Does the grit gaurd only work if its sitting flush on the bottom of the bucket??

 

It should be stuck on the bottom.

 

The point is to keep your mitt out of the grit that settles at the bottom of your bucket. As long as it's doing that, it "works".

If the grit guard isn't resting at the very bottom that just means that you can't as effectively use all the soapy water.

 

If you rinse your wash mitt with the hose before you put it into your wash bucket every time you will not get any grit in the bucket and will not need a grit guard

If my wash bucket water is not grit free and as clean after I've washed the car as it was when I started I look for cat's to kick

 

i thought the gg is used to wipe the mitt to release dirt in the rinse water

no need for it to sit tight on the bottom BUT me any my buddy were talking about this today - i guess you could tie a fishing weight to hold it down or just super glue it into the bucket

 

If it doesn't settle in to the bottom of the bucket... just give it a good stomp to wedge it in. That is what I did with mine and a Home Depot 5 gallon bucket and its been good for a few years.