Cleaning mf rags

[rickssimpala]

How do you guys clean your rags? Do u use detergent,bleach, just water?

[HLxDrummer]

I haven't been here long but it seems like people either wash them in the washer (I use cold water) by them selves with liquid detergent then rinse them a bunch. If you put them in the dryer, don't use heat.

I just put in a little bit of liquid detergent, let the washer run a little and mix up the water/det. real well then dump them in (I also split up the MF's into wax/wheels/etc. so I don't contaminate them with other chemicals). Then I set the washer to rinse twice and rinse them once on my own after. I then let them air dry.

Some people also buy stuff made specifically for MF's and wash them in a bucket, but I'm not familiar with that.

[idrift4wd]

DO NOT USE BLEACH

i usually let my rags soak in dish soap with very warm to hot water but not to hot. so everything dissolves off the rags.

then i put it in the washing machine on warm. then dry heat on low. if to hot it can burn the microfiber. best process is you just air dry the towels

[LangMan37]

Rags?? Really?? I wash my MF Towels in liquid detergent and vinager. Double rinse.

[Perferd]

No bleach no dryer sheets and low to no heat...Wash them by themselves (separate from your clothes) with your regular detergent. I have also used some sort of reconditioning solution that brought my old ones back up to speed. Oh and I have boiled them to get all the crap I had in them from being used and stored for awhile...

[BigAl3]

wash them in warm water with liquid detergent (very small amount as they are very concentrated these days) and add vinegar on the last rinse cycle (depending if the final rinse is still has alot of soapy water, a second rinse would be good). then into the dryer on low heat with no fabric softener/dry sheets...

[Elkiebob]

I use Griot's Microfiber Cleaner. It's an additive that you add to washer with regular laundry detergent. Then you put them in the dryer. Follow the instructions and you can't go wrong.

[Accumulator]

This one might be well worth the dreaded search as we've covered it in some detail a few times.

Short version: some of us (myself included) do much better with the "MF detergents", others do fine with regular liquid laundry detergent.

Hot water is OK and IMO the hotter the better (I use the "sanitary" cycle). Rinse rinse rinse, last one with the distilled white vinegar. Take a peek during the last rinse and see if there are still any suds, if so, I'd rinse again.

Boiling (yes, *boiling*) is popular with some people and can be good for rejuvenating waffle weave drying towels.

The temps attained by (properly operating) home dryers aren't gonna hurt MF. Some people like to air-dry them, but my MFs come out fluffier when I use the dryer.

Yeah, no softeners, sheets, or bleach.

[Slickery]

I have a gallon of MF detergent, and i find that using regular cloths soap tide high efficiency in the washer works better. No fabric softener, and I dont dry them in the dryer.

[P1et]

For my dirty all purpose towels, I let me pre-soak in hot water mixed with my favorite MF wash. After that, in the washing machine they go. Warm, second rinse, then air dry.

[Accumulator]

Originally Posted by Slickery

I have a gallon of MF detergent, and i find that using regular cloths soap tide high efficiency in the washer works better..

Perfect example of "YMMV". I use Tide HE for my household MFs and MF detergent for my detailing ones (same washer, same settings). In *my* case the results are the exact opposite of yours.

Lucky you, being able to avoid the added cost of the MF detergent! Grr...I gotta order some MF detergent while the Memorial Day sales are running, sure wish I could just get by with the Tide

[HLxDrummer]

Well, instead of opening a new thread I'll post in here.

Do you guys wash all of your MF's together? I'm kind of concerned about polish/wax getting on my IPA wipedown MF/Zaino MF/Window MF. Do you think a few rinses will cure this worry, or should I do them separately?