Correct procedure for washing MF towels etc.

[roushstage2]

Re: Correct procedure for washing MF towels etc.

Nothing.

[RGP]

Re: Correct procedure for washing MF towels etc.

As mentioned by Rusty, microfibers should not be washed with other fabrics other than microfibers. If you do, they'd be rendered useless on auto paint for the rest of their product life.

Why is that?

Mine occasionally pick up a string or two from another fabric, but outside of that, they at least seem fine.

[the_invisible]

Re: Correct procedure for washing MF towels etc.

What is the issue about high heat in the dryer? I've usually done this and can't see any problems. The towels seem very soft and scratch free.

Almost all consumer auto or home purposes microfiber towels have very high polyester contents. Polyester is a synthetic polymer with a relatively high plastic content. Plastic will soften and deform under high heat. The deformation of polyester strands will affect the quality of the microfiber.

If you look at the laundry tags of polyester products, medium drying heat is instructed.

Why is that?

Mine occasionally pick up a string or two from another fabric, but outside of that, they at least seem fine.

You see bits and pieces being picked up from another fabric, what you don't see is the microfiber strands are already ruined by those bits and pieces. Not only do they lose efficiency, the towels can also create scratches. You are better off throwing microfiber towels in a puddle of deep mud and then wash it properly, than to simply wash it with other article of products.

[RGP]

Re: Correct procedure for washing MF towels etc.

Almost all consumer auto or home purposes microfiber towels have very high polyester contents. Polyester is a synthetic polymer with a relatively high plastic content. Plastic will soften and deform under high heat. The deformation of polyester strands will affect the quality of the microfiber.

If you look at the laundry tags of polyester products, medium drying heat is instructed.



You see bits and pieces being picked up from another fabric, what you don't see is the microfiber strands are already ruined by those bits and pieces. Not only do they lose efficiency, the towels can also create scratches. You are better off throwing microfiber towels in a puddle of deep mud and then wash it properly, than to simply wash it with other article of products.

Not being argumentative at all as I'm certain you know your stuff, but I just pulled a few towels at random and looked at every square inch with a 5X and then a 10X eyepiece. Nary a bit or piece. Every thread is uniform in appearance and identical to the rest. Is there something else happening that I cannot see? I don't wanna ruin my towels, but I honestly can't see or understand what you're referring to.

[dope92cc]

Re: Correct procedure for washing MF towels etc.

Not much talk about the SB 2.0 pads.
I soak mine with warm water and some dawn for a hour, then take it to the sink; add more dawn by pouring on circles, squeeze to saturate, and finally rinse, then is goes into the washer(heavy duty, warm, with at least 2 rinses) with other foam pads.

not THE best procedure. I can still tell which pad I used for tech wax.

[the_invisible]

Re: Correct procedure for washing MF towels etc.

Not being argumentative at all as I'm certain you know your stuff, but I just pulled a few towels at random and looked at every square inch with a 5X and then a 10X eyepiece. Nary a bit or piece. Every thread is uniform in appearance and identical to the rest. Is there something else happening that I cannot see? I don't wanna ruin my towels, but I honestly can't see or understand what you're referring to.

Hey, if you think washing your towels incorrectly works for you, then you are free to do so. I buy my Microfiber polishing towels from a high-end detailing company at $8 a piece, and I am simply following their washing instructions for all my MF products.

[Megafast13]

Re: Correct procedure for washing MF towels etc.

I Wash My Microfiber towels on a Warm Cycle using TIDE with Bleach Alternative. Occasionally I use some Vinegar to rejuvenate the fibers.

For actual Pads, I fill a bucket with HOT water. I Soak all of my Pads in it. Then Pore a small puddle of TIDE on each pad. Then I massage the TIDE into the entire pad. Then Rinse them again with HOT Water... Then Air Dry.

[seth1066]

Re: Correct procedure for washing MF towels etc.

I soak mine in a large bucket with three capfulls of Kirkland detergent for a minimum of 72 hours. Throw them in the washer and spin that solution out.

Add three more capfulls of detergent and wash them for about 15 minutes. That means hanging around the machine and resetting the dial to the beginning of the wash cycle before it gets to the first spin cycle. The load is washed at a low water level and then reset so the rinse cycle is on "full."

After the entire cycle is complete, the machine is restarted without detergent, giving the towels a total of three rinses.

It may seem like overkill, but they get used fairly hard.

[Sandstone]

Re: Correct procedure for washing MF towels etc.

Polyester is a synthetic polymer with a relatively high plastic content. Plastic will soften and deform under high heat. The deformation of polyester strands will affect the quality of the microfiber.

Polyester (PET is used in fabrics) is 100% plastic. It's melting point is ~510F. Unless it's partially oriented (think of a plastic fiber that you can stretch like nylon panty hose: that's partially oriented. When you pull it and it finally breaks it's fully oriented) it's not going to soften. Below ~160F has no effect on its properties.

[seth1066]

Re: Correct procedure for washing MF towels etc.

Polyester (PET is used in fabrics) is 100% plastic. It's melting point is ~510F. Unless it's partially oriented (think of a plastic fiber that you can stretch like nylon panty hose: that's partially oriented. When you pull it and it finally breaks it's fully oriented) it's not going to soften. Below ~160F has no effect on its properties.

We've got about 150 of them, use the hot dryer setting and they seem to be no different from new as far as softness and usability.

[RGP]

Re: Correct procedure for washing MF towels etc.

Hey, if you think washing your towels incorrectly works for you, then you are free to do so. I buy my Microfiber polishing towels from a high-end detailing company at $8 a piece, and I am simply following their washing instructions for all my MF products.

See, you are getting defensive. That wasn't my intent at all. In any event you've convinced me that I'm doing things wrong so since I'm Mr. Mom around here I'll start doing them separately. If you feel so strongly about it, there must be a reason. I'm never too old to learn. Still friends? I think my signature sums things up for me.

[seth1066]

Re: Correct procedure for washing MF towels etc.

Hey, if you think washing your towels incorrectly works for you, then you are free to do so. I buy my Microfiber polishing towels from a high-end detailing company at $8 a piece, and I am simply following their washing instructions for all my MF products.

I think the instructions are perhaps to protect the end user/consumer from a crazy hot dryer. The last thing they want is for some consumer(s) with a dryer that might actually mess up the towels and end up giving the company any bad PR on a detailing forum (or otherwise). Input from the legal department may be a factor. In any event, they will dry just fine on medium, but in a production shop, we need towels in constant supply.

We have a few Meg's MF's in the batch for LSP apps (and I wish they all were Meguiar's), but the majority are the cheaper quality Costco commercial type of MF.

BTW, those tags that have the composition and/or instructions? I tear'em off so they won't scratch the paint!

[Sandstone]

Re: Correct procedure for washing MF towels etc.

We've got about 150 of them, use the hot dryer setting and they seem to be no different from new as far as softness and usability.

My point exactly . 160F is the Tg of PET. This the temp at which some properties are affected (short term). It's not going to soften until you hit the melting point of 510F which is hotter than any dryer or hot water heater will get.

[seth1066]

Re: Correct procedure for washing MF towels etc.

My point exactly . 160F is the Tg of PET. This the temp at which some properties are affected (short term). It's not going to soften until you hit the melting point of 510F which is hotter than any dryer or hot water heater will get.

These things can take a beating. Thank goodness there are none with a "Dry Clean Only" label.

[Calais]

Re: Correct procedure for washing MF towels etc.

I wash them on either "hand-washables" or "delicates" cycles with a little bit of detergent and hang them to air dry.