Microfiber detergent

Coopers ST

Coopers ST

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Hey all,

I have always looked at microfiber detergent as a gimmick, and have always used just regular free and cleaner detergent. I have always done just microfiber though. I am noticing that towels that have been washed a dozen times don't dry like new. I am wondering if regular detergent isn't doing the job. Maybe not getting the old waxes out making them somewhat repel water to not get clean or dry well.
Does real microfiber detergent really do a better job? Maybe I'm using too much or not enough regular detergent and before spending $30 on detergent I should try something else?
I am slowly coming around to these new ideas and even considering a foam gun 😳

Thanks
 
Try 3D Towel Kleen very economical. I use that and CG MF detergent. Those are the two I found that do the best job for the money. It's even better when you find out they are telling you to use way too much product. Usually dying microfiber is in the details and overall quality of the towel and how it's being washed and dried. Then again sometimes it just gets old.
The two questions I always ask people, Are you using the family washer and dryer? & Are you washing your towels right after your done? If you are your problem might be fabric softener residue or residue allowing to set into the fibers. I have been using apartment building washer and dryers and now the family washer and dryer and I have waffle weaves that are ten years old with the satin banding falling off and it still can dry a car effectively. I always remove the detergent dispenser tray from our HE and wash it out before I wash any microfiber to remove any residue. I run the washer clean cycle once a month, and I always use two teaspoons of white vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser for each towel. If possible add a second rinse cycle. If you ever spilled or had a bottle of fabric softener fall off a shelf and break like I did you'll notice how slippery it is and difficult it is to clean up and that slickness lasts well after it has dried.
You can try and save them give your washer and dryer a good cleaning then start from scratch. MF detergent, white vinegar in the rinse cycle and dry on extra low heat or air only setting.
 
Coopers ST said:
Hey all,

I have always looked at microfiber detergent as a gimmick, and have always used just regular free and cleaner detergent. I have always done just microfiber though. I am noticing that towels that have been washed a dozen times don't dry like new. I am wondering if regular detergent isn't doing the job. Maybe not getting the old waxes out making them somewhat repel water to not get clean or dry well.
Does real microfiber detergent really do a better job? Maybe I'm using too much or not enough regular detergent and before spending $30 on detergent I should try something else?
I am slowly coming around to these new ideas and even considering a foam gun ��

Thanks
Click to expand...

It definitely does a better job removing waxes and sealants

3D towel kleen is only $17.99 a gallon and is extremely concentrated.
 
inDetail said:
Try 3D Towel Kleen very economical. I use that and CG MF detergent. Those are the two I found that do the best job for the money. It's even better when you find out they are telling you to use way too much product. Usually dying microfiber is in the details and overall quality of the towel and how it's being washed and dried. Then again sometimes it just gets old.
The two questions I always ask people, Are you using the family washer and dryer? & Are you washing your towels right after your done? If you are your problem might be fabric softener residue or residue allowing to set into the fibers. I have been using apartment building washer and dryers and now the family washer and dryer and I have waffle weaves that are ten years old with the satin banding falling off and it still can dry a car effectively. I always remove the detergent dispenser tray from our HE and wash it out before I wash any microfiber to remove any residue. I run the washer clean cycle once a month, and I always use two teaspoons of white vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser for each towel. If possible add a second rinse cycle. If you ever spilled or had a bottle of fabric softener fall off a shelf and break like I did you'll notice how slippery it is and difficult it is to clean up and that slickness lasts well after it has dried.
You can try and save them give your washer and dryer a good cleaning then start from scratch. MF detergent, white vinegar in the rinse cycle and dry on extra low heat or air only setting.
Click to expand...

Yes I am using the family washer and dryer. There shouldn't be any leftover residue because we don't use it in any other load. Just regular free and clear, no dryer sheets or anything for any load.

No I am not doing them right after. They come clean, just not as absorbent as when new.
 
Yes there is a difference. I look at it like this also. If I’m spending hundreds of dollars on Mf’s, I’m gonna spend a couple extra bucks for the associated wash for them.
 
Coopers ST said:
Hey all,

I have always looked at microfiber detergent as a gimmick, and have always used just regular free and cleaner detergent. I have always done just microfiber though. I am noticing that towels that have been washed a dozen times don't dry like new. I am wondering if regular detergent isn't doing the job. Maybe not getting the old waxes out making them somewhat repel water to not get clean or dry well.
Does real microfiber detergent really do a better job? Maybe I'm using too much or not enough regular detergent and before spending $30 on detergent I should try something else?
I am slowly coming around to these new ideas and even considering a foam gun ��

Thanks
Click to expand...

Its not a gimmick and the free and clear detergents are just as much money. If you're not seperating your towels that could be the reason they are not drying as well. Especially if you are mixing glass towels and drying towels.
 
Best of all your bottle of microfiber detergent is off limits to everyone else in your household because there’s no reason anyone should even be thinking of using your microfiber detergent for anything.

Its nice to know you won’t suddenly reach for your bottle of detergent only to find out someone else somehow went through the whole bottle and you’re screwed and can’t wash your towels.
 
Eldorado2k said:
Best of all your bottle of microfiber detergent is off limits to everyone else in your household because there’s no reason anyone should even be thinking of using your microfiber detergent for anything.

Its nice to know you won’t suddenly reach for your bottle of detergent only to find out someone else somehow went through the whole bottle and you’re screwed and can’t wash your towels.
Click to expand...

That is a great point, That alone makes it worth double what any microfiber detergent costs
 
I took your advice and ordered some 3D Towel Kleen. The first load just came out. Wow! Is all I have to day. Most of my towels are like new again, the paint ones are anyway. They feel different and look different from regular all free and clear. Never would I have thought there was a actual difference in soap, but there is. I can see the towels just get better and better after a few washes.

Thanks for the recommendation
 
Another vote for 3D Towel Kleen. I've used it twice now... once for towels and another time for pads. It does a great job. I will never go back to the free and clear.
 
Eldorado2k said:
Best of all your bottle of microfiber detergent is off limits to everyone else in your household because there’s no reason anyone should even be thinking of using your microfiber detergent for anything.

Its nice to know you won’t suddenly reach for your bottle of detergent only to find out someone else somehow went through the whole bottle and you’re screwed and can’t wash your towels.
Click to expand...

Is MF detergent a better prewash than APC for pads? I've been using Dawn to prewash my pads and it works pretty well, especially to rid paste wax residue from the pad. I have multiple pad cleaners which smell pretty wicked (i.e. strong) and they are considerably more expensive than APC or MF detergent. If I prewash my pads I feel the dedicated pad cleaner has a better chance of finishing the job.
 
I went the opposite direction. I was low on pad cleaner, and I used what I had left to clean some sealant pads. It didn't do a great job, so I soaked them in Towel Kleen. I went back a little later to agitate/rinse, and the sealant was mostly gone. So the 3D did great finishing the job. I've tried Dawn in the past and didn't get nearly as good results.
 
I don't see why free and clear doesn't still have a place in the laundry room for MF towels?

For towels specific for: drying only, or wash mitts/pads, or QD or QW sprays it seems that free and clear is more than capable of getting them totally clean.

For waxes, sealants and polishes that are more prone to gumming up MF towels, then the heavier cleaning ability of MF detergent steps up to the plate.
 
evo77 said:
I don't see why free and clear doesn't still have a place in the laundry room for MF towels?

For towels specific for: drying only, or wash mitts/pads, or QD or QW sprays it seems that free and clear is more than capable of getting them totally clean.

For waxes, sealants and polishes that are more prone to gumming up MF towels, then the heavier cleaning ability of MF detergent steps up to the plate.
Click to expand...

In my case, I simply hate clutter. If mf detergent does a better job at breaking down more stubborn residue in towels, it probably does a better job at cleaning other residues as well. I may as well just use it for everything.

Considering how cheap 3d towel kleen is, I haven’t been able to justify a 3rd gallon of detergent sitting around. If you use free and clear on your clothes anyway this particular annoyance probably doesn’t apply to you.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
evo77 said:
I don't see why free and clear doesn't still have a place in the laundry room for MF towels?

For towels specific for: drying only, or wash mitts/pads, or QD or QW sprays it seems that free and clear is more than capable of getting them totally clean.

For waxes, sealants and polishes that are more prone to gumming up MF towels, then the heavier cleaning ability of MF detergent steps up to the plate.
Click to expand...

Free and Clear is probably OK. I used to swear by it but I noticed it was not getting wax out of towels as well as purpose-built MF (in my case, 3D and CG) detergent did. I did some tests to satisfy my own curiosity.

Finick said:
In my case, I simply hate clutter. If mf detergent does a better job at breaking down more stubborn residue in towels, it probably does a better job at cleaning other residues as well. I may as well just use it for everything.

Considering how cheap 3d towel kleen is, I haven’t been able to justify a 3rd gallon of detergent sitting around. If you use free and clear on your clothes anyway this particular annoyance probably doesn’t apply to you.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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It is cheap, $17.99/gal -25% if you get it at the right time (I ordered another gallon this week, even though I just started on a gallon I had) reduces the price to $13.50/gal if you wait for a 25% sale.

willowcat11 said:
I’ve been using 3D Towel Kleen for several years now, and I haven’t needed search for any other. It does what it says it does, and at a Great price!


Sent from my iPhone using Autogeekonline mobile app
Click to expand...

Paraphrasing, but "find something you like and use it."
 
Route246 said:
Is MF detergent a better prewash than APC for pads? I've been using Dawn to prewash my pads and it works pretty well, especially to rid paste wax residue from the pad. I have multiple pad cleaners which smell pretty wicked (i.e. strong) and they are considerably more expensive than APC or MF detergent. If I prewash my pads I feel the dedicated pad cleaner has a better chance of finishing the job.
Click to expand...

Good question, I haven’t tried it out for that purpose vs. pad cleaners/degreasers on pads/applicators which have been used to apply lsps. I’m actually in need of something good for that very thing atm. I’ve got several fairly new Meguiars yellow foam applicators that need cleaning. I don’t like the idea of throwing them in with any of my microfiber wash loads so it’s going to have to be done in a bucket. My 1st thought was pad cleaner/degreaser but I might give the TK a try on half of them to see how it works.

I have some of the Meguiars Dynacone Cleaner. I bet that’ll kick some arse and get em clean like nothing else.
 
I wish I had found this thread before buying a MF detergent that costs as much as Towel Kleen, except for a quart instead of a gallon :)
 
1500canoe said:
I wish I had found this thread before buying a MF detergent that costs as much as Towel Kleen, except for a quart instead of a gallon :)
Click to expand...

Not sure how much you need of your other stuff, but this I used two oz and think I used too much. I will try 1.5 oz next wash.
 
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