CHASLS2

Whats the best way to care for and wash micro fiber towels?

I just bought some blue Microtex towels from Walmart.

John Ulrich

Here's a link using "search"
JU
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ing+microfiber

User 020720

Some will recommend using a Microfiber detergent but IMO they're just simple degreasers. If you clean them frequently or after each use when they get soiled they'll last much longer.

I wash mine with Tide Free liquid in cold water by themselves and then dry them on low heat without any fabric softener. Fabric softener is bad because it can transfer onto your paint.

GaryZ06

I use Woolite

ZaneO

Caring for Mitts and Towels

- Wash on the Hot/Cold setting
- Use liquid detergent only w/ no bleach and NO fabric softener
- Add distilled white vinegar to the rinse cycle for added softness and soil release
- Rinse twice
- Dry towels on low heat w/ no fabric sheets

0Killrwheels@Autogeek

actually there is quite a bit more to specific soaps to clean MF, and why others using just soap finding the need to use vinegar in order to release the soil properly.

Fabric softner is bad, not only because of transfer but it actually makes towels (all) less absorbent.

CHASLS2

Thanks guys!

Seems there is more ways to wash a micro fiber towel than there is to skin a cat.

User 020720

Interesting, I've never needed to add vinegar when I wash my MF towels. I'm not sure what most consider heavily soiled but I've seen mine get pretty filthy with brake dust and road grime and they clean up nicely. I only have one type of MF though and they're the blue plush ones from Adam's minus two waffle-weaves which I only use for drying so they rarely get that dirty. I've noticed the cheaper MF towels I used to have 'looked' dirty even after frequent washings.

I might have to experiment with drying my bath towels now without fabric sheets. What's the general consensus around here, do they cause additional wear or ruin the absorbency of bath towels too? I hate drying clothes without a dryer sheet because they help with static cling and around here it gets really dry this time of year. They also make the fabrics a lot softer. Maybe this is a question for one of the homemaker forums.

Grzldvt

The vinegar is a natural water softener and releases mineral content that builds up in the towels. The wash/dry cycle with non-softened water will cause the minerals in the water to attach themselves to the nap on the dry cycle.
Because microfiber is so fine it has a tendency to hold more material and the looser weaves like cotton.
It is not anything you will actually see, but over time enough will build up to cause swirls in your paint..
My water here in San Jose is so hard I have to put vinegar in the rinse cycle every other wash. Otherwise I start getting more swirls than I would normally get....

Fabric softener contains oils that make the fabric feel soft. That clogs the nap of the towel reducing its ability to absorb water. Microfibers being so fine absorb more softener than cotton towels. Also, if it is heavy enough; a large amount of liquid softener, that oil will transfer to the paint and attract dust.

mvcrash

I use the stuff from Autogeek and then dry them on a line a strung across my garage. They come out very clean and soft that way.

C8-Vette

Tom/99

I wash mine in laundry detergent after every use.

User 020720

I do too. After almost a year two of my Adam's towels are starting to lose their softness but I'm going to add some vinegar and see what happens.

If not they'll be given wheel cleaning duty. They're still pretty soft, just not as soft as the brand new ones.

GSjimbo

I've been using Dawn and the MF rejuvinator from the Geek. I only use my towels on painted surfaces for polish removal and detail spray wipe. I dry by hainging in the summer and in the dryer in the winter but no fabric softeners.

2005ArcticWhite

bugn

I wash in whatever laundry detergent we have in cold water no fabric softener, then line dry.