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Washing Microfiber products?

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Old 05-07-2007, 05:42 PM
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Meebix
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Default Washing Microfiber products?

Hey guys,

I bought and buy all my detailing products from autogeek, however, I was wondering how to clean them?

I know that I cannot use a detergent as that will soften the microfibers and I know that autogeek sells a special detergent that I can use to clean them. But if I do NOT want to use that special detergent what should I do?

I have some MF towels to dry the car and some MF detailing cloths that are getting dirty. Should I just use hot water in the washer machine and then just dry them in the dryer on normal? Should I let them drip dry?

What suggestions do you guys have for me!??

-Mike
Old 05-07-2007, 06:36 PM
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0Killrwheels@Autogeek
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1. Wash seperately from other laundry
2. Use microfiber soap as possible (Pinnacle, Microrestore) or use liquid detergent like Woolite
3. Do NOT use Fabric Softner
4. Dry on normal or low heat, tumble dry
5. (optional) those dryer ***** work wonders on keeping them fluffy
Old 05-07-2007, 07:10 PM
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Ok sounds good, thanks.
Old 05-07-2007, 10:29 PM
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JVM225
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I use a liquid detergent that is free of dyes or perfumes. Most brands are pretty much the same. Don't wash them with any other fabrics or you will get all the lint and fibers from the other fabrics tangled in the Micro Fibers. Tumble dry on a low heat setting and remove from dryer as soon as they are done.
My Wife teases me about "doing the cars laundry".
Old 05-07-2007, 11:21 PM
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easyrider13
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[QUOTE=JVM225;1560157634] Most brands are pretty much the same. QUOTE]


Not true. My father was a chemist specializing in textiles and detergents. Tide was always the benchmark he used when evaluating detergents. No commercial product ever beat it.

I use liquid Tide in my washing machine and let the microfiber towels soak for 12-24 hours. It gets almost everything out of them.
After finishing the cycle, I dry them in a medium dryer without softener sheets.
Old 05-08-2007, 02:43 AM
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Jim D.
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Add:

Do not use chlorine bleach.

Wash and dry on warm or low.

Lay flat on a clean countertop and inspect both sides before folding.

And I'll second the dryer *****.
Old 05-08-2007, 04:37 AM
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Microfiber Wash Directions- Use hot (120oF<) water and add 1-2 ounces of liquid to a standard size (8 gallon) load, for larger loads or heavily soiled laundry, add 3-6 ounces. As a pre-spotter: dilute 1 part concentrates with 3 parts water, apply to stain and launder as usual. The main reason why liquid fabric softeners and dryer sheets are not compatible with automotive towels is that they do not in fact soften, but coat the towel surface with silicone, which produces a smooth slippery surface that reduces the fabrics ability to remove excess wax or to effectively buff and absorb. The fabric will also deposit these chemicals onto you vehicle's surface. The towel will treat the fabric softener as if it was dirt by trying to store the tiny particles of the softener in the towel fibres. This will clog up the micro fibres and render the towel ineffective.
Optional those Eco soft® dryer ***** work wonders on keeping them soft and cutting down on drying time

Add a teaspoon per towel distilled white vinegar as a softener, the vinegar doesn't coat the fibres but instead works to eliminate detergent residue and the acid counteracts any alkaline minerals in the water supply. Vinegar (Acetic acid, pH=2) works well in the rinse cycle to make your towels softer. Detergent is an alkaline (pH=12, the opposite of acidic on the pH scale).When you wash your towels (or anything for that matter) there are small amounts of detergent left behind, when your add Vinegar it balances the pH of the solution and helps removes the excess detergent from the wash.

Do not wash micro fibre cloths / towels with other non- micro fibre fabrics, as they will pick up lint from other fabrics. Air dry or you can dry micro fibre cloths / towels in any dryer on low heat, remove them before they are still damp (cuts down on static charge) Colours may bleed during first washing.
Old 05-08-2007, 11:43 AM
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Originally Posted by Killrwheels@Autogeek
1. Wash seperately from other laundry
2. Use microfiber soap as possible (Pinnacle, Microrestore) or use liquid detergent like Woolite
3. Do NOT use Fabric Softner
4. Dry on normal or low heat, tumble dry
5. (optional) those dryer ***** work wonders on keeping them fluffy
On #5 are those the blue color ones?
Old 05-08-2007, 04:35 PM
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0Killrwheels@Autogeek
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Originally Posted by LS WON
On #5 are those the blue color ones?

yes, with the little nubs sticking out. I was skeptical, but truly feel they help and seem to also dry quicker.

Old 05-08-2007, 04:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Killrwheels@Autogeek
yes, with the little nubs sticking out. I was skeptical, but truly feel they help and seem to also dry quicker.

It takes a long time to dry the microfiber towels if on "Fluff" dry in dryer. I find that a low warm temp gets the job done sooner without any damage to microfiber.
Old 05-09-2007, 02:51 AM
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Originally Posted by Killrwheels@Autogeek
yes, with the little nubs sticking out. I was skeptical, but truly feel they help and seem to also dry quicker.
I'll have to give these dryer ***** a try.. .. Does Walmart sell them?..
Old 05-09-2007, 07:42 AM
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0Killrwheels@Autogeek
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seen them all over the place ... Linens and Things, Bed Bath Beyond, and others. Use their coupon in sundays paper and save 20% off.
Old 05-09-2007, 10:22 AM
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LS WON
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Originally Posted by Killrwheels@Autogeek
seen them all over the place ... Linens and Things, Bed Bath Beyond, and others. Use their coupon in sundays paper and save 20% off.
Yes I saw them there too along with that very same Item Gariot Garage sells for cleaning the inside of a sharply raked windshield except at half the price around 10.00.
Old 05-20-2007, 11:31 AM
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Originally Posted by JVM225
I use a liquid detergent that is free of dyes or perfumes. Most brands are pretty much the same. Don't wash them with any other fabrics or you will get all the lint and fibers from the other fabrics tangled in the Micro Fibers. Tumble dry on a low heat setting and remove from dryer as soon as they are done.
My Wife teases me about "doing the cars laundry".
Old 05-21-2007, 09:44 AM
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Originally Posted by Killrwheels@Autogeek
yes, with the little nubs sticking out. I was skeptical, but truly feel they help and seem to also dry quicker.

I can just see it now; "Honey, have you seen my little blue *****???" And then she goes>
Old 05-21-2007, 09:56 AM
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Can't speak for other methods, but I throw mine in the wash with some Tide, and let her rip. Throw them in the dryer (no fabric sheets), and they come out perfect. I don't wash them with other things for two reasones. First, I don't want the lint from other towles, and second the wife would pitch a hissy.
Old 05-21-2007, 10:02 PM
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Old 05-22-2007, 05:24 PM
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C5 CHICK
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1 - I let mine soak overnight
2 - throw em in the maching with some tide
3 - add some plain white vinegar during the rinse cycle
4 - throw em in the dryer and they are as good (if not softer) as new

Old 05-23-2007, 11:15 AM
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Originally Posted by C5 CHICK
1 - I let mine soak overnight
2 - throw em in the maching with some tide
3 - add some plain white vinegar during the rinse cycle
4 - throw em in the dryer and they are as good (if not softer) as new

Old 05-24-2007, 09:16 AM
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I wash them separately using hot water only. Then dry on almost the highest setting.


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