How to revive microfiber drying towels?

[fly07sti]

Hey Ric, put a cup of vinegar in the wash cycle with your towel kleen. I started doing this earlier this year and my towels have been better than ever.

[Eldorado2k]

Hey Ric, put a cup of vinegar in the wash cycle with your towel kleen. I started doing this earlier this year and my towels have been better than ever.

I will listen to your advice. Thanks.

[rick100]

white vinegar does the trick for me too

[ducksfan]

I have never seen anything take sealants out better than Limonene. Whether you get it from Citrol, Citra-Solv, CitraBlast, or many other products. It breaks detailing products down.

You just have to be careful not to use it too strong. It can do some damage to plastics. I typically dilute whatever product I have to 10 percent strength. This would be Citrol or Citra-Solv @ 1:9 and CitraBlast @ about 1:4.

[Loach]

I’m interested here. I think the same issue exists with trying to truly chemically remove fresh protectants from the panel. Pretty much any of us that have thrown fresh applicators in the wash after using Power Lock or Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealent have come out disappointed if we’re expecting total cleaning, it just doesn’t happen no matter what I use, a true testament to the short term durability of these sealants. Like paint we need some of of agitation to work along side of the chemical cleaner but is it enough to really break the bond of the protectants to the fibers without really digging in manually to force that bond to break ourselves?

After years of tests and different types of microfiber washes and cleaners, when it becomes time to retire microfibers due to lack of absorption or usability, this is inevitable, regardless of what I do to try and save it. Anyone that can reverse this trend is likely due for the equivalent to the Nobel peace prize in detailing.

[Coatingsarecrack]

I will listen to your advice. Thanks.

Do you put the vinegar where the fabric softener goes or with the soap?

Edit: this was meant for fly.


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[Coatingsarecrack]

Hey Ric, put a cup of vinegar in the wash cycle with your towel kleen. I started doing this earlier this year and my towels have been better than ever.

Do you put the vinegar with the soap tray or where the fabric softener goes?


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[fly07sti]

Do you put the vinegar with the soap tray or where the fabric softener goes?


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I put it in with the soap. I used to do the vinegar in the rinse cycle but have found the vinegar mixed with the detergent works much better. Actually surprised me how much better it worked than my previous way. FWIW, I always wash on either hot or warm depending on what the MF’s were used for and the size of a particular load.

[Eldorado2k]

Pretty much any of us that have thrown fresh applicators in the wash after using Power Lock or Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealent have come out disappointed if we’re expecting total cleaning, it just doesn’t happen no matter what I use, a true testament to the short term durability of these sealants. Like paint we need some of of agitation to work along side of the chemical cleaner but is it enough to really break the bond of the protectants to the fibers without really digging in manually to force that bond to break ourselves?

I used to be the type of person who felt a little pain in my heart everytime a new applicator got soiled... And even though I know the odds of washing them back to like new condition are slim to none, I still save most of them in hopes that I’ll get around to making them paint worthy 1 day. Lol.



Luckily I’ve come across these sweet microfiber applicators [they’re actually labeled “terry covered sponges”]
At 1st I was reluctant to use them on paint until 1 day I was in a pinch and it was the only thing I had to apply sealant to finish a job.




To my surprise they exceeded expectations in everyway. Not only are they soft enough, but they don’t soak up any more product than a foam applicator would. I use them for everything these days i.e. leather conditioner, interior dressings/protectants, glass polishing by hand, metal polishes, headlight coating, plastic trim restorer, spot polishing by hand, lsp.

Best of all they sell them at the 99 cent only store in a 2pk. so they truly are disposable.
I pick up like 3-4 packs everytime I go in there.

If you can find them, try them. You won’t be disappointed.

[Bill D]

I had very similar applicators many years ago. I used to use them for leather. Then I couldn't find them any more. I'm fairly sure my 99 cent store doesn't have them either