Smack Towel Method (STM)

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

The Smack Towel Method.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...88875-smack-towel-method-stm.html#post1217340


Quite a while back Mike Phillips put together an article together called the Robert DiTerlizzi Method. This article demonstrates a method started by Robert and shared on AGO via Mike.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...-phillips/79586-robert-diterlizzi-method.html

The Robert DiTerlizzi Method is a great way to get hands on with your towels to inspect for foreign contaminates that could be present in your towels. I use this method after every towel washing session.

When they have passed the RDM method, I take it a step further and iron out my towels with a lint roller. This will remove any loose fibers and lint from the towel helping to minimize linting left behind on the surface.

STM = Smack Towel Method


Below, I have just completed ironing out the second Chinchilla.

Notice what the lint roller has picked up from just two towels. BTW, these towels are over 2 years old and not brand new.

This is after I have completed 6 towels.

With the STM, this will also ensure that foreign contaminates you can't see or feel with your hand are being removed.

:xyxthumbs:

 

[Angus]

Good idea! Did the lint seem like washer/dryer leftover debris from prior laundry loads? Or was it loose microfiber lint?

 

[Paul A.]

GREAT idea and pushing out the boundaries of "working clean"!

 

[Red Hawk]

I have done this for years now, but only after I hand pick what I can see off. It's frightening too see what can get caught in the nap of the towel.

 

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Good idea! Did the lint seem like washer/dryer leftover debris from prior laundry loads? Or was it loose microfiber lint?

Thanks.

I did make sure that the dryer screen was clean before starting the dry cycle. There very well could have been loose lint in the dryer that was attracted to the mf towels.

However I would say that most of the lint is from the towel linting itself. I have noticed no matter what I do, I can always pull up some lint after a drying cycle.

GREAT idea and pushing out the boundaries of "working clean"!

Thank you! Working clean is paramount to a quality end result!

I have done this for years now, but only after I hand pick what I can see off. It's frightening too see what can get caught in the nap of the towel.

It is very surprising to see what is removed from the towel via the lint roller.

 

[281]

Great idea Mike and thanks for sharing! I'm actually afraid to see what I'll find in my towels haha

 

[aim4squirrels]

Not for nothing, but running a lint roller across a towel hardly qualifies as a "technique" needing to be claimed, vouched for, acronymed, or otherwise credited.

Your contribution to using the Flex with Menzerna products and hybrid pads, that's noteworthy. Time, trial and error, and thought went into it's development.

This is not one of those things.

It would be as silly as me lacing my belt into my pants before I put them on being forever known as the "A4S technique", when really it's just come about as a result of me being a lazy, lard butt and finding an easier way to do it.

Perhaps I'm not in on the inside joke and this is really just a jest and barb at the RDT method of checking your towels for debris. Seriously, what half respectable detailer wouldn't be checking them in the first place?

Anyway, everyone's entitled to their opinion, now you all have mine. Flamesuit on..

 

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Great idea Mike and thanks for sharing! I'm actually afraid to see what I'll find in my towels haha

Thanks James! Try it and see what you find.... It would benefit you on your black paint.

Anyway, everyone's entitled to their opinion, now you all have mine.

Just as you've said, everyone's entitled to their own opinion.

Thanks for sharing yours.

 

[john b]

thanks for sharing that mike:xyxthumbs:

 

[SameGuy]

Added to my "best practices" SOP. Thanks.

 

[SameGuy]

@aim4squirrels -

meth·od /ˈmeTHəd/

noun

a particular form of procedure for accomplishing or approaching something, especially a systematic or established one.

Who pissed in your Cheerios this morning?

 

[Kamakaz1961]

Way cool!!

 

[fly07sti]

Damn it Mike. Now I have to go to Costco to buy a bundle of lint rollers and take the week off to go over my towels.

In all seriousness, great idea. I usually just "snap" each towel as it comes out of the dryer which has served me pretty well over the years. But I will grab a few different towels and see what I get. Thanks.

 

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

thanks for sharing that mike:xyxthumbs:

Sure thing John!

Added to my "best practices" SOP. Thanks.

Sounds good Francesco.

Way cool!!

Thanks CJ!

Damn it Mike. Now I have to go to Costco to buy a bundle of lint rollers and take the week off to go over my towels.

In all seriousness, great idea. I usually just "snap" each towel as it comes out of the dryer which has served me pretty well over the years. But I will grab a few different towels and see what I get. Thanks.

Lol. Just make sure you get the quality brand rollers featuring Scotch adhesives.

Years ago I used to pull them out of the dryer and give them a quick visual inspection before folding them up. After a while I started noticing some bad linting left behind on my black paint work and wondered what could be done to capture the excess lint.

Ironing them out with the lint roller has really helped curtail the left over lint on the paint issues.

 

[FUNX650]

Hi Mike...

I appreciate your time and efforts
taken to present this: "How To"!


IMO:
-Refactoring a method, into a method-object, is no small feat.

-And: By naming it, based on the purpose of the method/method-object: you created a new MF inspection class---one that readily accepts as parameters, imputed values of detailers' localized-variables.

-Henceforth...when it comes to MF inspection:
I have no reservations in stating that the STM is method to which many will now ascribe. Some may even declare that the STM will be their "main method".


Bob

 

[Mizzoutiger]

Great tip. Thanks Mike!

 

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Hi Mike...

I appreciate your time and efforts
taken to present this: "How To"!


IMO:
-Refactoring a method, into a method-object, is no small feat.

-And: By naming it, based on the purpose of the method/method-object: you created a new MF inspection class---one that readily accepts as parameters, imputed values of detailers' localized-variables.

-Henceforth...when it comes to MF inspection:
I have no reservations in stating that the STM is method to which many will now ascribe. Some may even declare that the STM will be their "main method".


Bob

Hi Bob,

Sure thing. Thanks for taking the time to respond.

Just trying to help out and maximize others end results.

Great tip. Thanks Mike!

Thanks! No problem!

 

[RobertJ34]

Not a bad idea at all...will have to try this out.

 

[Sizzle Chest]

Will have to add this to my routine. Thanks!

 

[builthatch]

yo

use the yellow sticky rollers.

they can be refreshed very easily to brand new by simply wiping with a soapy (dish soap) sponge and some warm water. they are superior to the paper rollers imo...and way more economical, obv. i have at least two in rotation at all times with a couple more in the wings just in case.

i have some that are several years old and are as good as new.