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HE Vs Laundromat Washing Machines
HE VS Laundromat Washing Machines
Last night I was really tired, and I just didn’t feel like washing my microfiber towels in the usual manner. I threw caution to the wind and just threw the towels in the washer, put an ounce of detergent in the detergent drawer and started the washer.
This morning I was disappointed as my microfiber towels were still dirty.
This prompted me to conduct an experiment.
In this article I will be covering 3 different washing methods. The first method - Put towels in, pour detergent in the detergent drawer, and start the washer leaves your towels dirty and contaminated. Especially in HE Machines.
The other two methods will be covered as follows.
To begin with I marked the testing towels with a ‘T’ for testing and the microfiber applicator with an ‘I’ for interior.
And now for a quick commercial break.
I absolutely LOVE the WolfGang Microfiber Cleaner and Rejuvenator! Let me just say that the little squeeze bottle is a must! It makes measuring out the perfect amount so easy and the design of the bottle is just genius!
You can refill the bottle with a bottle funnel for a no spill refill.
One last thing I’d like to add is that you should consider purchasing a gallon jug at the same time as you purchase the small squeeze bottle. If you take advantage of one of Autogeek’s sales it would be like getting a combo kit.
I don’t believe AG has this kit, but maybe they'll have it in the future, or maybe I just didn’t see it during my search.
I am always impressed with how clean this stuff gets my towels and it leaves them feeling soft and new after every wash!
Wolfgang Microfiber Cleaner and Rejuvenator
Wolfgang Microfiber Cleaner and Rejuvenator
I set my testing towels aside and put my other towels back into the dirty clean towel bucket in preparation to take them to the laundry mat
I needed something to clean that would get the towels contaminated as equally as possible, so I selected my Jeep’s door jambs, as I had conducted an interior detail the day before, and neglected to clean the door jambs.
Driver’s Side
Passenger’s Side
I dampened the towels with water and commenced to wiping out the jambs
Here’s the drivers side AKA the laundromat washing machine towel
Here’s the passengers side AKA the HE washing machine towel
Here is a side by side comparison with the laundromat towel on the left and the HE machine towel on the right.
To my eyes, it looks like the HE towel is more contaminated than the Laundromat towel. I’ll let you make your best judgement.
My line of thinking is that the design and the way that the washer functions will get the towels cleaner, as the blades and sloshing and tossing action of the laundromat washer create a more violent action that the seemingly inferior vanes of the HE machine.
I measured out 1 oz of detergent for this load, as I assumed that 1 oz would be most appropriate for the size of the load.
I then put in the towels, selected the appropriate settings, popped in the quarters and started the load.
The detergent dispenser on the laundromat washer seems to do a great job of mixing up the detergent while filling the washer.
Everything looks pretty sudsy as the towels slosh around in the washer.
After the load was done at the laundromat I put the load in the HE machine for a rinse and spin only, as I typically do when I do this procedure of cleaning my microfiber towels.
This is to ensure that all soaps are removed from the towels. Based on my observations the laundromat machines don’t do the best job rinsing the towels.
There is an extra rinse step with the HE method as well.
Here’s the microfiber applicator after pulling it out of the rinse cycle.
Time to wash the HE machine towel! I used ˝ oz for this load and also the method in post #23 of this thread.
The OCD Method of Washing Microfiber Towels
https://autocleandetail.com/
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Re: HE Vs Laundromat Washing Machines
Thanks for sharing. Would be interesting to see how a HE front loader does in comparison to the laundromat version. I wonder if the front loader would get the towels slightly cleaner than the HE top load. But it certainly wouldn’t save time as our front loader has the same LONG wash time as yours.
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Re: HE Vs Laundromat Washing Machines
Originally Posted by dgage
Thanks for sharing. Would be interesting to see how a HE front loader does in comparison to the laundromat version. I wonder if the front loader would get the towels slightly cleaner than the HE top load. But it certainly wouldn’t save time as our front loader has the same LONG wash time as yours.
My pleasure! I think it would be interesting too!
I think it probably could get them cleaner, as the agitating motion of the front load could be more violent than the top loader.
One point would be how well the detergent dispenser mixes the detergent with the load. If it doesn't mix it very well the towels may not come very clean.
This is why I think the towels didn't come clean the previous night when I just set it and forgot it.
Usually I put the load in, let it sense, and when it begins to fill I pause, then take the load out. After this I let it fill up with water, and when it begins to agitate I pause the machine again and pour the detergent in, then I mix it up with my hand, put the towels in, swish them around, and then close the lid and start the load again.
Sent from my SM-G975U using Autogeekonline mobile app
https://autocleandetail.com/
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Re: HE Vs Laundromat Washing Machines
First - it's pretty much impossible to get all stains out of all towels in the car detailing world. So lower your standards.
Second - I know it's not an option for everyone - but the BEST way to wash towels and pads is in an old school top loading washing machine with a NORMAL AGITATOR.
The OCD Method of Washing Microfiber Towels
I wash a LOT of towels and pads. Maybe I wash more than anyone in this industry over the last 20 years?
I know washing.
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Re: HE Vs Laundromat Washing Machines
Originally Posted by Mike Phillips
First - it's pretty much impossible to get all stains out of all towels in the car detailing world. So lower your standards.
Second - I know it's not an option for everyone - but the BEST way to wash towels and pads is in an old school top loading washing machine with a NORMAL AGITATOR.
The OCD Method of Washing Microfiber Towels
I wash a LOT of towels and pads. Maybe I wash more than anyone in this industry over the last 20 years?
I know washing.
I'm with you on these things Mike. I also posted a link to your article in my article above.
Maybe one day I'll be able to get me an old school machine!
I thought it would be great to compare the options for those of us without an awesome old school machine.
Sent from my SM-G975U using Autogeekonline mobile app
https://autocleandetail.com/
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Re: HE Vs Laundromat Washing Machines
Cool test, Jake.
I've never used the WG cleaner, but my first MF kit back in the day came with the Pinnacle version. It worked pretty good, IMO.
I have to believe they are similar, if not identical.
It is no coincidence that man's best friend cannot talk.
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Re: HE Vs Laundromat Washing Machines
Originally Posted by PaulMys
Cool test, Jake.
I've never used the WG cleaner, but my first MF kit back in the day came with the Pinnacle version. It worked pretty good, IMO.
I have to believe they are similar, if not identical.
I love it if you cant tell! One cool thing about the WG products is that when you use it you just have to say 'Wolfgang' in your best German accent lol.
https://autocleandetail.com/
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Re: HE Vs Laundromat Washing Machines
Originally Posted by Mike Phillips
I wash a LOT of towels and pads. Maybe I wash more than anyone in this industry over the last 20 years?
I know washing.
I would not doubt that one bit Mike! I wonder how many loads? Probably thousands of pounds of towels and pads over the years! Heck I'd bet you've thrown away more towels than I've washed!
https://autocleandetail.com/
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