Washing of cleaning and buffing materials

[B2319]

First let me say this forum has opened my eyes on what I have been doing wrong for over 30 years and look forward to making my friends envious of how to do it right and make it look great not just good.
I'm a newby here and have looked for several days but could not find the answer. I see keeping things clean and free of debris is the ultimate goal fort a quality finish. What is recommend for washing of the towels and pads we use. I'm referring to the buffer pads( foam and cotton), micro fiber polishing cloths and washing mitts. Do I use a washing machine, detergents, fabric softner? It may seem like a small question but after spending over $250.00 in correct products, I do not want to ruin what I do have.
Thanks for any feedback.
Rick

[LelandGray]

Re: Washing of cleaning and buffing materials

Microfiber towels and such can be washed in the washing machine, just by themselves in a load of MF towels. Just use cold water and regular detergent.. you can use liquid or powder although most people seem to use liquid I believe. You can dry them in the machine, too, but don't use fabric softener sheets.. if you want to you can use fabric softener during the wash cycle but it's not necessary.

The pads, if you have washable pads, can be machine washed. Otherwise, wash them by hand with hot water and let them air dry. When you store them, you want to keep them somewhere that is dust free, but you don't want them to be stored in an air tight container. I store all my pads/towels in one of those plastic three drawer chest things from Wal-Mart.

[TOGWT]

Re: Washing of cleaning and buffing materials

CliffNotes® Version

Cleaning foam pads (by hand) – use a spur to clean of excess polish debris. Mix a scoop of Optimum Power Clean or an appropriate Megs product in 3-4 gallons of water before you begin polishing. When you've finished with each pad, place it in the mixture and allow pre-soaking, mild agitation will release the ingrained polish residue. Intense cleaners and degreasers break up oily deposits left by car care products so the pad rinses completely clean.

Wash Towels after use
Always wash towels as soon as possible after use, the longer they sit the more the contaminants will set. The chemicals used in car care products will negatively affect the fibres structural integrity and weaken them, shortening their useful life. Residual chemicals will cause streaking, whereas dried chemicals will cause scratches. Do not use bleach or high alkaline cleaning products as they will shorten the life of your micro fibre. Read the label on the detergent bottle and use half of what they recommend and use hot water (120.oF)

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Washing of cleaning and buffing materials

Wash similar loads in the washer. I try to avoid powdered detergent. I have heard that occasionaly all the granules do not disolve. Then you can possibly scratch your finish. Do not know how true that is. But we have always used liquid detrergent anyway.

Never use a fabric softener sheet. It will cause streaks in your finish also.

Every 3-6 months. Depending how often you use them. Rejuvenate your microfiber towels. How? Add a 1/4 cup of vinegar to the wash. Give them a extra rinse cycle or two. Then dry as normal. You will indefinitely extend the life of the towels this way.

[ripple_effect]

Re: Washing of cleaning and buffing materials

thanks for the tips. i used to wash my MF with a mild detergent soap (so mild it looks like a bar of bath soap) then air dry.

[STRIFE]

Re: Washing of cleaning and buffing materials

I wash my MF cloths & with dish soap.....Sunlight to be exact....anyone think I shouldn't use dish soap on my MF? Seems to work ok.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Washing of cleaning and buffing materials

I wash my MF cloths & with dish soap.....Sunlight to be exact....anyone think I shouldn't use dish soap on my MF? Seems to work ok.

It shouldn't be a problem. Besides, if you've been doing it for a long time and you see no ill effects, then there's your answer, really.

[Shootist]

Re: Washing of cleaning and buffing materials

I wash my MF towels and my foam hand applicators together in the washing machine in hot water and liquid detergent, then dry in dryer w/o dryer sheets.

My rotary pads are washed by hand in kitchen sink with Dawn and warm water. I then rinse them with the sink sprayer. Finally, I put them in the washer 3 at a time standing on edge, equidistant with foam/wool facing the tub surface. I then spin dry them.

[STRIFE]

Re: Washing of cleaning and buffing materials

^ my wife would kill me if I used the washer....

[rcktpwrd]

Re: Washing of cleaning and buffing materials

^ what she doesn't see/know won't hurt! LOL

[Johnson]

Re: Washing of cleaning and buffing materials

I just ordered some new Water magnet towels. I am looking for information to keep them in good shape. The current set I am using now look pretty rough. I have used them on any and everything, So it was time for new ones. Do you wash them every time after use? Regular soap and dry regular. hang dry. wash before first time use?

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Washing of cleaning and buffing materials

Water Magnets seem to perform best if you wash and dry them before first use. After that, you should wash and dry them after every use - warm wash with a liquid laundry detergent (no fabric softener), then toss them in the dryer on low heat (no dryer sheets) until dry. My personal stash includes a few that are several years old and they still work fine, even if the color has faded back a bit.

[Johnson]

Re: Washing of cleaning and buffing materials

Can they be washed with other things?

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Washing of cleaning and buffing materials

They can be washed with other microfiber towels and/or with applictor pads, whether microfiber or foam.

[Shawn T.]

Re: Washing of cleaning and buffing materials

I have washed my Water Magnets about 25 times so far and they still work awesome. They haven't lost their softness either.