xfire said:
What kind of vinegar is used for the final rinse of the towels (white wine, distilled, etc...)? How much do you put into it? Do you put it into the section where softener is supposed to go?
Some mention your cleaning works even better with a presoak...anyone have any ideas on what to do as a presoak routine before throwing towels into the washing machine?
Okay I’ll make as best of a run down as i can.
Washing in hot,
Hot water up to 240 degrees f (yes you can get water that hot under pressure) will in most cases rejuvenate synthetic fibers. The exceptions to this are rayon and acetate. They have a bit of natural material in them and must be cleaned below 140*f.
Where people are saying hot water is detrimental is probably a combination of the heat of the water and to strong a cleaner or a cleaner with a fabric softener in it. That combination probably does some minor damage, I doubt it is un repairable. My suggestion if you make the mistake is to either boil them for 5 min, or to run them on the hottest wash with no detergents you can.
Most laundry detergents are fairly strong. IE 10.5 on the ph scale. Is that bad? no, not really, Natural fibers can easily handle 10 ph every once in a while. Synthetic can handle 13 ph every once in a while. Most APC's will show up around 13 ph. The reason they are this strong is, Dirt, grime, and some greases are best removed by a high alkaline detergent.
So what do you do in the rinse cycle to bring the fiber back to 7 ph. You can't add fabric softener. Fabric softener’s primary goal is to lower the PH and return it to neutral, That leaves the fabric feeling softer. Since other portions of the fabric softener degrade the fiber or make it stick to its self. What do you use?
You use vinegar, simple distilled vinegar will have enough ph to neutralize the high alkalinity of the detergents. Add it in your rinse cycle. Or as I do, in my 2nd rinse cycle. (Because i forget to make it to the first cycle)
How much vinegar do you use? It depends on how much water and what size load you are using. Here is how you test. Get a pool ph test kit. Put your laundry soap in. Fill up your tub; find out the ph. then while it is mixing keep adding vinegar till you bring the ph down to 7. That is how much you add per load.
Couple of steps to get those really dirty grimey ones clean. Once again, this is basic cleaning process 101. TIME-HEAT-AGITATION/CHEMICAL
Put your soap in first,
Fill half of the (highest hot) water so the soap is fully diluted.
Add all your towels
Let fill the rest of the way.
Let run half the agitation cycle.
Stop the wash for at least two hours. Thus letting the detergents and towels soak together.
Restart wash be sure it rinses on hot.
Restart rinse, add vinegar.
Then toss in dryer without dryer sheet.