How to restore microfiber towels

I

irsankao

OCD Detailer!
I have dozens microfiber towels, towels to wipe wax, polish, and waffle weave.

The problem I am having now is those towels become hydrophobic, they don't absorb water, really hard to absorb water. They become stiffs.



I have another set of mf towels which I really take care, I washed it with hot water and laundry detergent and rinse them with small amount of vinegar, they are always as good as new. But I can't wash dozens mf towel these way so I regularly toss them to washing machine, I separate the wax and polish, and waffle weave. But I still have this problem after numerous washes.



So as pro detailer, how do you deal with this issue?
 
Personally once they get like that I just toss them in the garbage and order up some more. I have probably at any given time 300 or so MF towels here. Once they loose their usefulness it's time for new. Everything wears out. If regular launduring with detergent and vinger (put my viniger in the softner chute) is no longer cutting it get rid of them and buy new. I proabably toss out anywhere from 20-30 MF's a week because they are just worn out for what I need them for. Just the way I do things though.
 
Jakerooni said:
Personally once they get like that I just toss them in the garbage and order up some more. I have probably at any given time 300 or so MF towels here. Once they loose their usefulness it's time for new. Everything wears out. If regular launduring with detergent and vinger (put my viniger in the softner chute) is no longer cutting it get rid of them and buy new. I proabably toss out anywhere from 20-30 MF's a week because they are just worn out for what I need them for. Just the way I do things though.
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Send me the 20-30 you throw out a week. ;) I always got a spot for them.



But I use vinegar to bring back some life. If that doesn't work, I will toss them to wheels, wheel wells, exhaust pipes.
 
Jakerooni said:
Ahh trust me you don't want these. They all get rotated down through the processes.. Once they hit the garbage they really are ready for it.
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That's what I do.



They go from paint detail > window detail > interior detail > wheel detail > engine detail > motorcycle chain lube cleaning > trash.



They are not usually very dirty until used on the wheels a couple times though...
 
once they don't absorb and are too stiff to use, just toss them. it's not worth using and having the headache if they streak, scratch, etc. use them to wipe down the engine, clean the wheel wells, and so forth one last time, and then introduce them to the trash...
 
Riddle isn't kidding, plenty of people have rejuvenated their MFs by boiling them :xyxthumbs



Gotta admit I've never gotten around to trying it myself though :o I just wash them in a MF-detergent (e.g., MicroRestore) and then rewash them *many* times in very hot water with no detergent. By many times I don't mean just six or eight either ;) Then I do a final warm/hot water rinse with some vinegar in it.



While the above doesn't bring my MFs back 100%, it's fixed them well enough that I've been able to keep seemingly hopeless ones in service, including some WW drying towels I'd pretty much given up on.



But my plush MFs get downgraded to grunge-duty as soon as they're not like-new. Nothing but the best, in the best condition, touches my paint with any kind of pressure.
 
I usually wash my MF towels in warm or Hot water with charlie's powder detergent and add vinegar in the last cycle (in the softener or bleach compartment).



The the next time I use Micro restore usually 2-3 times and dose. Plus the vinegar.

They usually come out pretty ok.



I may partially dry them as air drying makes feel harsher (at least on my hands)



boil them? Can you share more details?



Just regular water for how long etc?



I have a couple WW towels that may give it a shot.

But I agree better not use them on paint than spending all the time to buff the marring and scratches they caused. :)



Cheers



nick
 
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