Microfiber Drying Towels - Best and Boiling Towels

TLMitchell said:
A little pre-wash spray on a rag and a quick wipe removes any residues from the washer drum. It is always better if the little woman has no idea you're washing detailing stuff in the washing machine...... Trust me on this! :eek:

TL
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:iagree:

I have started using a damp microfiber towel to wipe out the washer drum before and after using it to wash the towels. I have found that wiping the drum prior to, removes any fabric softner film/soap that may be left over from another wash cycle. This with any of the AG Microfiber Detergent/Cleaners works good. Every so often run a cycle (no towels) and use the white vinegar. This will clean up an residue that might be around, it also refreshes the insides. With all this attention to what you are doing it will make the little woman very happy.

:props::props:
 
My take, FWIW:

Boiling: Never thought about it. I've never seen a need to do anything other than the normal Wash/Dry cycles described above by Mike.

Best: I have three or four different types of premium towels, a few of each. Favorites, Cobra Supreme 530's. But I have not found a premium priced towel that I don't like.

I also use a ton of Sam's/Costco type towels. Let's face it, some of our work is downright grungy. The problem with these for paint, IMO, is that they are inconsistent. One feels pretty decent, and the next is like tissue paper.

Drying: I use a technique that I have not seen discussed on the forums. I always use a good quality 16x16 MF, non-waffle weave for drying.

I dry Mini's and Suburbans with only one towel (unless the towel gets dirty, in which case I need to work on my washing technique.) I use the towel like an old school chamois... wet it first, wring it out, then proceed one panel at a time around the vehicle, top to bottom, repeatedly wringing out the water.

I've never understood all the discussion about waffle weave towels. Seems that folks are expecting them to suck up water like a beach towel or old t-shirt. Maybe my WW's have not been properly "broken in," but I just don't like them for drying.

Like I said, FWIW.
 
Mirror Detailing said:
I have some of the BLue waffle ones and to be honest they suck. I can dry a car faster(about 75% faster) with a old school shamcloth.
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Unfortunately, I have to agree! They donnt suck water. Worst Cobra MF ever. Actially only Cobra I would like to return. Guzzlers are good. HD Guzzlers are best IMO.
 
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Boiling still seems to be crude incomplete method to clean microfiber. Also, I have seen heat shrink and fade microfiber towels (washing or drying on hot setting).

I am not saying heat may not help but the cleaner used is likely to be the more important contribution so use a better cleaner such as Optimum Power Clean.

I would start soaking in APC like Optimum Power Clean which cuts through wax/polish much faster than a boil and soak process. The higher water temperature is less of an improvement than a better cleaner to remove whatever is locked into the fibers.
 
I respectfully disagree. Heat from a dryer and heat from boiling water are different, you don't want high heat from a dryer since it creates alot of static electricity, etc. Boiling has been recommended from Korean factories due to possible contaminants during the transportation process, so I wouldn't count it out. Also crappy Microfibers will shrivel of course from bad design.

As well, there is only so much chemical content you want in your microfibers. A detergent-free microfiber will perform one better than something that keeps getting saturated.
 
Boiling towels? Seriously? I'll use a bath towel for a year then it gets used for my car. I obviously need to read up though, as I didn't know they even made a microfiber towel that you could dry with.
 
Woob said:
Boiling has been recommended from Korean factories due to possible contaminants during the transportation process, so I wouldn't count it out.
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Can you send a link from a Korean factory about this?
 
Woob said:
I respectfully disagree. Heat from a dryer and heat from boiling water are different, you don't want high heat from a dryer since it creates alot of static electricity, etc. Boiling has been recommended from Korean factories due to possible contaminants during the transportation process, so I wouldn't count it out. Also crappy Microfibers will shrivel of course from bad design.

As well, there is only so much chemical content you want in your microfibers. A detergent-free microfiber will perform one better than something that keeps getting saturated.
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I would also like to know more. Thread has gained me alot of knowledge from the discussion.

Also, along the same lines as Woob. AG and others here, also recommend that before using any microfiber towels that you first wash them to remove any contamination that may have been introduced during shipment, etc. AG receives the towels from a manufacturer or distributor, they would tell them what the proper procedure should be.

I have not heard of any other (better) procedure. In fact I have been using the Gold Plush XL towels (favorite), washed with regular detergent and found that this procedure seems to work out for me.
 
Sorry to bring up an old thread, but has anyone had luck bringing back damaged drying towels?

I have 2 guzzlers and Meguiar's water magnet towels. All of them are currently water phobic. I letting them soak in hot water with micro restore and then rinsed in the washing machine with vinegar. No luck :(

I'm thinking of buying new towels and washing them by hand. It'll be nice if I can just get the ones I have in good working order.
 
I don't like the blue waffle towels. I have a shammy for the past 20 years and it's the best. I also use a water blade first and it makes the job that much easier.
 
You washed them with your wax removal towels and now they are not as absorbent. Never Ever wash WW Drying towels with anything else !:dblthumb2:
 
Mirror Detailing said:
I have some of the BLue waffle ones and to be honest they suck. I can dry a car faster(about 75% faster) with a old school shamcloth.
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I totally agree. . This is the only lousy MF I ever bought. I got them on BOGO and they werent worth it. IMO the HD Guzzler is by far the best of all AG WW MF's!
Cant speak to boiling.
 
I made the mistake of washing my Sonus Der Wonder drying towels with my wax removal MF's. Ever since, they just dont seem to want to soak up any liquid. Before I did that, they worked great!

As for washing my towels, I use about 1 ounce of Dawn for a standard medium load on hot water. I let them soak for around a 1/2 hour before start the cycle. When the rinse cycle comes, I add 1/4 cup of distilled Vinegar. I really dont know if the Vinegar helps or not for the structure of the MF, but it makes my bath towels really soft compared to a normal wash and rinse. I was told many years ago that soaking towels in 1/4 cup of vinegar per 5 gallons of water, will make them more obsorbent. I dont dry my MF's in a dryer, I hang dry them.

Does anyone know if the vinegar does harm to the MF's?
 
Wax Gorilla said:
You washed them with your wax removal towels and now they are not as absorbent. Never Ever wash WW Drying towels with anything else !:dblthumb2:
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Guess I need to get some new drying towels and learn from this mistake. I figured wax is stuck on to them since I washed everything together. I soaked the towels in hot water with very strong dilution of micro restore for several hours. I thought micro restore would remove the wax making my towels usable again...guess not.
 
White Vinegar will not harm the towels and may help rinse out and emulsify carIm the MANnuba based wax products.
 
Bunky said:
Can you send a link from a Korean factory about this?
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Sorry I missed this post (and I hope I don't come off as arrogant). I wish I had direct contact with Microfiber factories, I'd be distributing and creating my own blends. My first voice of credit would be when AdamsPolishes first hit the DetailCity forums in which they warned everyone to boil their MF for added benefit after receiving them. Second would be Pakshak, I THINK at one point Ranney was recommending you boil your MF as well. This all has to do with the contamination that may occur during the transportation process.

Boiling seems like alot of work and a scary procedure. When the idea first hit Autopia it was a response to the deterioration or build up of detergent/chemicals in waffle weaves from respected distributors. While MF absorb alot of chemicals and particles, they have to release these to continue to be effective. A free rinsing/free detergent helps this, as well as HOT water in the cleaning process. Adding White Vinegar in the rinse cycle helps to release extra chemicals/detergent (plus its been an age old added process in the past). Try this, if you've ever had high quality MF's at one point that slowly reduced their absorbing ability and almost "bead" water. Boil them for 15 minutes. Water boils at 212 F and these MF like cotton can take alot of heat. However do not forget about them and let all the water evaporate. You'll have a hilarious situation with the fire department.

Do NOT dry your microfibers on high, it creates static electricity that will ruin the absorbency of the MF. Don't ask me how I know.

Just try boiling with some good MF for 15 minutes and let us know your results.
 
I have seen some towels shrink or lose their shape in hot water. Colored ones will definitely run. Although care labels usually say use warm water, I cannot find a towel maker say it should never be done. I did see a post from Rubbermaid about their microfiber mops and they recommended around 160 F water if I recall which is higher than what most water heaters are set.

If someone wants the boil them, the best procedure is to boil some water, remove the stove, and then soak. Yes, it will not be a constant 212 F but definitely safer.
 
Well, I have really held back with this discussion. But I have to add my 2 cents. IMO, I would NOT do this with a MF towel that is in good shape and no issues. I WOULD try this if the towel's abilities have been compromised. Meaning, if it wasn't as absorbent, not as soft, or was shedding fibers. It might very well get more useful life from your MF and as expensive as they are, it just makes sense to do whatever you can to save them.

I have some MF that needs some help... I am going to give this a shot and see what happens. I will let you know the results.
 
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