WhooHoo!

Well I thought all was lost with the great 100% cotton Viking mitts. These are the ones that everyone used at one point because they're known for not scratching or swirling. Noone seemed to carry them any longer, even though I've looked everywhere. The NAPA mitts just didn't perform to my liking either. But, the good news is that I've found the REAL deal Viking mitts again that everyone likes! I bought 2 of the 3 that they had on the shelf!

The lighting makes them look kinda yellowed, but they are pure white. Here are the two I just bought: Note the cotton logo and 100% cotton labeling...
http://mls1.homestead.com/files/DCP_0001_8.JPG

We just had a new O'Reilly's Auto Parts store go in a few miles away and they carry them!! The mitts are $3.39 a piece so that's a great deal! They've actually got some good stuff that's hard to find, like Lexol leather products, claybars, etc...

If you have this store in town check it out!! The Vikings are back!!!

Mike

 

Does it say "100% cotton" on the packaging. The older Viking mitts that actually were 100% cotton did state that. Then they went to the chennille, wich isn't 100% cotton. You lucked out if you found some of the old ones.

I really like the 100% cotton NAPA mitts I've bought, no problems at all.

 

Hey Kevin, check out the link to the pic I posted. Those are the two I just bought and they state 100% with the little cotton emblem, like the originals. They aren't those fake "Chenille" mitts that most all stores went to. I don't think it was old stock either, they were brand new on the shelf. I'm gonna keep checking the store and buy as many as I can lol....

Every time I went to NAPA and looked at their mitts I could see those little tiny black seeds on every mitt. I believe this was what caused my problems long before, so I just don't trust them any more. Glad they work for you though!

 

I haven't seen any seeds on my NAPA cotton mitts. But I hope Viking is making the true 100% cotton mitts again, that would be great.

I haven't seen any around here in a LONG time.

 

What is better about the Viking mitts over the Napa mitts?

 

They are both basically the same except that Mike gets seeds in his????

100% cotton is 100% cotton

 

Unfortuantely it's true. The NAPA one I bought long ago had the tiny black seeds and every time I go back I can see them in those too. Maybe it's a local thing? It's really a shame, because I think this mitt would work fine if it weren't for the seeds.

AFAIK, The Napa mitt and the Viking are both 100% cotton and made in the USA according to teh packaging. Nearly every store bought mitt is some crappy blend of cotton and poly which will scratch. What made the Viking special was it was one of the rare 100% cotton-only mitts that are very gentle and don't scratch or marr. When the stores took them off the shelves for the cheaper Viking mitt, it was really hard to find a decent mitt. If your NAPA mitts look fine, use those. I'm guessing it must be a local thing or different quality production runs. It's hard to beat the Viking though!

 

I stocked up at O'Reileys a few months ago. Bought every one they had! I was getting worried though!

 

Is there a website that sells the Viking mitts?

(I assume not, since everyone gets so happy when they find them )

 

Not that I'm aware of Darth. I do remember one individual who had an ecommerce site selling them and the Klasse products, but I never ordered from him. I've never seen them sold online at any credible retailer though. In fact, I never could even find a Viking website, don't think they even have one. You can buy other mitts as good or probably better than the Viking from some sites, but I never wanted to go to the trouble of ordering just mitts online unless I were going to order more stuff too. I've been holding out hope that I'd find these mitts again so I wouldn't have to special order any. I've been using my current Viking mitt for quite a while, so these new ones came at just the right time.

There's really nothing special about them I guess, other than the fact that they are all cotton. They just used to be a good mitts you could count on being on the shelf when you needed more. I'm glad to see them return because using a blend mitt was out of the question for me. I'd use my Viking until it's ragged before I swirl up the car with the others.

 

Ya, I've just been using a 100% USA cotton white hand towel to wash with... kind of clumsy, so the Viking mitt sounds perfect.

Maybe I'll have to cruise around and hit the local auto part and department stores to see if I can find them...

I take it there are good Viking mitts and bad Viking mitts from the way it sounds? I should just look for the ones that say 100% cotton then??

 

Yup, definitely keep a sharp eye if you browse the mitts while you're out shopping. The other Viking mitts just say "Chenille" and it does not have the cotton logo on the bottom left of the package like the real thing, nor do they say 100% cotton. The "Chenille" is a blend like nearly every thing else out there locally. But, they were cheaper too, so I guess the theory was that 99% of customers wouldn't care if it were all cotton or whatever else so they could sell more at the cheaper price. Nearly all detailing supplies sold locally here are el cheapo. The ones, like many of us, who actually do care and are willing to pay to get greater quality got the axe. Anyway, yeah, just look for the cotton logo and 100% cotton, made in USA packaging and it's the real thing. I believe the Chenille version has some bubbles or something like that for the logo where the cotton logo is located on the real ones.

I know some that use a good cotton towel to wash as well, nothing wrong in doing so. I probably would as well, but I like the little thicker nap on the mitt when it's picking up dirt. If you don't mind paying an arm and leg for a wash mitt online, you can get some good quality items from places like CMA or Griot's Garage. Personally, I like to keep from ordering things like this online if I can get something as good locally...

 

Thanks for the info... I'll start paying attention when I am out and about. I'll let you know if I am able to find anything!!

 

Mike, I think your putting the "seeds" in the mitts I just got 5 cases of NAPA mitts and found no seeds, maybe I should complain. Well at least your not smoking the seeds....well I hope not

 

Try planting the seeds and see if new Wash Mitts grow!!