What's your MF towel washing routine?

[vaca22]

I was out drying my car when I realized I think my towel is crap. It might be crap because it's from AutoZone, but it might also be crap because of what I use to wash it with.

I've been using one of those "free & clear" detergents in cold water, followed by medium heat in the drier. Think that might have anything to do with it? I feel as if the drying towel mostly smears things around, eventually leaving a very fine wet residue...which evaporates relatively quickly and all...but I feel like the "film" it leaves behind might have something to do with the detergent.

Thoughts or suggestions? Yes I know, I need a PFM towel like, yesterday.

[glen e]

Yeah I think it’s probably your your towel. I’ve washed my towels several different ways; I’ve used a specific microfiber towel cleaner, I’ve used an all clear detergent, and then I’ve used good old tide pods. I really didn’t see much difference. Hot water, no drying sheet, med fluff heat. I don’t try to get decades out of my towels, I replace them every 18 months or so and on a drying towel, I think it’s very important to have one of the premium drying towels as they work so much better.

[Bill D]

I use Tide with no problems. It cleans the way it's supposed to.

[Bobby B.]

I like to keep a bucket with a little Microfiber Cleaner & Restorer in it while detailing. Once I'm done with the towels I toss them in the bucket to pre-soak. Once I'm done detailing I put the microfiber towels in the washing machine with the Blackfire Microfiber Cleaner & Restore plus a very small amount of "ALL" to help remove any stains in the towels. Add some White Vinegar into the rinse cycle. Do not add any fabric softeners. Air dry or low temp heat in the dryer.

BLACKFIRE Microfiber Cleaner & Restorer (https://www.autogeek.net/blackfire-microfiber-cleaner.html)

[Azure]

My Kirkland MF towels will get that way when they get a little bit long in the tooth lol. I'd say it's the towel, unless you washed with fabric softener.

[2black1s]

I use Tide in hot water, followed by a minimum of 3 or 4 rinse cycles (until there is no evidence of residual sudsing in the rinse water), and then dry them on a medium heat setting.

To the OP... The first change I would make in your current process is to forgo the cold wash. Hot will always clean better. And then be sure that they are well rinsed.

I also have a theory that the TDS level of your water plays a role. If your water has a high TDS level as mine does (~400-500 ppm) those dissolved minerals in the water will eventually build up in your towels. This is only a theory and I have no empirical evidence that this is true but it does seem logical to me.

[Eldorado2k]

I use Tide in hot water, followed by a minimum of 3 or 4 rinse cycles (until there is no evidence of residual sudsing in the rinse water), and then dry them on a medium heat setting.

To the OP... The first change I would make in your current process is to forgo the cold wash. Hot will always clean better. And then be sure that they are well rinsed.

I also have a theory that the TDS level of your water plays a role. If your water has a high TDS level as mine does (~400-500 ppm) those dissolved minerals in the water will eventually build up in your towels. This is only a theory and I have no empirical evidence that this is true but it does seem logical to me.

Low sudsing is 1 of the features of most dedicated microfiber detergents, specifically 3D Towel Kleen. It actually starts off with good suds at 1st but by the time the wash cycle is near its end mostly all the suds have gone away and done their work. You might want to look it trying it, you might like it.

I always dry on low heat.

[vaca22]

I use Tide in hot water, followed by a minimum of 3 or 4 rinse cycles (until there is no evidence of residual sudsing in the rinse water), and then dry them on a medium heat setting.

To the OP... The first change I would make in your current process is to forgo the cold wash. Hot will always clean better. And then be sure that they are well rinsed.

I also have a theory that the TDS level of your water plays a role. If your water has a high TDS level as mine does (~400-500 ppm) those dissolved minerals in the water will eventually build up in your towels. This is only a theory and I have no empirical evidence that this is true but it does seem logical to me.

Ooo, interesting point. According to my ZeroWater tester, our water is usually only around a TDS of 65-75. All I've heard is that cold water is just as effective, but in my head I can't come to grips with that analysis. I'll give the hot water a go. I'll check to see about the extra suds as well, the machine is a touch over 10 years old and might be starting to lose some of its rinsing power.

Thanks!

[joebruin77]

I'm a fan of P and S Rags To Riches Microfiber Detergent. As others have mentioned, wash with hot water, dry on the lowest heat setting possible (dryer heat will damage the fine microfibers), and avoid fabric softeners. I also make sure not to mix my towels with any other clothes -I always wash a load dedicated to just towels.

The Rags To Riches keeps the towels in good shape and have even rejuvinated some older towels back into shape.

[Eldorado2k]

dry on the lowest heat setting possible (dryer heat will damage the fine microfibers),

On my dryer there’s only a difference of 10 degrees between the low heat and high heat. I’ve tested and posted the results. Also as far as I could see & feel there was no damage done to my towels. Fabric softener sheets didn’t make a noticeable difference either, other than making the towels a bit softer.

[Klasse Act]

I've been using 3D Towel Kleen for years now with great success! It's VERY cost effective AND does the job, a win [emoji471] I've tried P&S Rags to Riches this year and really liked it as well. Lately I've been adding baking soda in with the 3D Towel Kleen for that "little extra" and see the difference!

I used to use cold water but ha e recently switched to warm and ALWAYS let them air dry but when I do put them in the dryer it's just the normal setting.

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[2black1s]

I'm not recommending to dry microfibers on high heat settings (I use medium on my dryer that has 4 settings - no heat, low heat, med heat, & high heat) but for the sake of discussion I looked up the melting temperatures for polyester and polyamide fibers...

Polyester = 482 F
Polyamide = 494 F

With those kind of melting points what is the concern in regards to microfiber towel drying temperatures?

Residential dryers get no where near those temperatures. The hottest surface I could measure inside my dryer on the highest setting is ~ 170 F.

[CleanIT]

I use Tide Free and Clear after every time I use them. Wash in warm/hot and air dry, or low dryer setting. I've added a bit of OPC for towels contaminated with heavy product. I've never had an issue.

[Bruno Soares]

I wash in warm water and dry in low heat. I have used Micro restore for a long time, recently I've been trying Rags to Riches. So far I see no difference between that and micro restore.

My drying towels are the best ones, Griot's PFM. With time it's normal for them to lose some of their performance, especially if you use spray sealants during the drying process. You may be able to restore some of the performance but I guess it will never reach the same point as new. For that reason, I have quite a few of them, maybe 12? I just rotate often and I haven't had to trash one yet.

[CleanIT]

Same. I use the blue GG mf towels. They are fantastic and have held up extremely well.


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