Washing Microfiber Polishing Cloths - Laundry

[Ryan]

Washing Microfiber Polishing Cloths - Laundry (http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11619)

What is the best way to care for microfiber cloths and towels between usage?

I've heard people say not to use powdered detergents, or not to dry towels, etc. My mother said that fabric softener in the dryer will prevent the towels from absorbing as much water, so I don't use them anymore (this has proved true).

I've used warm water washes with liquid detergent and then dried everything without a softening sheet so far, but was wondering if this was the best way.

I searched around before making this post and didn't really find an answer to my question, so if someone can point me in the right direction, I'd appreciate it. :)

[EricM535i]

My mom just washed my towel @ 40 degrees :xyxthumbs

Clean and static like a new one :cool:

[Lt1Corvette]

First off fabric softener is bad! Just cold water wash them on a gentle cycle using a light cleaner. I usually use woolite as I have a lot of it lying around. Then I hang dry mine.

[PaintPolisher]

Ryan - What is the best way to care for microfiber cloths and towels between usage?

I roll my towels up and store them in a plastic, 16 quart see thru container with lid. Target has these for maybe $6 or $7 bucks each. On the underside of the lid snap off the [4] four tabs that lock the top to the bottom. This little detail lets air circulate through the container letting in only the macro dust particles which I do not believe makes a hill of difference to the performance of the towels. I can always see my available stock of towels and the lid comes off easily enough now. I purchased a second container of the same size that I nest below container 1 that holds my clean towels and use this 2nd container as my used/dirty towel bin at my detail site and this really helps me keep a tidy work area.

Here is what I have been doing concerning washing and drying MF products and my PC pads.

I have been washing MF and Pads in the washing machine together.
I use Tide HE liquid, setting washer to:
Fabric - Delicate
Wash/Rinse – Cold/Cold
Options – Max Extract & Extra Rinse
Dial set to Heavy Stains.
Dryer:
Temp - Delicate & Less Dry
I wash & dry pads and MF together with no unfortunate effects to either product. My wife was kind enough to borrow me an old delicates bag that is mesh with zipper to contain the pads in the dryer. Pickup at supermarket in the soap section.
I use 80/20 [light blue color] for light to heavy cleaning and 70/30 [bright green color] for all the fine work. All bonnets are 80/20.

I store pads in a Home Depot WorkForce plastic tool box that sells for $6 bucks.

As you may have guessed I have really done my research on these products and am sharing my knowledge and what works for me with all who are interested because I like to share and who wants to reinvent the wheel so to speak. I hope this help everybody out. Later

[DFTowel]

Originally posted by Lt1Corvette
First off fabric softener is bad! Just cold water wash them on a gentle cycle using a light cleaner. I usually use woolite as I have a lot of it lying around. Then I hang dry mine.

You are doing everything wrong my friend. First of all use hot water, regular cycle, your towels won't melt or fall apart believe me. Woolite and gentle cycle is for delicate fabrics and won't clean as well as regular liquid detergents such as All or Era. Drying: if the towel is natural like cotton then hot air, if polyester then warm air or line dry.

And yes, fabric softener and dryer sheets are bad as they are coating your towels with silicone. Use a little distilled white vinegar in the final rinse cycle which will help remove any excess detergent and soften your towels naturally.

To store the towel just keep them in a plastic bin or bag but avoid one that is totally air tight, you want some air circulation to avoid mildew and rit.

[Setec Astronomy]

Um...for those of you that are disagreeing a bit on water temp, type of detergent, etc., let me point out that less agressive washing techniques may work fine depending on the soil. I will of course defer to DFTowel who is the textile expert, but discounting drying and glass towels, which I keep separate, my bucket of dirty MF's might be soiled with everything from abrasive polishes to chemical cleaners to interior cleaners to dressings to cleaner waxes to polymer sealants to paste waxes to various types of QD's. Some have pronounced odors (#40 is particularly difficult to get out).

My observation is that there is such a range of difficulty in removing those soils, that both of you may be right. Of course, if you have a mixed load, you need to use the most agressive approach to make sure you get everything clean.

[DFTowel]

Well here is the thing about using hot water... hot water simply cleans better, period.

Look at it this way, waxes and polishes as well as most all the chemicals and cleaners and degreasers we use on our vehicles are not water soluble. If polish and wax were water soluble they would rinse off on the first rainy day and offer no protection.

Since they are not water soluble try to picture these waxes, polishes, etc, adhered in a dried state to the fibers of your towels. Now cold water will simply allow them to remain in a solid state and not completely wash off. Hot water, however, allows them to soften and loosen from the threads and allows the detergent to act as it should and lift the contaminants from the fabric.

It's not rocket science guys, it's laundry!

[Setec Astronomy]

I agree, DF...that's why I use hot. I also have had some colors bleed on the first washing and turn everything pink or light blue. I'm was just pointing out that the gentleman who washes in cold with Woolite may be getting his stuff clean depending on what's on the towel.

[Ryan]

Thanks! This was exactly what I was looking for. I never thought about sticking my PC pads in the washer, either; it's good to know it's safe. :)

[Newport Viper]

Originally posted by Ryan
Thanks! This was exactly what I was looking for. I never thought about sticking my PC pads in the washer, either; it's good to know it's safe. :)


I wouldn't stick pads in the wash.....

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4065&highlight=Dont+make+this

[Tim Lingor]

Originally posted by Ryan
Thanks! This was exactly what I was looking for. I never thought about sticking my PC pads in the washer, either; it's good to know it's safe. :)

Hey,

Just to chime in...

Meguiar's does not recommend the washing of the PC pads as it may loosen the velcro.

Please refer to the link that Newport Viper provided previously.

Tim

[Lt1Corvette]

I have washed several of my polishing pads roughly twenty five times and they are still holding up well. Regular detergent, cool water, and gentle cycle. Once the cycle is done I run rinse cycle one more time. Just as a note, I only do this with pads used to apply polishes not waxes.

[mikehn]

I wash by hand in hot water in the utility tub using whatever laundry detergent we have at the time. Hang dry afterwards

[sneek]

mikehn, do you mean pads or M/Fs i am not sure you want to wash your pads in warm water

[KBzPTGT]

To wash, I hand wash only in warm :xyxthumbs

to dry, I hang my pads on end using a strip of Velcro. Even on a windy day on the clothes line. No way they're falling off using that stuff :xyxthumbs

[sneek]

i am very interested in buying something that Richard has a tiny wash machine thingie

http://www.showcargarage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=185

[RZ Autodetailing]

i usually go the the laudramat once a month..and use hot water and woolite..iam just scared to use my own washer and dryer , i just dont wanna mess up my clothes or the w/d...has anyone had any problem with their clothes ever messing up?I also saw that little wash thing Richard showed on showcargarage,,that looks pretty cool..if i had it i wouldnt have to make a trip once a month.......cool write up Richard iam thinking of getting one myself.

[OctaneGuy]

Heh heh thanks guys. I didn't post that article here on MOL because of Meguiars stance on washing pads, but now that the cat is out of the bag......

I don't think proper washing has a detrimental effect. Think about it, whether you use a wax or polish, the pads get wet. Actually they get soaked with product. And worse, they are under stress (clinging to the velcro backing plate) while being soaked. I've never gotten my pads as thoroughly clean with a brush or a towel versus washing them properly.

But what exactly is washing? Is that throwing the pad into a big machine washer, running it on hot water, then letting it spin dry?? Or is it putting it in the sink and carefully hand washing it? By definition they are the same thing, but it seems those that are hand washing continue to have good results and I'm in that camp.

The little washer I have gently swishes the water around. With only one pad, it just floats on the surface. With up to six pads, they kind of get wedged in place, and the water circulates in both directions. You can see immediately how clean the pads get once the cycle begins.

After the 15 minutes is up, and the water drained, you will see quite a bit of "sludge" product at the bottom. Imagine where this all goes in your home washer? I rinse it off, fill it with clean water and run the cycle again to remove all traces of detergent, then air dry. Or spin dry on a rotary. The Wonder Washer is in my opinion the best solution for keeping the pads new and fresh. Its inexpensive, uses minimal water and electricity, but most of all its very effective while at the same time being very gentle.

Anyone in the SoCal area that's interested in seeing mine, I will be happy to show you. =)

Richard

[RZ Autodetailing]

Richard how does it work on m/f towels..did you try washing them yet? That little washer looks great ,iam really thinking about geting one.

[OctaneGuy]

Washing MFs work very well. I washed the dirtiest of them..using for my wheels. Washed in hot water with laundry detergent. After washing and rinsing, I just air dried it on a clothesline.

I think it works best for pads, esp since I have a full load of MF towels, but for those that down own many, its also great for that.

[RCBuddha]

I wash my MF in hot water using Charlie's Soap Laundry Liquid and a downy ball filled with Vinegar. I set the dryer to low, and I pull mine out when they are just slightly damp. I've read that an extra rinse cycle is beneficial, though I have never had a problem with my current method.

FWIW, I've found no significant differences in performance b/w MF specific detergents and off the shelf brands.

I always take mine to the laundromat; it is much easier to do a lot of MF in a short amount of time.

I agree with RZ...do you really want detailing chemicals to run through the same machine as the clothes you wear? The same machines that your kid's clothes run through?

To clean my pads, I wash them in a bucket that sits in a utility sink with hot water, an APC, and a little bit of Dawn. Get them wet, carefully massage the product out, and then rinse several times till the water goes clear.

[SpoiledMan]

I use my washer and dryer at home and have no problems. My son has very sensitive skin and would show any problems right away. As long as your equipment is functioning as it should (rinsing properly) there shouldn't be a problem. If the towels I'm washing are on the dirty side, I spray down the interior of the washer with APC, clean it up real good and run it through a short cycle with nothing in it.

[inthedetails]

Just another voice from the forest, I also wash my MF in hot water, although I do use woolite on them. (Also a small splash of APC). The vinegar I need to try, but always forget.

As for my pads, I have always used the bucket and dawn method.

Wash em, soak em, rinse em....and in that time have have velcro on 1 pad delaminate. I think it was that pad however, as I have another of the same manufacture and style and it has been washed with no issues. I have washed pads of 3 different manufacturers, with great success. I have not and do not plan on ever using my washing machine for my pads. But that is just my opinion.

[rhema83]

I wash my MF towels and applicators with Ajax dishwashing detergent and warm water in a bucket. It works VERY well. You see, dishwashing detergent is bad for your paint because it strips off protection (i.e. wax). Therefore it's good for cleaning wax and other product buildups on your MF towels and applicators.

But it does take some elbow grease. My roommate thinks I'm crazy cos I'll spend half an hour in the bathroom washing the MF stuff.

[LAfirefytr]

I too use AJAX and warm/hot H2O. I agitate them and then let them soak in this solution for 1/2-1 day before I wash them in machine. It may be overkill, but I've had some towels now for almost 6 months and they still look new...I has worked well for me. If they are really dirty, I will pretreat them w/ some APC and let it soak in for a while before washing.

[rascal]

Great discussion guys. I'm taking all this in since I just received my MF towels today. I'm planning on using my new clay kit this weekend and putting the MF through it's paces on the interior. Now I just need to get that PC. :xyxthumbs

[CELL]

For MF's, applicator pads, wash mits, quick detailer pads, and terry cloths...ive had great experience by spraying them down once on the front and back with APC dilluted to 10:1 and then throwing them in a gentle warm wash using "All" free/clear.
Just make sure you dont wash terry cloth towels and wash mits with MF products or else youll have fuzzy from the terry products sticking to the MF stuff.
http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/6572DSC00487.JPG

:xyxthumbs

[scarface_]

I was wondering the same thing with the microfiber towels. Seems throwing them in the wash machine with a detergent with no fabric softner is the key. But one question. What about the even coat applicators and the hi tech applicators. Do i just throw them in also? Because i tryed washing one even coat applicator in a bucket with detergent and it came all out of shape. :(

[BabyBigfoot]

I've been washing my MF towels by themselves in warm/hot water (depending on the soil) with regular detergent and no fabric softner. I dry them without a dryer sheet. No problems, but I love the distilled vinegar tip. Thanks.

[KenNETx]

Any good quality laundry detergent and 1 cup of non-sudsing ammonia with warm water in a standard home washer rocks.
Use dryer on "KNIT" setting.
Will be no residue in aplicators, towels, pads, or washer/dryer.
NO! NO! NO! fabric softner. Will end up rubbed into finish.
Enjoy!

[Frozenfire]

I just put my microfiber towels in the washer with the rest of my colored things, and then in the dryer. I don't see any ill effects.

[Asaf]

I live in a warm climate so I scrub with a soft brush by hand then hang dry. Works like a charm and comes out brand new each time.

[italian49er2010]

I am hearing all of this information about washing the pads that have velcro on them. I just use the small Gold Class applicator pads that do not go on a buffer or rotary and that are used by hand. They don't have any velcro on them. Is there a difference on how to wash these? I plan on using the same thing that Richard used, the Wonder Washer.

I also plan to use that machince with the microfibers that I have, since I have less than 10 of them.

[SL1CK]

I usually wash my hi-tech applicator pads (the ones with no velcro) under the sink with regular handsoap and hot water (to take off wax/polish). It works REALLY REALLY good and they are still holding up perfect. I NEVER wring them, I let them soak up hot water and SQUEEZE really good and you can just see the wax pouring out. Then I keep squeezing to let ALL the water out and finally I let them air dry. Good as new.

p.s. and by handsoap I don't mean the soap bars like Dove and Caress, I mean the soap you push down on the top and get from the small container...

[Sergei]

This topic came up in another forum. I am reposting here since the topic came up.
===============================
I separate my towels into 3 categories:
- Terry cloth
- MF for paint
- MF for wheels, underbody

I never, ever co-mingle any of the above when washing. The terry cotton occasionally will shed lint which will get trapped into the MF fibers. So the terry's get their separate treatment; hot wash, liquid detergent, mixed with simple green - no bleach or fabric softener. I throw those in the dryer.

The MF's used for paint - warm/cold wash, liquid detergent, SG & distilled vinegar. I just air dry them. I don't want my MF's in the dryer due to the potential of picking up lint from the dryer.

The MF's for underbody and wheels - I always presoak in a bucket of SG prior to washing. Those towels typically need an extra dose of SG for the degreasing affect. I let it presoak for at least 1/2 day. After pre-soak, I wash them like my MF paints above. Air dry as well.

On another note I like to batch up my washes so I have special containers to hold towels prior to washing. Prior to washing, I store the dirty MF's in separate containers for MF paint towels and underbody(with lids - to eliminate any dirt falling into the container) so that further cross contamination is eliminated. The main reason is I want my MF's for paint to last as long as possible and without fear of having any grit inside those fibers. It's anal, but I just want to do anything it takes to eliminate any kind of swirls coming from my towels - either from bad wiping techniques or, cross contamination.

On a final note, I store each towel (terry, MF paint, MF underbody) in their separate plastic baggie. The terry cloth require larger zip lock bags - Hefty makes a 10 gallon bag so I store like 3 towels in there. Squeeze out the air, and store them on the shelve ready for the next wash.

For the MF's, I just use regular hefty 1 gallon zip lock bags with the pulls. I keep the MF paint towels separated as well as the underbody. I mark the underbody bags with a sharpie pen on the outside label.

Now you will know I am full on nuts. I separate my good MF paints - WW's are in a separate bag, QD towels separate, Polish MF's separate, etc. I take all those bags and store them in a clear plastic container. So when I wash, I get my chemicals, grit guard bucket, mitts and pull out my clear plastic containers with WW's and Terry's. I can do it blind, because I know I store my containers in the same place.

I am starting to ramble, but I do the same procedure for my buffing pads. Each pad get a baggie and stored in a plastic container. So that when a buffing day comes along, I pull out the PC, the container with buffing pads, container with the buffing chemicals and the MF towel container.

And then there are the brushes...never mind you get my point. I am a sick person... :-)

[TrufflePig aka Calogero]

i also seperate my towels.

1.Paint and body
2. Wheels
3. Terry Towels
4. Glass
5. Drying Towels

i,after use, soak my MF in bucket with all purpose cleaner (diluted i believe 10:1) and then use Tide (High Effi.) on cold. everytime, brand new.

soaking time varies depening on towel.

never had a problem yet. come out nice and clean and static.

[HagFan]

Apparently I'm uniuque. In my household I'm the expert at a number of things, and laundry isn't one of them.:)

I just turn that stuff over to the "expert" with the added caution not to use softener on any of them. I pre-wash the pads by hand and she finishes the job in a delecates bag or the mini-basket.

I throw them in dirty and receive them back clean and folded. She doesn't give a hoot about running my machine(s), nor I hers. On the other hand, we each greatly appreciate the other's results. :)

[TuffPoo]

well to wash my MF towels I take the laundry soap ONLY and scrub the bad areas with a soft tooth brush next I have a soak cycle on my washer so I soak them on the hottest temperature setting Next I Wash soap ONLY on the hottest Temperature setting and it spins them damp I repeat that soaking and scrubbing cycle as necessary.

After the towels look like new I wash but instead of soap I use distilled white vinegar where the soap goes. I do that because the vinegar removes left over suds


After the washer spins them the come out damp and static

Next I take a damp cloth and give the inside of the dryer a once over to get left over lint or whatever. Then I Time dry about 45 minutes with the hottest setting and TA DA! there new!

Takes about 3 hours! Thats pretty much what i do and they look new every time!

[Spdfrk1990]

Good tips guys I justed washed some microfiber towels on warm. I did use a dryer sheet so now I may rewash them cause im worried. They also did not get perfectly clean.

[TuffPoo]

no DRYER SHEETS you might have to rewash using my way to get that stuff out of the towel because of the dryer sheet :bigups

[Mike Phillips]

***Moved to Hot Topics***

[J. A. Michaels]

For my use its like this. Anything microfiber same load. Home wash machine. Pretreat with shout spray. Wash gentle cycle with all free. Terry's single load. Same process. G100 pads seperate load. To dry these items seperate loads of course. No sheets,low heat. However I will not place in my dryer my g100 pads. I just place them on top of the dryer and after each load just flip them. After each of these loads I take a clorax wipe and wipe down the inside of the wash drum. This keeps everyone happy.

[mongo]

this Wonder Washer looks interesting very matter of fact :woot2

[cafemoc]

I found local store selling "Wonder Washer" for $32+tax.
I don't know if its worth to buy one :rolleyes:

[mpbsystem]

I don't use any normal detergents or laundry soap. I wash my microfibers seperately from everything else that would go into the washing machine. I use one of the products below. They work great for me! Try them as they are designed specifically for cleaning Microfiber towels!

I use one of two products called: (One Comes in 2 Sizes)
- Micro-Restore - 32 Oz. - $14.99
- Micro-Restore - 128 Oz. - $35.00
- Pinnacle Micro Rejunvenator -16 Oz. - $14.99

The Prices are from Autogeek.com

[AJ C-Burg]

I use the cheapest all natural fragrance free, dye free, softner free... no nothing! I use the regular cycle hot/cold 60 min. to wash. I trow em in the dryer. NO softner sheet! I still have some of the same micros from four years ago.

[Honda Fit]

Just threw mine into the washer in a laundry bag. Hot/Warm - Delicate with some ALL detergent. Planning on hang drying them. Hope they turn out okay!!

[craig7022]

For a couple of years now i've just thrown my MF in the washer on a 60/95 degree wash with no softener and a tiny bit of powder in the machine on a 1200 spin and then line dried and they come out great but might try the vineger idea I never thought of that. :nervous1:xyxthumbs

[roushstage2]

Wash hot with some APC and a bit of detergent. Rinse initially with some vinegar and keep rinsing until there is no more soap floating at the top (shouldn't really be any unless you used too much soap). Put in the drier and dry.