stiff microfiber?

I

III

97 bonneville/98 Z71
Will microfiber, or even cotton for that matter become stiff if not rinsed out enough?
 
Yup, although I have only experienced fiber stiffness with a terry towel I use for drying. I suppose it's more to the fact that it's been used so often and many times left wet after drying down the car.
 
I have this happen quite frequently. Multiple rinses help, as does putting distilled white vinegar in the rinse. But the only thing that's *really* worked for me is using a Micro-Restore type detergent.



Even if I rewash 5-6 times (only using detergent for the first one) and run rinses over and over, I've played around with this, rewashing (without detergent)/rinsing them all day, I can't get the same results as I can with MicroRestore. Beats me why, but I just :nixweiss and do what works for me.
 
Thanks for the replies so far. The reason I'm asking is because even though I use the vinegar trick in the final rinse, I still seem to have a lot of suds left over. How do I know? After I use the vinegar in the first rinse cycle, I rinse again without the vinegar and watch how much suds are drained into the tub after that particular rinse. There seems to be a lot of suds still being left over and I don't use that much soap either. I've rinsed up to 4 times and I still see suds being released into the drain tub.



So, I'm sick and tired of doing so many rinses, as I feel I'm wasting water and my time. However, I don't want my towels getting stiff as a result of me not rinsing enough.
 
Its easy to use too much soap and not know it. Ever run out of shampoo while you in the shower, you get two or three drops out of the empty bottle and discover that that is really all you needed.



Im guilty myself of using way too much, when I pop the top on my washer during a rinse I also see soap. I have been told use half of what the bottle says to use or even 1/4 and its just as good if not better.



I second Micro Restore, I just bought some ERA based on Leo's comments ina previous post. With his backgrount in textiles he should know. I will report back if ERA does a better Job over the products I normally use.
 
III said:
There seems to be a lot of suds still being left over and I don't use that much soap either. I've rinsed up to 4 times and I still see suds being released into the drain tub.



So, I'm sick and tired of doing so many rinses, as I feel I'm wasting water and my time. However, I don't want my towels getting stiff as a result of me not rinsing enough.
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Heh heh, that sounds just like my initial experience! That's what prompted me to wash them over and over with hot water and no detergent. I finally even had the washing machine taken apart and cleaned out (pretty incredible what builds up in there :shocked ). I did eventually get all the sudsing to stop, and I always inspect during the rinses to make sure I don't need to do another one (which I often do anyhow). I sure know what you mean about wasting water though!



But even with a brand new machine and just a *tiny* bit of detergent, I have to use the MicroRestore.



FalconGuy- I always respect Leo's advice, his knowledge of textiles is second to none. I simply can't figure out why I need the MicroRestore (his arguments against such products make perfect sense). See how the Era works for you, no OTC detergents work like MicroRestore for *me* and I can't figure it out. I suspect it's my water, but I'm conditioning and double-filtering it already, and that's as far as I'm gonna go with water treatments.



Rob Tomlin- Maybe it has to do with the WWs being used to soak up water all the time. If your water is really hard they might be getting loaded with minerals. FWIW, the only WWs I have that are/stay *really* soft are the gray ones from MicroFiberTech. MicroRestore works well with my BBTs, but they're never as soft as those gray ones.
 
If you have suds left then your using WAAAAY to much detergent! This is one of the most common mistakes. You really need very little. Read the detergent makers instructions and use HALF of what they say and use hot water. I've known people to wash three towels and use a whole cup of detergent when they only need about a teaspoon. Remember, they want to sell you more detergent so they don't want you to skimp.
 
DFTowel said:
If you have suds left then your using WAAAAY to much detergent! This is one of the most common mistakes. You really need very little. Read the detergent makers instructions and use HALF of what they say and use hot water.
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I'm only using about 1 tablespoon (maybe just a tad less) to wash around 21 towels. In my opinion, this isn't a lot of soap, but apparently it is.
 
FalconGuy said:
Its easy to use too much soap and not know it. Ever run out of shampoo while you in the shower, you get two or three drops out of the empty bottle and discover that that is really all you needed.
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Good point.



It is easy to use too much. You want to be sure to get all the sealant/wax/polish out of the towel, so the tendency is to use too much detergent.
 
Accumulator and I had a big discussion on this topic a long time ago when I was having the same issues as you.



I actually washed my towels over a DOZEN times with PLAIN WATER before I stopped seeing suds. It was after this that I started using MicroRestore and never looked back. My towels have never felt better, and marring from the towels have been reduced down to barely anything at all.



Even when using MicroRestore, I still use vinegar in the final rinse and use Hot water wash and Warm water rinse. My washer doesn't have a Hot water option for rinse or I'd use it.
 
JDookie said:
Accumulator and I had a big discussion on this topic a long time ago when I was having the same issues as you.



I actually washed my towels over a DOZEN times with PLAIN WATER before I stopped seeing suds. It was after this that I started using MicroRestore and never looked back. My towels have never felt better, and marring from the towels have been reduced down to barely anything at all.



Even when using MicroRestore, I still use vinegar in the final rinse and use Hot water wash and Warm water rinse. My washer doesn't have a Hot water option for rinse or I'd use it.
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So, do you still do multiple rinses with micro-restore?
 
i'ev used liquid tide in warm water with no problems. on the last rinse, i turn the dial up one load to make sure that all the detergent gets rinsed out. then... into the dryer on the lowest setting they go, and they come out fluffy and clean everytime. :)
 
DFTowel said:
If you have suds left then your using WAAAAY to much detergent! This is one of the most common mistakes. You really need very little. Read the detergent makers instructions and use HALF of what they say and use hot water. I've known people to wash three towels and use a whole cup of detergent when they only need about a teaspoon. Remember, they want to sell you more detergent so they don't want you to skimp.
Click to expand...





So, I'm wondering, why don't the detergent manufacturers DILUTE their product, but still recommend using the same amount? Right amount of detergent for the consumer, more profit! What's the point in recommending an amount that'll eventually clog the material, make it stiff etc.? Are the detergent manufacturer's and the textile manufacturers in cohoots? :think:
 
Because if you dilute it it will look too watery, people have a concept of what things should be, not necessarily what works.



Regarding some prioducts that appear to not have as much residual suds as others... keep in mind that they may be a low suds detergent so you don't realize the detergent is still in the fabric.
 
I was having a simmilar prob untill I heard about Charlie's soap here on Autipia. I started using this stuff on all my laundry not just my MF's. No more soapy residue, and softer towels. What more could I want? And one gallon does 128 washes!
 
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