Need car washing brush recommendation

[MarkG]

Maybe this belongs in the 'Free Parking' section, you can let me know.

I'd like to get a good car washing brush/mop/whatever for washing the minivan. I'd like a decent length handle so I can reach to the middle of the roof easily, and obviously, something that just works, is made well, and won't scratch.

I'd be interested in hearing from people who actually OWN one that they are happy with (you didn't just read about it) and where did you get it. Thanks!

 

[Parrothead]

Check out this forum if you haven’t already. Beware it’s a rabbit hole.

https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/

 

[JP Chestnut]

Anything you touch your car with scratches it. A microfiber pad on a pole is probably what you want.

 

[M635_Guy]

Check out this forum if you haven’t already. Beware it’s a rabbit hole.

https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/

Anything you touch your car with scratches it. A microfiber pad on a pole is probably what you want.

Agree with both of these.

Become familiar with the two-bucket method of washing and get a couple Grit Guards. Using your leaf blower to get water off your car is a good thing too.

 

[Willie Makeit]

only advice i can give is: you don't wash a car with a brush.

 

[quadrcr87]

I use an extendable Libman brush on my travel trailer but I don't use it on my vehicles. The bristles are soft but they have the potential to trap and grind dirt into the paint.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KYYK2PU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[JP Chestnut]

If I were to use something like this, it would be this particular one:
https://www.carpro-us.com/wash-mitt...MI29vD36XN6gIVSuDICh13cwDmEAQYAiABEgLGGPD_BwE

I have no idea if that's a good price so shop around if you go this way.

 

[aczr2k]

only advice i can give is: you don't wash a car with a brush.

Its a minivan not a Ferrari...I use a horsehair brush on vehicles, its only removing the road film left behind the foam gun. It wasn't cheap, $50-60 from one of the auto detailing places.

 

[JiminAZ]

I own this one from Griot's Garage.

I've only had it a month or so. Use it to wash a 3/4 ton truck, and my toybox travel trailer (which is plenty tall). Pretty sturdy construction that so far I like. The microfiber mop works well. Overall satisfied and glad I paid the extra $10 or so over the flimsy Amazon offerings.

 

[Ralf11]

Anything you touch your car with scratches it. A microfiber pad on a pole is probably what you want.

only advice i can give is: you don't wash a car with a brush.

I own this one from Griot's Garage.

I've only had it a month or so. Use it to wash a 3/4 ton truck, and my toybox travel trailer (which is plenty tall). Pretty sturdy construction that so far I like. The microfiber mop works well. Overall satisfied and glad I paid the extra $10 or so over the flimsy Amazon offerings.

Bingo & Bingo & Greaseball's Garage has xlnt. service but super high prices. Everything they sell can be had for 1/2 or 1/3 price somewhere else (all they do is stamp their name on things).

and BTW, when will Ferrari come out with a mini-van?

 

[RKA]

Bingo & Bingo & Greaseball's Garage has xlnt. service but super high prices. Everything they sell can be had for 1/2 or 1/3 price somewhere else (all they do is stamp their name on things).

and BTW, when will Ferrari come out with a mini-van?

I don’t know, but when they do, I’m getting my first unicorn hair brush!

 

[rshadd]

I started off using a Montana Boars hair brush that worked pretty good. But it left small micro scratches that require polishing to remove.

Now I use an Autofiber Washstik Car Wash Mop Kit and like it much better. It has a replaceable / washable microfiber pad that doesn't scratch. I have a few spare pads so I always have a clean one. I tried other microfiber wash pads on a stick and they all broke at the swivel after a few washes. Tip: wrap the pole with pipe insulation.

https://www.autofiber.com/products/...er Washstik Car Wash,inches with a few twists.

 

[PittsburghTim]

I have used the Montana Boar's Hair brush with a very good (McKees 37) car wash soap. My daily driver here in Pittsburgh is a 2019 Dodge Charger Hellcat in Plum Crazy Pearlcoat. I have not seen any swirling in the 1 and 1/2 years since I took the keys. I emphasize using a high quality soap (not dishwashing detergent like I used when I was a youngster) as it produces and extremely thick foam that will help lift dirt and lubicate the finish as you clean. I'm sure there are other brands that do just as well or better, but the McKees product is the one I have been using since I bought the brush.

Hope this helps,

Tim

PS I always let the brush sit in the soapy water while I clean the wheels so it's good and wet when I start to use it. I believe that the recommended presoak is a few minutes.

 

[M6erfan]

+1 on the Montana boar's hair brush. I've had one going on 20 years and I've washed show cars with it. The trick with the Montana is to use the tips of the hair only, don't bare down on it with a lot of pressure.

 

[tym]

I have a couple of these from Jay Leno's Garage: https://www.lenosgarage.com/collections/all/products/20-griptek-wheel-body-brush.

Very soft; have used it mainly to scrub wheels after hitting them with wheel cleaner.

 

[Willie Makeit]

Its a minivan not a Ferrari...I use a horsehair brush on vehicles, its only removing the road film left behind the foam gun. It wasn't cheap, $50-60 from one of the auto detailing places.

a modern drive thru car wash will do a better job and still not damage it as much as a soft bristle brush. my guess is if someone is using a brush to wash a vehicle then it isn't getting washed more than 2-3 times a year and at $60 for the brush, that will buy at least a couple years worth of washes at the car wash.

 

[will335i]

Its a minivan not a Ferrari...I use a horsehair brush on vehicles, its only removing the road film left behind the foam gun. It wasn't cheap, $50-60 from one of the auto detailing places.

Doesn't mean he can't treat it like one.

I have a lot of products from Chemical Guys and I have always been very happy with their products worth at least taking a look at.

 

[matt_i]

a modern drive thru car wash will do a better job and still not damage it as much as a soft bristle brush. my guess is if someone is using a brush to wash a vehicle then it isn't getting washed more than 2-3 times a year and at $60 for the brush, that will buy at least a couple years worth of washes at the car wash.

Funny I think opposite....the plastic bristles, what I think is pretty heavy pressure, and recycled water all contains grit vs. the boars hair brush that can be shaken out before each soap application on another panel. Also washing from the clean areas down to the wheels as the final area tends to keep the wash bucket cleaner.

 

[atikovi]

I have trouble reaching the center of the roof on many cars. Just get out the stepladder. If you're going to polish or wax, you will need to anyway. I use one of these for washing but not as a mitt.

 

[M6erfan]

a modern drive thru car wash will do a better job and still not damage it as much as a soft bristle brush.

You're kidding, right?

 

[aczr2k]

Yeah if the drive thru car wash gets yours clean it wasn't dirty to begin with. I live on gravel nothing is getting the road film off unless its scrubbed off. I will never go thru a car wash that isn't touch free. I'll add my own scratches... lol

 

[Willie Makeit]

You're kidding, right?

not at all. most modern quality drive-thru washes (not the free ones with a fill up at your local 7-11) use microfiber brushes. I have a 2016 Silverado that goes thru our local drive thru wash about once a week and has since it was new ... I'll give you a fresh new $100 bill if you can find a swirl mark or scratch on it anywhere.

 

[tym]

i will never go thru a car wash that isn't touch free. I'll add my own scratches... Lol

+1000

 

[KAD]

Costco has a great "autoSpa" kit for $20

 

[M6erfan]

not at all. most modern quality drive-thru washes (not the free ones with a fill up at your local 7-11) use microfiber brushes. I have a 2016 Silverado that goes thru our local drive thru wash about once a week and has since it was new ... I'll give you a fresh new $100 bill if you can find a swirl mark or scratch on it anywhere.

So you're saying that a commercial drive through car wash that uses, presumably, high quality microfiber brushes, is more safe than using high quality brushes/mitts yourself, at home?

 

[JR 42]

not at all. most modern quality drive-thru washes (not the free ones with a fill up at your local 7-11) use microfiber brushes. I have a 2016 Silverado that goes thru our local drive thru wash about once a week and has since it was new ... I'll give you a fresh new $100 bill if you can find a swirl mark or scratch on it anywhere.

I'm impressed, that's not been my experience at all. I can't say for certain that the clearcoat scratches on my wife's car are all from the carwashes here, but I've had to pull chunks of microfiber out of the hood and headlight seams more than once, and plastic bristles (? maybe more microfiber, I don't really remember) out of a sideview mirror seam. Most of the microfiber chunks had some dirt stuck to them.

She goes to a local chain that has locations everywhere, and all they do are automated washes. I try to remember to wash my truck every five years at the self- serve joint in our neighborhood...

 

[foodie]

Get the Microfiber Madness Incredipole kite from their website. Works great. I have an SUV and I am only 5’2” female and I can reach my roof.

 

[Danglerb]

I use a flat dreadlock microfiber thing on a pole. Basic trick is to rinse off all the loose dirt, once over lightly with the soapy mop, rinse, go after any still dirty spots by hand.

 

[MarkG]

Doesn't mean he can't treat it like one.

I have a lot of products from Chemical Guys and I have always been very happy with their products worth at least taking a look at.

Exactly! Thanks for the tip.

 

[Ralf11]

So you're saying that a commercial drive through car wash that uses, presumably, high quality microfiber brushes, is more safe than using high quality brushes/mitts yourself, at home?

depends on his degree of neurological damage

it's a minivan, so I wouldn't waste too many $$ on spendy wash tools...

 

[^&right]

I've tried Chemical guy products and was nothing but disappointed. I believe it was the cutting compound and polish. Started buffing paint 35 years ago at a Ford dealership. I'm no SEMA prep pro, but I can run a buffer. I've got 2 barely opened bottles anyone can have for shipping.

 

[Gunfixr]

You mean people wash their vehicles???