Washing microfibers with High-Efficiency Front-Load Wash Machines?

[Inzane]

Hi Guys,

My wife & I just got all new appliances for our new house, which includes a new pair of high-efficiency front load washer and drier (Kenmore brand). When my wife was reading the instructions for the washer, it stated specifically that you have to use a special "high efficiency" soap with this machine (otherwise you have have misc. problems with the machine such as excess foaming, mold buildup, etc. all kinds of issues). So of course she's thinking oh great she can't use all this regular Tide she had bought, meanwhile I'm holding back the urge to scream because my first thought was how am I going to wash my microfibers and mitts, etc.?

Does anyone have experience with these kind of washing machines and whether or not you could still use a MF-specific soap like "Micro-Restore"? Or have people successfully washed their detailing items using this special high-efficiency soap that the machine seems to require?

Thanks!
Jason

[Ruttrow]

We use the HE Woolite on microfiber. Seems to work well for me.

[Accumulator]

Originally Posted by Inzane

My wife & I just got all new appliances for our new house, which includes a new pair of high-efficiency front load washer ..Does anyone have experience with these kind of washing machines and whether or not you could still use a MF-specific soap like "Micro-Restore"? Or have people successfully washed their detailing items using this special high-efficiency soap that the machine seems to require?

We recently got a Whirlpool "Duet" HE washer. It washes MFs fine with HE detergent, but a bit *better* with MF-detergent. I use the "sanitary" cycle (very hot water) and I run a separate cycle with no detergent for a super-rinse. Then I do one more rinse with distilled white vinegar.


Works great and even a) restored the older WWs performance a little and b) softened up my one CBT that had gotten a bit stiff.

Just look through the glass door (assuming yours has one) and make sure there is no more sudsing before you do that final rinse- get all the detergent out. Use *VERY* little detergent, less than you think you oughta or you'll be doing rinses for days First time I washed my bathtowels/washcloths in the new washer, I did about dozen cycles with no detergent to get all the soap residue out- it *literally* took more than a full day!

As I understand it, some HE washers are beter/worse in this regard than others; our previous Sears/Kenmore HE washer was just awful, huge waste of money that I couldn't wait to replace.