The DIY Detail Legacy Sponge: A Safe Scrub for a Spotless Ride?
by Reece @ DI
Washing your vehicle can be a chore, especially if you are worried about scratching the paint or inducing swirls and scratches during the wash process. The DIY Detail Legacy Sponge promises to be gentle, yet effective. But is it all it is cracked up to be? Let us take a deep dive.
Claimed Benefits:
- Scratch-free washing: The Legacy Sponge boasts a super soft design that minimizes the risk of swirls and scratches during the wash process, even for delicate finishes.
- Rinseless washing: This sponge works great during standard bucket washes, paired with a foam Cannon, or even during a rinseless washing setup.
- Holds more suds: The thick profile of the Legacy Sponge promises to retain more wash solution and suds, allowing you to clean larger areas without constantly dunking it back in the bucket.
- Easy to use: The ergonomic design and large size make the Legacy Sponge comfortable to hold and maneuver for a more efficient washing experience.
Living Up to the Hype?
- Scratch-free champion: The Legacy Sponge feels incredibly soft in your hand and gentle on paintwork when you are swiping it on the panel. This reduces the risk of inflicting swirls or scratches during the washing process and while it soaks up dirt and grime, it releases it just as easily against a Grit Guard.
- Rinseless wash winner: The sponges high absorbency makes it ideal for rinseless washes. It holds a good amount of wash solution, allowing you to clean a significant portion of your car without needing to constantly dunk back into your wash bucket.
- Sudsy satisfaction: The Legacy Sponges ability to retain suds is a plus. You can clean a larger area without the sponge drying out or needing to be re-saturated with wash solution as often.
- Ergonomic design: The large size and design do make the sponge comfortable to grip and handle, reducing fatigue during washing.
Are There Any Drawbacks?
- Double-sided dilemma: While the two-sided design allows you to keep track of a clean side, it can be cumbersome to constantly flip when dealing with the fear of contamination transfer.
- Sponge or Mitt: While wash sponges are great, wash mitts can often release contamination easier while being much easier to hold and maneuver.
The Verdict: Wash Day Winner?
After use, The DIY Detail Legacy Sponge is a solid choice for car enthusiasts who prioritize a scratch-free washing experience, especially when using rinseless wash solutions. It has a high absorbency and comfortable design that makes the washing process more efficient, while being an easier to hold than many other wash sponges.
Hey Reece – thanks for another blog article @DI. Have you used the Ultra Black Sponge and if so how would you compare them? I bought the UBS a few months ago (from DI of course!) and used it on my Mini Cooper S doing a rinseless wash. A little learning curve compared to the usual chenille/MF wash mitts/pads I have, and I agree with your usage assessments above. However, I guess I’m not a fan of (UBS) sponges! After doing a number of panels and looking with an inspection light there still seemed to be a film on the panel.. Grabbed my chenille mitt and redid the panels and the rest of the car and bam – nice and clean. Maybe more pressure is needed with sponges? but that is counter-intuitive to me especially trying to avoid micro marring during a rinseless wash. Thoughts?
David – I have used the Ultra Black Sponge as well. This sponge is great, but the main difference I found is that the DIY sponge feels a little stiffer in the middle and the shape is different. The Ultra Black is easier to hold for myself, but both do a fantastic job of holding shampoo and sucking up dirt and grime. I tend to like sponges as they hold more shampoo, keeping the panel wet longer as they slowly release it during the wash process, which is why they work so well with rinseless washes. But I do agree, wash mitts offer a smaller chance of adding imperfections into the paint. In my experience this is due to sponges holding dirt and grime more firmly, requiring a more rigorous rub on your grit guard to release. From there, certain mitts can be a nice microfiber or natural lambs wool material that is softer overall.
I don’t trust the sponge technique im avoiding to contact wash my vehicle as much as I can