Autofiber NEW Stubbie Rinseless Sponge

[Setec Astronomy]

Since Lonnie was trying to threadjack my Wet Glaze thread, I decided to start a new thread. Over on AGO I was discussing this product, in the context of microfiber being like neckties or skirt lengths, or eyeglasses...what was old is new again. The microfiber industry seems to create new needs or new solutions in order to keep us buying microfiber products.

I'd be more interested in the Autofiber "NEW Stubbie Noodle Rinseless Sponge"
What is so unique or good about this "sponge" for rinseless washes?

I would say...not too much. This just seems to be a new iteration to get me...er...Autopians, I mean, to buy more wash media they don't need. Lord knows I don't need any more wash media, and fortunately I resisted this one.

Autofiber seems to have a lot of newer, better microfiber applications for today's detailing products.
Makes me wonder if their microfibers are "better" than The Rag Company's offerings (Autopian Sacrilegious)

I wasn't aware that TRC was the "official" microfiber here...on the contrary, Autofiber has been a staple here since before TRC ever entered the enthusiast detailing market. I guess Ian even used to post here, here's a thread from 2003 that's before I joined in 2004: https://www.autopia.org/threads/new-autofiber-products-detail-glove-and-wash-mitt.67233/

The confusing part is that not too many years after that, Ian retired the Autofiber domain and was selling everything through microfibertech.com. Perhaps because of the TRC competition, a few years ago he resurrected the Autofiber domain, and a couple years ago added superdetail.com. I think because of the behemoth that TRC has become, Ian/Autofiber has had to think outside the box more, in order to stay relevant, which is why they have a lot of innovative products. I don't think the "Stubbie Noodle Rinseless Sponge" is the best example.

[Stubbie Noodle] Microfiber Car Wash Sponge (7.5" x 3.5" x 3") Gray - 1 pack

Stubbie Noodle – Rinseless Wash Sponge The Stubbie Noodle is your go-to sponge for safe, efficient rinseless and soap washes. Designed with short chenille microfiber noodles, it gently agitates and lifts dirt from the surface without scratching. The compact size (7.5" x 3.5" x 3") fits...

www.autofiber.com

 

[Accumulator]

Hey, to each their own/whatever works for ya/etc., etc. (yeah, that's a disclaimer ") ....

I will never understand why some people think that a shorter, thicker nap or bristles ("noodles"?!?) are superior to those with more numerous, finer fibers. The shortcomings of such wash media are so obvious that I felt silly after I bought some to see if I were somehow missing something (no, I wasn't). I can see one application: aggressive cleaning when extreme scrubbing is called for and marring is not a consideration.

OK, "personal preference". I myself prefer wash media so gentle that it takes numerous passes to get things clean, each of those passes being far too gentle to result in marring.

 

[Lonnie]

So it is like a flat noodle pad, but with sides?

I have a noodle hand mitt that I've used for the last four years and it has held up well.
But it might be time to find a small noodle mitt/pad just because smaller noodles "reach" better into cracks or seams.
There has to be a happy medium or "sweet spot" of how big or small a microfiber noodle should be for the best cleaning.
Maybe like Microfiber Madness's Deli Pad ?? (More Autopia sacrilege. And no, The Rag Company is NOT the "official" Autopia microfiber brand/supplier despite my unintended implication because of its numerous mentions of its products within this forum.)

 

[Setec Astronomy]

So it is like a flat noodle pad, but with sides?
But it might be time to find a small noodle mitt/pad just because smaller noodles "reach" better into cracks or seams.

The noodle sponges I have all have terry MF on the back, and don't really seem to have "sides". This one seems to have 4 sides (or 6, for you geometry purists). I don't think the noodles are smaller, just stubbier, and I wouldn't call it "small", it's 7.5" x 3.5" x 3".

If it has seemed I'm boosting this product, I'm not, I see it as part of the "circular sales model" of the detailing microfiber industry, where you push a style of something until it doesn't sell anymore, then you push another style, etc., until you wind up back at the first one again. As I mentioned in my OP, like neckties, or other fashions.

 

[Lonnie]

Setec:
1) Do you have ANY microfibers from AutoFiber?
2) How do they compare to other microfiber manufacturer's types in terms of performance for a detailing task?

Me, I have some Griot's Garage's microfibers and The Rag Company's, plus a (singular) CarPro Blue and an orange finger applicator microfiber that was gifted to me by a very generous Autopian. (CarPro's are very nice!)

I hope that other Autopian do not view our reply banter back-and-forth as getting to be own "personal" detailing chat forum.
Like I said elsewhere in another topic, I am just happy when SOMEONE replies to thread topics within this forum.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Setec:
1) Do you have ANY microfibers from AutoFiber?
2) How do they compare to other microfiber manufacturer's types in terms of performance for a detailing task?

Sure, I've been buying from Autofiber/MFT since probably 2004 when I joined here. I have way too many MF towels, from way too many places. I have Autofiber, TRC, Duragloss, Zaino, Sonus, Cobra, Target, Walmart, I have a Microfiber Madness Incredi...something, pad, sponge, something, and others from places I can't even remember...wait, Excel Detail (where are you, Patrick?). Recently I tried some Microfiber Wholesale towels for house cleaning.

Autofiber has always been a good product.

 

[wannafbody]

The nicest low nap MF I have I found at OReilly's.

 

[Dan]

Hey, to each their own/whatever works for ya/etc., etc. (yeah, that's a disclaimer ") ....

I will never understand why some people think that a shorter, thicker nap or bristles ("noodles"?!?) are superior to those with more numerous, finer fibers. The shortcomings of such wash media are so obvious that I felt silly after I bought some to see if I were somehow missing something (no, I wasn't). I can see one application: aggressive cleaning when extreme scrubbing is called for and marring is not a consideration.

OK, "personal preference". I myself prefer wash media so gentle that it takes numerous passes to get things clean, each of those passes being far too gentle to result in marring.

The advantage to the noodles vs fibers is the noodles still get into most crevices but don't suffer the issue of the fibers getting caught in things. I ran out of noodles a little while ago and used an older fiber mit, didn't enjoy that, had a few tufts of fur sticking out of wiper blades and something else. Personal observations, as long as you adequately rinse your car off, your wash media really doesn't play much into swirling. I've used wool, sponges, noodles and probably a few other things. Same results, no scratching, though I don't have any cars with super soft paint.

 

[Accumulator]

Dan- Just goes to show how experiences can differ what with all the variables. I don't have issues with snagging when I use MF (only with wool), but for me, using the right media (in the right way and in the right sequence) is critical to avoid marring.