Towel Washing

[F-150]

will vinegar remove all detergent residue in the washing machine as well as bleach and fabric softener residue...so I don't need to be worried about putting my terry cloths in with woolite or tide as long as I do a rinse with vinegar....although the previous washes my mom did consisted of bleach and fabric softener usage?

[rusty bumper]

Originally posted by F-150
will vinegar remove all detergent residue in the washing machine as well as bleach and fabric softener residue

I know it wiil remove detergent residue, and probably fabric softner residue, but I'm not sure about bleach residue.

Bleach residue should be almost non-existent anyway. I'm not a chemist by any means, but bleach is just chlorine, and chlorine will evaporate over time if you leave the lid open so the washer can air out after washing with it.

so I don't need to be worried about putting my terry cloths in with woolite or tide as long as I do a rinse with vinegar

No, but using white vinegar as a rinse is purely optional. I recommend rinsing towels with it, but I wouldn't be afraid to rinse without vinegar either if I had too.

I hope I understood your question(s) correctly.

[F-150]

yes you did thanks.

[F-150]

using white vinegar as a rinse is purely optional. I recommend rinsing towels with it, but I wouldn't be afraid to rinse without vinegar either if I had too.

Were could I get some white vinegar and how much would I use?

[DFTowel]

You guys speak of washing towels like it's rocket science!

How do you wash towels used to apply, remove, and otherwise handle waxes, polishes, and other waxy/greasy contaminants? You wash them with a liquid detergent such as Era, All, Tide, etc, with no additives, bleach, or softeners. YOU USE HOT WATER, only hot water will help put the waxes and other matter into suspension to remove from the fibers.

Do not use Woolite, it is too weak. Woolite is fine for cashmere and delicates such as lingerie and fine knits. Believe me, your towels are FAR FROM DELICATE! Here is a picture of the 200+ degree pressure cooker we use to set the dyes and finishes in fabric, your household water will not do any harm:


Use as little detergent as possible, whatever the soap manufacturer recommends for the size load, use 1/2 as they always tell you too much. Then use 1 to 2 tablespoons of distilled white vinegar (available in the supermarket) per towel in the final rinse to help the fibers shed any excess detergent.

Dry the towels according to the towel manufacturers recommendations. Of course, no dryer sheets!

[rusty bumper]

Thanks Leo.

Haven't heard from you in a while.

[rusty bumper]

Originally posted by DFTowel
Use as little detergent as possible, whatever the soap manufacturer recommends for the size load, use 1/2 as they always tell you too much.

How did you come to this determination?

[black240sx]

Originally posted by F-150

Were could I get some white vinegar and how much would I use?

You can get it at a grocery store.

[DFTowel]

Originally posted by Rusty Bumper
How did you come to this determination?

30+ years of experience in the textile industry.

[rusty bumper]

Originally posted by DFTowel
30+ years of experience in the textile industry.

Not trying to get off topic, but I've spent a few years there myself.

I worked in a finishing mill (dye tubs, tenters, etc.), and a spinning mill (drawing, pin drafters, roving).

At one time, this county had more textile spindles than any location in the world!

We never made any towels here though, they were mostly made at places like Cannon, or Springs Ind., Stevens, etc.