless Wash is as a safe as a traditional wash is because they pressure wash the wheels and wheel wheels, then they use wheel cleaner on the wheels and rinse. They also spray off the whole car with a pressure washer and then do a Rinseless Wash. In the real world you show up to a business parking lot and the car will be dirty and covered with pollen and without a water source you better be careful

 

[Mantilgh]

In the real world you show up to a business parking lot and the car will be dirty and covered with pollen and without a water source you better be careful

True, or you show up at the house and they forgot the water line froze up and burst over the winter. This happened to me the other day. His daily driver black work truck was covered in DC city grime. His least concern was the paint though. D114 cleaned it up well and didn't add any extra swirls that I could tell. I did not pre spray, or pretreat in any way.

Then the next wash I did the outside spigot had been shut off for the winter and there was no access because it was in the other tenant's basement apartment. It was a severely scratched up silver car. No pre treat there either.

Just "clean and shiny". If they were show cars, or really well taken care of, I would have adapted my technique.

 

[Mike@ShineStruck]

Anyone try cutting one up to use for spots the normal size can't get to?

Still not sure about this..may try the 0 bucket method I read about over autopia before this