Ulti-Mit cleaning question

Modena AL

Modena AL

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I've been using my Cobra Micro fiber mitts to wash cars for a few years now and we're under the belief that they are starting to marr the paint. I say this becuase I XMT 360'd the car earlier this month and it was swirl free and they're coming back. I noticed this happening in the summer, but the car had not been polished in a while so I figured that was the case. I've got 3 MF mitts and alternate them and they all have probably over 100 washes on them. After I'm done I throw them in the wash with all the other MF towels that were used.

I'm thinking of trying out the LC Ulti-Mit to see if this solves the problem, but have a question on cleaning it. Once I'm done do I just rinse it out and hang it to dry, or should I throw it in the wash with everything else? I use pinnacle micro fiber rejuvenation detergent when I wash my towels. Would it be a good idea to get two becuase I sometimes wash both our cars the same day or detail two on a weekend? Any help would be appreciated. I'd like to place a order tonight.

edit: oh, what does everyone think of the LC CCS red wax applicators? Look pretty neat but do they do a better job than the regular foam applicators? Can these be tossed in the wash with everything else?
 
Where to begin? I'm currently using the ulti-mit and really like it, I've used it for about 3 washes now and was previously using the Schmitt (the older model). I usuallyl just rinse it out and let let it dry. I don't know that it's necessarily the mitts that are causing swirls for you. It's a well known fact that XMT360 uses fillers to hide swirls and doesn't completely remove them. After a month of exposure and washes, it's not suprising that they are starting to re-appear.
 
We're having a hard time figuring it out. I do the same thing that I've always done (just one bucket) and even use a grit gaurd now and never had a problem till this summer. My friend swears to me that they used to marr his paint even when they did not marr mine. We moved a year and a half ago and the water quality isn't as great up here, so that could be it. I'm about to start using inside water coming through the water softener and start a two bucket method to see if it improves. Next year I'll be getting some sediment and water softeners to run off the outside faucet, but want to prevent this from becoming a serious problem before then.
 
I have some red CCS applicator pads (the round ones). They're a little bigger compared to Pinnacle's and Meguiar's foam applicator pads. I don't see an advantage with these over the regular yellow ones, so I'm not buying the red CCS ones anymore.
 
I had souveran over it that was applied on the 5th. Washed 2 or 3 times since, and applied another coat yesterday until I get around to doing winter protection later this month. Swirls weren't noticeable when I got to the car after work, but I know they are there.

thanks for the tip on the red pads. I think I'll pass on them and just get a few more yellow pads. A few of them have disintegrated over time.

edit: I will mention that the Pinnacle body shampoo is not sudding up like I remember since we moved. I'm not sure if that is causing the problem. I used gold class on a customers car saturday and was shocked at the difference; very suddy and slick. I'm about to wash the girlfriends car and will use softened water with pinnacle to see if it suds better, and if it doesn't I'm going to try some optimum wash. I really miss being on TVA water :(
 
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The water used in wash solution makes a huge difference. I'm no chemist and can't tell you why or whatnot but hard water will be detrimental to soaps and will leave water spots. The purer the water, the better, obviously. It bugs me when people complain that a soap isn't good but in reality it is the water that's the problem.

As for the ulti-mitt, it's great :). After I'm done washing, I take out my grit guard and hose off the ulti-mitt. It holds a lot of suds so you'll have to ring it out a few times. Once most if not all of the soap is removed by rinsing, just let it air dry.
 
I know pinnacle is good soap so that's why I question the water. Washing her car with softened water and a two bucket method yeilded MUCH better results. I may hold out on on the ulti mit and continue with what I have (just change my process) unless someone tells me these micro fiber mitts have a wash cycle life. ah, I may just order one anyway to see what it's like!
 
the black van

I have detailed many black cars.never had swirl problems,until I did a black van( ford) .iT IS AYEAR OLD AND GOT TONS OF SWIRLS IN IT. WHEN WE DID IT IT LOOKED GREAT INSIDE THE GARAGE THEN WE WENT IN THE SUN AND IT LOOKED LIKE A WIND STORM.Any ideas as to fix the problem.
 
I have 2 ulti-mitts and I love them!!! alot more than those crap schmitts. I just rinse them and let dry. I also run my hand over the mitt to ensure no dirt trapped btwn the grooves
 
XMT 360 has fillers in it my friend. The fillers are being washed away, thus bringing back everything it didnt remove. Exactly why I dont use the stuff anymore.
 
Its the water causing the suds problem, I didnt use my filter system this weekend and noticed the suds were weak. All the other time was with filters and had plenty of suds. You need to get a polish that removes swirls(Menzerna), not one that hides them. Pinnacle wax does not last that long, looks great, thats why its on my vette that stays in the garage and not on my other two cars. Even after washing with Pinnacle you can tell wax is removed, wouldnt be my choice of wax for a daily driver, unless you wash and wax vehicle every weekend.
 
ahhh, I thought 360 was a mild swirl remover as well as a sealant. oh well. I've got plenty of different polishes I can use to correct it, so I'll just wait till afterward to see how it goes. At least it's good to hear it's not exactly the mitts. I'll change my wash process and get me some filters for outside!
 
Modena AL said:
We're having a hard time figuring it out. I do the same thing that I've always done (just one bucket) and even use a grit gaurd now and never had a problem till this summer. My friend swears to me that they used to marr his paint even when they did not marr mine. We moved a year and a half ago and the water quality isn't as great up here, so that could be it. I'm about to start using inside water coming through the water softener and start a two bucket method to see if it improves. Next year I'll be getting some sediment and water softeners to run off the outside faucet, but want to prevent this from becoming a serious problem before then.
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If you are using just one bucket this could very well be the culprit. Even though you are using a grit gaurd the suds will hold any dirt that goes by them, thats what they do. When they are on the car they encapsulate dirt so you are just transferring them back to your bucket and putting them back on the car. I would be more apt to believe that this is the cause of your swirls instead of 360 being the culprit.
 
Dan is correct, XMT360 does have fillers. That is why I asked if you were topping the 360 with a sealant or a wax. If you were topping with a durable sealant/wax that might be locking the fillers in place, hence making it longer before the fillers come out revealing the swirls once again. Just a possibility........
 
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