The Best Car Wash Mitt

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Ben Thurber
Published on
February 25th, 2019

Expert BioExpert Bio

Ben has over a decade of experience in cleaning projects of all types along the entire eastern seaboard of the United States. Ben’s formal training and certifications in cleaning include the AMRT (Applied Microbial Remediation Technician), WRT (Water restoration technician), CCT (Carpet Cleaning technician), as well as several other certifications from the IICRC. Ben has managed teams involved in cleaning projects around the United States. Ben’s passion for cleaning and leading teams goes back as far as he can remember.

The Cleaning Institute

A car is a pretty significant investment for most folks, and it’s only logical that many of us put some extra effort into taking good care of it. With that in mind, we took a look at car wash mitts, a useful way of maximizing the effectiveness of a car wash with reduced effort and extra TLC. Our testers rated them on quality, ease of use, and affordability, and Relentless Drive Ultimate Car Wash Mitt came out on top. While all of the car wash mitts we tested were made of lush microfiber, the Relentless Drive mitt reflected a higher quality. The affordability of the Chemical Guys Blue Microfiber Wash Mitt earned honorable mention from our testers. And our green pick is the CarCovers Car Wash Mitts, because of its versatility.

Testing Categories

Quality – Our assessment of quality included how well the car wash mitt was assembled. We asked our testers to look at overall form and function, as well as the stitching and whether the colors bled. While no one buys a car wash mitt expecting it to last forever, we certainly do expect to be able to get a few months of regular use out of it. We asked our testers to look over the mitts before and after use.

Ease of Use – A good car wash mitt needs to stand up to ordinary usage and stay functional. We expected the mitts to perform mostly as expected. The absorbency of microfiber car wash mitts in general is well-known. And the gentle friction of the microfiber threads are supposed to lift dirt, grit, and grime while leaving behind a blemish-free clean. The size of the mitts should cover a good-sized area with enough soapy water to get the job done in a timely fashion.

Affordability – We also rated each car wash mitt according to affordability. Car wash mitts are sold individually or in two-packs. While there are people who need only one mitt to wash their car, the two-bucket method is popular and also necessitates having two car wash mitts on hand.

Top Pick

Relentless Drive
Ultimate
Car Wash Mitt

The double-sided microfiber Relentless Drive Ultimate Car Wash Mitt, sold as a two-pack, delivers the absorbent power of a strong, soapy car wash but is gentle enough to avoid scratching paint.

Price Check

Our top recommendation is Relentless Drive’s Ultimate Car Wash Mitt. It comes in a two-pack, which you can use for sharing the work, using one for the paint and one for the wheels, or making sure you always have a clean one to work with. The ample size of the mitt (8" x 11 1/2") fits most hands, although some of our testers felt the mitts ran small, and that if given a choice between large and extra-large, they’d go for the large. The mesh lining makes it easy to get on or off when your hands and the mitt are wet. The mitt holds amgenerous amount of water and suds, lifting away dirt instead of rubbing it into the finish. The large surface area of the mitts resulted in a quick and efficient cleaning. Made of highly absorbent premium chenille microfiber, the double-sided mitt delivers a car wash that’s lint-, scratch-, and swirl-free. It’s an easy-care item that’s machine washable and versatile - a few of our testers remarked at how convenient it made household dusting, too, because it’s soft enough not to damage paint or other surfaces requiring a gentle touch. The company offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Most notable upside: It allows for greater dexterity and control versus a limp rag for more precise washing.

Biggest downsides: The cuff stretches out quickly, and the mitt can feel very heavy after being soaked with water. Some users reported that the color bleeds during the first usage.

5/5
Quality
5/5
Ease of Use
4/5
Affordability

Bottom Line: Affordable and durable, these comfortable, easy-to-wear, double-sided chenille microfiber car wash mitts offer unbeatable absorbency and a soft touch that’s perfect for a blemish-free car wash.

Honorable Mention

Chemical Guys
Blue Microfiber
Wash Mitt

The lined Chemical Guys Blue Microfiber Wash Mitt, sold individually, loosens ordinary road dust and dirt from vehicles’ exterior surfaces with a light touch, leaving a scratch- and swirl-free clean.

Price Check

Honorable mention goes to Chemical Guys MIC497 Blue Microfiber Wash Mitt, sold as a single mitt, which more than a few testers said was unfortunate because they typically used two mitts to wash their vehicles. The machine-washable microfiber mitt measures 8.3 x 12.1, and is double-stitched to an elastic cuff, making it easy to cover a large area in a few strokes. The microfiber fingers aren’t stitched as closely together as they appear to be in other car wash mitts we tested. The absorbent 70/30 blend holds a liberal amount of soapy water and lifts dirt and grime away gently, without scratching or damaging the car’s paint, glass, or plastic. Some users reported that the inside lining isn’t fully attached to the mitt and so the give between the interior and exterior can affect the usage, and others said the cuff separated from the mitt after a few uses. Some users said the mitt left behind tiny fibers after the wash. The mitt becomes very heavy when soaked with water.

Most notable upside: The mitt is also sold in other colors so that you can color code the mitt to the vehicle or project, such as one for paint only and one for tires only.

Biggest downsides: The lining of the mitt moves around inside the glove during usage, making the mitt hard to manipulate.

4/5
Quality
5/5
Ease of Use
3/5
Affordability

Bottom Line: Despite quality issues, this microfiber car wash mitt is an effective way to wash a vehicle with minimal scratches and abrasions. While a two-pack is ideal, the low cost of this mitt earns it honorable mention.

Green Pick

CarCovers
Car Wash
Mitts

CarCovers Car Wash Mitts are two-sided, cuffed, and made of absorbent microfiber designed to leave a lint-free and swirl-free surface. Sold as a pair, they’re one-size-fits-all, and can be machine-washed.

Price Check

The CarCovers car wash mitts are our Green Pick. These double-sided chenille microfiber mitts can be used wet or dry for car care and household tasks, too, as several of our testers suggested. They can be washed in the washing machine, and many testers reported they sailed through the dryer with no problem at all. A little smaller than the others we looked at, these car wash mitts measure 8 x 10” and are sold as one-size-fits-all. They’re packaged as a pair and are fully lined for comfort and durability. Everyone remarked on how soft these mitts felt, and how effective they were at gently removing dust and dirt from the car’s paint. However, a few people remarked that their mitts left some lint behind after a couple of uses, and others had complaints about how quickly the cuff lost elastic.

Most notable upside: None of our testers reported that the color of the mitts bled with ordinary use.

Biggest downsides: There were some construction issues, with threads coming loose after multiple uses.

4/5
Quality
5/5
Ease of Use
4/5
Affordability

Bottom Line: Despite some reports of poor construction, these budget friendly microfiber car wash mitts deliver a satisfactory wash that’s easy on your hands and your vehicle, and right-sized for most users.

All Our Picks

Tips for Effective Car Washing

There are almost as many ways of washing a car as there are cars; however, the two-bucket method is by far one of the most popular. Briefly, one bucket is for soapy water and a second bucket is for clean water. After soaping up the car with water from the first bucket, use water from the second to clean off the suds.

Choosing the right bucket is an important and often-overlooked part of the process. The bucket needs to be big enough to comfortably soak a car wash mitt, sponge, cleaning cloth or rag and agitate it to pick up soapy water or shake free debris. The bucket also needs to be deep enough to hold a sufficient amount of water for the job. Our office always chooses buckets with comfortable handles, since bucketfuls of water are so heavy.

When preparing to wash a vehicle, it’s also important to choose the right soap. It should be strong enough to do the job well but gentle enough to preserve the finish on the paint job. Scent is definitely a consideration, with low-key scents preferred by most of our testers. Some of the stronger car wash soaps are heavily scented and those tend to be best for outdoor car washes.

Other important considerations include choosing a car wash mitt, sponge, cleaning cloth, or rag. While this is largely a matter of preference, the mitt tends to be the most gentle on the car while also delivering a robust amount of soapy water, resulting in an efficient car wash experience.

A thorough car wash typically wraps up with a good washing of the wheels and the glass, as well as a wipe-down of the interior.

A Note About Safety and Storage

Microfiber car wash mitts are generally safe to use, although they should always be inspected for loose threads or small tears that could catch on irregular surfaces. While they are machine washable, microfiber care generally prohibits the use of fabric softener in order to maintain the material’s desired benefits. As with any kind of fabric that’s used wet, be sure the car wash mitts are dry before storing them to avoid mold and mildew growth; otherwise, keeping them stored in a place out of direct sunlight and away from moisture is sufficient.

The Best Car Wash Mitt

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Ben Thurber

The Cleaning Institute

Testing Categories

Relentless Drive
Ultimate
Car Wash Mitt

Quality

Ease of Use

Affordability

Chemical Guys
Blue Microfiber
Wash Mitt

Quality

Ease of Use

Affordability

CarCovers
Car Wash
Mitts

Quality

Ease of Use

Affordability

All Our Picks

Relentless Drive
Ultimate
Car Wash Mitt

Chemical Guys
Blue Microfiber
Wash Mitt

CarCovers
Car Wash
Mitts

Tips for Effective Car Washing

A Note About Safety and Storage

Quick Links

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

The Best Car Wash Mitt

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Ben Thurber

The Cleaning Institute

Testing Categories

Relentless DriveUltimateCar Wash Mitt

Quality

Ease of Use

Affordability

Chemical Guys Blue MicrofiberWash Mitt

Quality

Ease of Use

Affordability

CarCovers Car WashMitts

Quality

Ease of Use

Affordability

All Our Picks

Relentless DriveUltimateCar Wash Mitt

Chemical Guys Blue MicrofiberWash Mitt

CarCovers Car WashMitts

Tips for Effective Car Washing

A Note About Safety and Storage

Quick Links

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Relentless Drive
Ultimate
Car Wash Mitt

Chemical Guys
Blue Microfiber
Wash Mitt

CarCovers
Car Wash
Mitts

Relentless Drive
Ultimate
Car Wash Mitt

Chemical Guys
Blue Microfiber
Wash Mitt

CarCovers
Car Wash
Mitts