Microfiber towels "fluffness"

[LAfirefytr]

Just a quick question. I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions on how to keep MF's nap in new condition. When they are new they have a soft full "fluffness" to them. I use mine one time, wash on gentle cycle with Baby ALL, and dry. When I pull them out, they are flat and thin feeling with little to no nap. What am I doing wrong or what do I need to change in my cleaning process. I think they should keep their nap for longer than they are so I must need to do something else in my cleaning/drying process.

[SiriusRIMZ]

I first soak my towels in APC, to remove most of the grime, then I'll wash my MF towels by them selves with no fabric softener, in warm water, then I'll let them air dry.

[LAfirefytr]

yea I spray mine down w/ APC,. let them sit a while and then wash/dry. When you dry, do you just air dry or do you use heat. If heat, what setting, high or medium? Thanks

[cheeseman]

I take mine out of the machine,and then vigourosly shake them,as i have found that this fluffs up the nap.

[Ko-B]

I wash my MF towels with Tide Free and add a bit vinegar during the rinse cycle because it acts as a natural fabric softener and cleans a bit also. Then toss em' in the dryer. They still seem new to me. I use the dryer cause it gets fabrics softer than air drying em'.

[SL1CK]

Can you guys fill me in on what APC is? I checked the acronyms, I guess its All Purpose Cleaner right? About letting it air dry, they do harden up a bit (so does clothes and such), but what about washing it (with no fabric softner), letting it air dry, then throwing it back into the dryer so the heat can expand it and make it "fluffy" again?

[TSR6]

I just throw mine in the dryer on the low heat - short time cycle.

They come out fluffy, and occasionally very very slighly damp. I let them air dry for about an hour before i fold them and put them away.

[scarface_]

Originally posted by SL1CK
Can you guys fill me in on what APC is? I checked the acronyms, I guess its All Purpose Cleaner right?

Yes its All purpose cleaner



As for cleaning, everyone has their own opinion and i'm still confused on that. Some say cold water, some say hot. But all agree on NO fabric softner. About drying, some say air dry, some say low heat on delicate cycle in the dryer.

[BigLeegr]

A bit of time in the dryer shouldn't be bad for your MFs, but, as you aren't using any fabric softener/anti-static sheets, if you leave them in too long, you may get a static cling problem.
A bit of drying does seem to fluff them up (to me) though.
From what I understand, you shouldn't use high heat because the MFs are made of "plastic" (polyester/polyamide) and if you happen to have a really "potent" dryer, you could cause the towels to partially melt, and essentialy ruin them.
However, I think you'd have to have a pretty hot dryer to actually do this. I've tried drying some "grunge" towels with "normal" heat (just to see) and didn't notice any melting. Might be more noticable on "paint quality" towels, but so far, I haven't tried to ruin those.

As mentioned earlier, vinegar in the rinse helps to 1-rinse out any detergent residue left over, and 2-softens the towel without "clogging" it. (Shouldn't have a strong vinegar smell left over either.)

[TrufflePig]

with the APC, this is still the 4:1 right and not straight APC?

i thought just machine wash cold, and gentle shrink guard cycle is fine with my MF's.

we got this like hi-tech washer dryer that has all these fancy tools like shrink guard etc...hasn't given me a problem yet. but i just started with all this though.