washing your towels

[m2mazda6]

Ok yes I have all the cotton towels and hooked on waxing my 99 Miata & Mazda6 what is best way to wash the towels do you use soap or just run the wash cycle with no soap?
Larry

[Open Air]

My experience with cleaning towels is:

If cotton - wash car wash towels seperately with liquid laundry soap and dry normally without any fabric softener sheets in the dryer.

If microfiber - Do not wash with any other items (wool, cotton or otherwise). Microfibers only in the washing machine with liquid laundry detergent. Hang dry in a dust free area.

Anything other than this and you risk contaminating the towels, especially the microfibers which will lock cotton, wool and other abrasive man made fibers into the towels.

I really love the microfibers as I've found they are much less abrasive than anything else. Best to use Final Inspection with MF to finish off your best NXT wax job.

Just my experience - but perhaps others have better ideas.

[gb387]

Only other thing I might suggest... I like to use woolite to wash my microfibers seems to make them slightly softer.

[ebpcivicsi]

I would add that drying both MF as well as 100% cotton on LOW will increase softness.

[Rockpick]

One big issue that I've noted that many have mentioned is to use liquid detergent (as was mentioned above). The problem with powder is that it might not fully dissolve in the wash and ultimately, you'll drag those 'crystals' of soap across your finish and cause scratches.

RP

[rusty bumper]

Her is a good thread on cleaning Towels



Meguiars Online is a great site, but Show Car Garage is a good source of info too...It is Mike Phillips personal site.

[Tim Lingor]

Originally posted by Rusty Bumper
Her is a good thread on cleaning Towels



Meguiars Online is a great site, but Show Car Garage is a good source of info too...It is Mike Phillips personal site.

Yep!! Good Moderators there as well!!

As to washing towels, I would first suggest following the label instructions. I personally keep the cotton away from the microfiber. I also use a Liquid soap and hot water. I follow the wash with two rinse cycles and hang the towels to dry.

Tim

[rusty bumper]

Originally posted by 2hotford
Yep!! Good Moderators there as well!!

As to washing towels, I would first suggest following the label instructions. I personally keep the cotton away from the microfiber. I also use a Liquid soap and hot water. I follow the wash with two rinse cycles and hang the towels to dry.

Tim

See you at the garage....

[Open Air]

Only other thing I might suggest... I like to use woolite to wash my microfibers seems to make them slightly softer.
__________________
2003 Black Lightning
Build Number: 3105 of 4270
Born on: 4/10/03
My Truck, With a fresh coat of NXT!


Thanks! That's a great idea. Will try it. Yep, even liquid detergents can be pretty harsh.


I would add that drying both MF as well as 100% cotton on LOW will increase softness.

I'm afraid to dry my Microfibers in the dryer and prefer to air dry them for the following reason: I'm afraid that the dryer does not eliminate all particles from previous loads and those particles will eventually contaminate the MF with abrasives.

[CrobarCars]

Excellent post on the towels...thnx. I heard of using Murphy's Oil Soap in HOT water to clean up your towels. I tried this by hand on my Terry's and my MF's/ What a huge difference. The water turned grayis Black and I could see the chemicals ooze out of the towels. Tried the same hand wash using dawn and woolite Not even close to the same results. MOS does leave a mild "pinish" scent. I rewash with some Wollite and out POP clean freash towels ready for there next victim!

[95Xsport]

I know I'm resurrecting a really old thread but is that article mentioned above from Mike's site still available somewhere? I have microfiber's, terry cloths, a water magnet, applicator pads, and buffer pads to clean.

[rusty bumper]

Originally posted by 95Xsport
I know I'm resurrecting a really old thread but is that article mentioned above from Mike's site still available somewhere? I have microfiber's, terry cloths, a water magnet, applicator pads, and buffer pads to clean.

Unfortunately, ShowCarGarage has been down for some time now..............There was some good reading over there.

I did a search for some info about washing towels for you.....

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7237&perpage=10&highlight=washing%20towels&pagenumber=1

I hope this helps some.

[95Xsport]

Wow, I must have missed that one while searching. Thanks for the help

[95Xsport]

Ok, I finally found some time to read through the entire thread. Theres seems to be many different opinions about it though.
So far I gather that MF's should be washed seperate from Terrys, water magnets, etc. Then, the foam applicators in the sink with dish soap. As far as Woolite, the guy in the end seemed to be against it. Is there a 'correct' way of washing all of these things, or do any of them work fine? I want to make sure I get this right....
Thanks

[rusty bumper]

Originally posted by 95Xsport
So far I gather that MF's should be washed seperate from Terrys, water magnets, etc. Then, the foam applicators in the sink with dish soap. As far as Woolite, the guy in the end seemed to be against it. Is there a 'correct' way of washing all of these things, or do any of them work fine? I want to make sure I get this right....
Thanks

Always wash the MF's separate from anything else.

When you say "foam applicators", I presume that you are talking about the Hi Tech pads? If so, then these can be machine washed, or hand washed.......I just throw mine in with the terry towels.

Except for the tire applicators. I buy the 3/$100 kind at a dollar store, and I usually trash them after one or two uses.

I pretty much agree with what Leo (DF Towel) said, except that I tend to use a little more detergent (Tide) than he does.

I hope I made some sense here.