New Product! Optimum

CEE DOG said:
oldcracker, here is the question(s) I asked and an answer from Chris at Optimum.

Dr. G, I'm excited to see the new Opti-Mitt! I have a couple questions.
1.-What are the differences between the Opti-Mitt and the Schmitt?
2.-Is there any possibility that there will be an Opti-Mitt released in a lighter color at some point in the future?
Thank you for your always excellent products and the time you take to answer all our questions!
Oops, almost forgot... I LOVE the new forum setup. Very nice :)
Corey

"Hey Corey, The foam and color are different from the Schmitt and exclusive to Opti Mitt. It is comparable to a finish pad with about 90-100 ppi. I believe the Schmitt is 70-80 ppi. The color was specifically chosen to conceal the staining that naturally occurs over time with any wash media. To my knowledge there are no plans for another version in another color, but nothing is written in stone. Thanks for your compliments on the forum. I've been working very hard to make it the best I can. I'm sure Dr. G will chime in too...he may have more technical specs for you."
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Here is further information on the Opti-Mitt. This was posted in response to the questions we asked. As always Dr. G took the time to chime in as well and share some further details of the design. Here was what he had to say.

"Thank you for your great comments. I appreciate your thoroughness in your questions as well as your product evaluations. Chris as always has provided great answers to the questions you brought up. I will also add some of the steps we took in designing Opti-Mitt. Our objective first and foremost was to find a foam that is absolutely safe for all the automotive surfaces and in particular softer automotive paints. Additionally, we wanted this foam to be very durable and last through many wash cycles. Furthermore, we wanted this foam to be very porous so that not only it would have great absorption properties, but also it would have excellent release properties for easy rinsing. The foam formulation that we found fulfills all these requirement and as Chris pointed out, it is exclusively used for making Opti-Mitt. I can send you a sample of Opti-Mitt if you like to put it to the test. Thanks again."
 
integritydetail said:
I have two beta mitts and I think this thing will give a clean conscience to many of those who were skeptical of no rinse and waterless washing. The thing is super soft and releases well. It makes you use light pressure because it holds soooo much water, you'll soak yourself if you press too hard. Also, none of that horrifying squeaking noise like you get with a grout sponge. The color also addresses the staining complaint many have had with No Rinse. It really is uber safe and that's why the scrubber was added to the back that wasn't on my first beta.

Chris:dblthumb2:
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Hey Chris,
When the MF towel or foam is stained, don't we run the risk of a contaminate that scratches the paint surfaces.

I use multiple MF towels with ONR and use separate MF towels just for wheels. How will not seeing stains on the foam make it safer than the MF that has trapped brake dust in it? I'd rather have a light colored foam that doesn't stain than a dark foam where I can't see it. It's why I also don't buy black MFs.

Then again, that just me...
 
Kurt that is a reasonable question. Brake dust contains metals and ceramics that are super hard and it's just not worth the risk of dragging that across paint. Dirt, however, is soluble within water and detergent or even water alone for that matter. Particles like sand are too large to be pulled into the foam and release very easily from the media. Here we trust the polymers, uber soft foam, water transporting the polymers, and the valleys of the waffle to keep the paint safe. The other particles (the ones that stain) are microscopic to be pulled into a MF towel with 150,000 fibers per inch or into a pore so small that 90-100 fit in a aware inch. These that remain after the media is rinsed and washed with an APC or detergent are as harmless as a liquid dye that would merely change the color of a fabric.

To sum up the Opti Mitt addresses every concern a conscientious detailer would have about rinseless washing. 1) superior super soft easy release foam 2) textured waffle design ensures no dragging debris 3) wrist cord and mitt fit too keep it off the ground 4) foam floats to keep it off the bottom of the bucket 5) coloring keeps you psychologically sane while washing 6) back doubles as a scrubber to save time on nose and windshield areas 7) the attachment of the front pad to the back is improved.

Let me know if I can be of further assistance. We have given several away on the Optimum Forum and as more people try them we should be getting unbiased feedback soon.

Chris
 
integritydetail said:
Kurt that is a reasonable question. Brake dust contains metals and ceramics that are super hard and it's just not worth the risk of dragging that across paint. Dirt, however, is soluble within water and detergent or even water alone for that matter. Particles like sand are too large to be pulled into the foam and release very easily from the media. Here we trust the polymers, uber soft foam, water transporting the polymers, and the valleys of the waffle to keep the paint safe. The other particles (the ones that stain) are microscopic to be pulled into a MF towel with 150,000 fibers per inch or into a pore so small that 90-100 fit in a aware inch. These that remain after the media is rinsed and washed with an APC or detergent are as harmless as a liquid dye that would merely change the color of a fabric.

To sum up the Opti Mitt addresses every concern a conscientious detailer would have about rinseless washing. 1) superior super soft easy release foam 2) textured waffle design ensures no dragging debris 3) wrist cord and mitt fit too keep it off the ground 4) foam floats to keep it off the bottom of the bucket 5) coloring keeps you psychologically sane while washing 6) back doubles as a scrubber to save time on nose and windshield areas 7) the attachment of the front pad to the back is improved.

Let me know if I can be of further assistance. We have given several away on the Optimum Forum and as more people try them we should be getting unbiased feedback soon.

Chris
Click to expand...
Thanks Chris,
I probably either think to much or know too much for my own good. I find that many stains are contaminants that I was unable to remove with a particular cleaning process.

Like many charged molecules, these chemicals/contaminants can attact dirt and other scratchy stuff that may stick to the media instead of washing into the wash bucket. That's why I like to get stains out of towels.

By using different cleaning processes; acidic (citrus APC or vinegar), surfactant (charged and non-charged) and hydrogen peroxide based stain removers (Oxiclean), I can get many of these stains (contaminants) out of the MF and cotton towels.

Will these processes release stains from the foam mitt too?
 
APC, Detergent or Oxy should be fine as long as it is non-caustic. Nothing stronger than you'd use on your polishing pads though. The adhesive that binds the two parts is similar to the adhesive that holds the hook and loop on a polishing pad, so you wouldn't want it to be too strong. I know it'd be too expensive to use often, but Power Clean works great for this. Also, soaking for awhile should help if they are very bad. But certainly not over night and not in water that's too hot. I really think you will find the release properties of this foam to be exceptional.
 
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