JLTSX07

Hello,

I'm just wondering how long you can wait to wash microfiber towels, and foam applicator pads after doing a detail that involves waxes, polishes, compounds, etc? I guess my question is, should I wash the stuff that I use immediately following a detail, or can it wait a day or two before washing?

Thanks much!

Jeff

SweetJazz

I never wash my MF's right away especially after a long detail session. I do not see a problem waiting a few days.

Denzil

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, I don't think it really matters either way. However if it's ever a problem, you could always let the towels soak for a few hours to let it saturate in the wash solution.

exceldetail

My needs are pretty low on the totem pole in my house. The wife makes me wait and wait and wait......Maybe a week or two even until I have time with the washer and dryer for my business needs.....lol. Course I may not be as anal as some of you either. Stains dont really bother me either for my own personal needs. But if Im doing a clients car, great looking towels helps bring a nice professional appearance to the job site.
As Denzil said, presoaking may help. If its been a while for my towels, I will usually do a pretreat/prewash in the washer, then run them.....

Jesstzn

I wash my towels when I get a decent load. Most of my "wax off" towels see little staining. The foam pads I wash by hand right away so the sealant doesn't dry in them. Alternate is to put them in a Zip Lock bag to keep them from drying out if you can't wash right away.

The towels are used for wiping off dry sealant so its not going to dry in the towel. The towels I use for polish removal don't seem to mater either way.. the Optimum polishes wash right out.

nf3d0149ab

iTrader: (5)

Towels...Wash 'em after after every cleaning session.

Usually the same day or no later than the day after.

Flipster23

iTrader: (15)

I wash mine about 3-5 days after i need to clean them today while im thinkin about it.

BTW does it matter if you wash in cold or warm I know not to use fabric softner and I dont you heat to dry them

exceldetail

I prefer washing in hot with my laundry soap, or Charliesoap if they've been sitting for a while. i always dry medium heat, and remove while still slightly damp.

nf3d0149ab

iTrader: (5)

Does it really shorten the MF's life to completely dry?

Flipster23

iTrader: (15)

shoot kuz i let it dry all the way and use low heat.

and wash it in hot maybe ill try that.. PLus i have that HE detergent im going to go wash right now thanks guys

Denzil

iTrader: (1)

I usually wash warm but if they're pretty dirty, I'll run them with the hot setting. As for drying, I do the same thing as Pat and just dry them enough so that they're slightly damp. I feel like it's not really good for them if you over-dry.

nf3d0149ab

iTrader: (5)

Makes sense.

Flipster23

iTrader: (15)

I just washed mine in hot water now there in the dryer on delicate cycle 17 min low heat

exceldetail

Next time your wife has the hair dryer out, take it to your hair, on hot, until its desert dry.......
Then ask yourself, "Was that necessary"?

Flipster23

iTrader: (15)

they came out excellent i do need to pick up some more though just to have plus get like a little carrier for all my stuff then I will be set

nf3d0149ab

iTrader: (5)

Those cheap clear plastic shelving units seem to be pretty good.

Used those before in the past for auto stuff.

Flipster23

iTrader: (15)

never seen them or maybe I have its like travel size?

nf3d0149ab

iTrader: (5)

They have them at Target...

Flipster23

iTrader: (15)

Ill go look at it.

O wait I know what your talking about they have the little drawers yea good thinking I can carry that around too kuz it has wheels

nf3d0149ab

iTrader: (5)

More expensive options could be found at The Container Store.

meagain

I dropped a few MFs this weekend and some others got debris blown on them when the wind kicked up. Seriously there are leaf bits and little sticks on them. Started picking them out. It's like they're velcro'd.

I suppose they are garbage now?

detailersdomain

if they hit the floor I would say throw them out. it would drive me nuts to put a scratch on a car because I kept it.

meagain

Grrr. Thanks. Guess I'll use them in the kitchen. MANY towels involved.

teopeht

iTrader: (2)

dont throw them out. the ones that get dirty end up doing the drying in the engine bay, gas cap, inside the doors. i use a sharpie and write Dirty on both sides so I don't use it on the paint.

ooh and I use dirty ones on my exhaust tips too.

DetailedImage

After the wash process, I'd recommend rinsing out your bucket and filling it with water and pouring some degreaser or MF detergent in the bucket. After you're done with each towel, throw them in the bucket to soak and immediately start releasing the product from the towel. If you do this, I find you can wait to wash the towels and still yield excellent results. I've had some products that simply cake up on me after letting it sit too long and the towel is never the same.

Here's some more info on caring for microfiber towels.

The better you keep your towels, the less you'll spend in the long run on new ones.

TSC17

Another thing I'll do is to inspect all of them after I pull them out of the dryer. A few times I've caught where some crazy piece of debris has lodged itself into the towel that would have wreaked havoc on the finish. Stuff can be picked up from the washer and/or dryers themselves. I found a handful of towels once that had fine pieces of aluminum foil stuck in them. After a bit of research, I found that a foil candy wrapper had gone through the wash, broke into tiny little pieces, and contaminated my good MF towels. Had I not inspected them afterwards, I would have destroyed some paint!

As I pull them out of the dryer and am folding them, I'll visually inspect and run my hand across both sides of the towel to make sure they're good to go. It only takes a few seconds, and it can really save you in the long run.

I wash/dry my good (paint) towels separately from my general purpose ones too.

PortlandRL

I do all my loads separately and the pads are usually the first to go. I don't like compounds hardening in them and with the purple colored Menzerna polishes on the white LC pads, staining is inevitable. All you can do is try to minimize it.

Wash and drying stuff goes in together, pads go in solo, the clean paint work cloths go in solo and then the 'grunt' cloths go in last.