jtruman

This is probably a silly question. How do I wash the towel used to remove and buff the wax? I would throw it into the washer, but I thought water and wax don't mix, so will it come off? Will it cause a build up of wax in my washer? Is there some kind of cleaning solution one can use?

Bxscig

hmmm i want to know too. i spray with the hose to remove a lot then use hot water with some soap.

exceldetail

Im going to assume your using Microfiber towels? Throw them in the washer with hot water, and some tide detergent. Wallah....Theres really no science to it. Some people prefer to send it thru an additional rinse cycle, or about 1/4 cup of vinegar, but if you dont overload on the soap theres no problem. The phosphates will brake down the waxes and dispurse them. Im still using microfiber towels i have owned for two yrs, and probably washed at least 15-20 times. I own them by the 100's. DO NOT USE SOFTENER IN THE RINSE OR DRYER. Dry on low/med heat. Wash only with other microfiber towels. And if your still in the dark ages and using "cotton" cloths, the same principle applies.

SK2003TypeS

I go with warm water and liquid detergent. Double rinse cycle. Dry on low heat until damp and then let them air dry. I do this for my MF towels. My 100% cottons, I'll dry all the way. Oh, and don't mix cotton towels with MFs....lint factor.

I'm Batman

One key thing is to wash "like" towels together. Means wash your wax towel together seperate from your car wash towels.

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

KEYS:

- Use liquid detergent, as described above.
- If microfiber, let air dry (they dry pretty quickly without sticking them in the dryer)
- Don't put any other kinds of towels in with microfiber (they attract everything, like lint to them like a magnet and it's a bitch to get it off)

CLpower

i heard high heat isn't good for them


and patrick, ignore my PM, just saw this post

exceldetail

Cl i saw your pm before this post, so ignore my pm this time.....!

6mtV6

Never wash the microfiber towel with hot water.

I hand wash my microfiber towel with cold water and dawn dishwashing liquid. I make sure I rinse thoroughly to get all the dawn, wax, dirt, etc. out. Then I hang them to dry.

jtruman

Why can't wash with hot water? "exceldetail" implied he washed his 15-20 times in hot water without any problem?

ResidualFreedom

I use regular clothing detergent and put it through ion the hot cycle, let air dry and voila done. The hot water will not do any harm to the towel, it actually helps the wax come off. Cold water will make the wax contract, =the hot water will allow the wax to expand and release from the microfiber..

6mtV6

"MAINTAINING MICROFIBER
I’ve read a lot of tips on how to clean and care for microfiber. It’s really very simple.

The best general purpose cleaner is a liquid detergent. It’s better to use too little than too much. Liquid is recommended over powder because some powders do not completely dissolve and the granules will lodge in the toweling.

Wash in cold water only. Warm water can be tolerated, but hot water cannot. Polyester and polyamide both shrink in hot water. If you wash in hot water the fibers will shrink and the towel will not perform as intended.

Do not use fabric softeners of any kind. The softener will become lodged in the microfiber reducing its ability to absorb water, clean and pick up dirt. In short, you’ll have a soft towel that’s useless.

Do not dry above medium heat. Treat microfiber towels the same as you would your delicate clothing. Drying with high heat is worse that washing in hot water.

Just recently, a cleaning solution was developed specifically for cleaning microfiber towels. I tested a product called Micro-Restore Detergent that claims to effectively remove dirt without using the bleaches and softeners commonly found in laundry detergents. After cleaning several loads of dirty towels, I made the switch. My towels now seem to last longer and don’t get matted down."

http://www.bettercarcare.com/articles.php?articleId=44

exceldetail

Seriously, i own hundreds.....and have washed many many times, and have NEVER thrown one out because the material has failed due to hot water temps......It is safe to say "use warm or cold water" when your selling them though, less chance for color runs as well. I sell them by the hundreds too, and have always said wash warm/hot, and as RF stated, wax thins when it gets warm, easier to remove......You could wash one in hot and one in cold and see if theres a difference, if there is, theres your answer !

NYZGREATST

im assuming that you guys use the microfiber towels to apply and remove wax rite? where can i get these towels in bulk?!

SK2003TypeS

I use MF towels for removal of wax. For application I use the yellow foam applicators. Some use terry cotton or MF applicators. I get my MFs from www.pakshak.com. Great guy, great towels, great prices.

Justin Harms

You are fine to wash in HOT water. It actually opens up the fibers and helps release the dirt. However, to dry, use the lowest heat possible. Using too high heat in the dryer will melt the polyester fibers and ruin the towel and your paint job.

TacoBello

i always buy a 20 pack of microfibre towels for about $20, from Costco.

They aren't the super duper heavy water absorbing towels, but for what they are, they are great. Make sure to always pull off the sewn in label. It can introduce swirls to your clear coat. I just rip it off my MF towels.

TacoBello

To strip wax off your car, your supposed to wash with a dish detergent, such as dawn (as mentioned). If it strips the wax off your car, it'll strip it off the towels too.

Scott in AZ

I save them up with my bicycle cleaning rags then wash them all in hottest setting on the washing machine with a lot of detergent, extra rinse cycle, and dry them on medium in the dryer. Works fine for me.

08KBP_VA

Holy thread resurrection batman! 13years

littlelee17

You could wash all of the microfibers together, but always air dry.

kirbman

I used liquid detergents with reasonable success but broke down and bought Wolfang Microfiber Cleaner & Rejuvenator. You don't have to use a lot 1oz for small load and maybe 2oz for large load. Towels come out really clean and have very good feel to them not rough or anything. Of course I do a double rinse cycle in wash machine.

devensd54

I use 100% cotton towels for drying the car and removing wax. I wash them separately. For those that were used to remove wax, I use a cap full of Tide liquid detergent, wash them on the hot setting and dry them on the low to medium setting. I have dozens of these towels that have lasted for years with this approach. Again, I store the drying and wax towels in separate bags.