MF's covered in Fabric Softener ... need help!

Discussion in 'Tools - Machine Polishers, Pressure Washers, Detai' started by GDAL, May 13, 2010.

  1. GDAL

    GDAL Guest

    Guys,

    The last time I washed my ride I noticed that some MF towels were beading water. I performed my routine of soaking them in boiling water with APC and Microrestore for a few hours. I checked the dryer and cleaned all the ducts to eliminate any fabric softener residue. I just checked the 1st drying load after the wash and dryer cleanup and the MF's are still beading water. I just finished placing all the MFs in boiling water with 3 oz of Zep Citrus in a five gallon bucket ... I won't touched them until tomorrow afternoon.

    Is there anything else I can do? Having an exclusive washer/dryer is out of the question. I already mentioned to my wife to stop using fabric softener sheets.

    Any advice?

    TIA
     
  2. kc1337

    kc1337 Obsessive Detailer

    I have the same problem, my dryer towels just spread the water around until they start to soak up some water.
     
  3. Mindflux

    Mindflux Welcome to Detailing

    Toss some vinegar in the rinse cycle of the wash. I don't even use microfiber detergent. Just dye / scent free soap and some vinegar.
     
  4. GDAL

    GDAL Guest

    i also used vinegar during the rinse cycle.
     
  5. Mindflux

    Mindflux Welcome to Detailing

    Well just use them as is until they clean up after a few washes.
     
  6. Tire Shredder

    Tire Shredder Jedi Nuba

    how much vinegar do you like to put in?
     
  7. 911Fanatic

    911Fanatic DB Pro Supporter

    Are you using a front end loader or top loader?
     
  8. kc1337

    kc1337 Obsessive Detailer

    front loader washer
     
  9. calypso

    calypso Any Rag Vehicle Washer

    I found the high static charge from the dryer can also cause some weird things to happen with hydrophobic fabrics. If your gonna use dryer try put in 2 tin foil balls just bigger then golf balls. Read it online but have not tried it myself yet.
     
  10. Dial Up

    Dial Up Birth of a Detailer

    sorry GDAL, dont mean to crash the party, i have a HE front loader washer does it make a

    difference washing MF towels in a top load non-he washer vs a HE front load?

    TIA :headbang:
     
  11. GDAL

    GDAL Guest

    1 tablespoon per MF.
     
  12. GDAL

    GDAL Guest

    Top loaded Ken ... at least 5-8 years old.
     
  13. GDAL

    GDAL Guest

    You cool ... I would also like to know the answer
     
  14. richy

    richy Guest

    Gianni, I'd put about a cup of vinegar in the wash...the advantage of the top loaders is you're not limited to the quantity of vinegar. The other thing is why don't you try hanging them to dry? Just snap them a few times to make them a bit more fluffy when done.

    Never heard of this. I may have to try it out.

    We have front load steam machines. I put vinegar in the fabric softener place. It only holds a few ounces. It seems to be enough. Use very little soap with them. If you have a 2nd rinse cycle, use it. They spin dry so quickly, you won't need to dry much.
     
  15. togwt

    togwt Nuba Guru

    Add a teaspoon per towel distilled white vinegar in place of a softener in the final rinse cycle, the vinegar instead works to eliminate detergent residue and the acid counteracts any alkaline minerals in the water supply. Do not use vinegar in every wash as it is a cationic (hydrogen ions bind to the anionic groups on the fibres) the disadvantage of coating fibres by hydrophobic layer is in decreasing the absorption properties of the fabric.

    Vinegar (Acetic acid, pH 2) works well in the rinse cycle to make your towels softer. Detergent is an alkaline (pH=12, the opposite of acidic on the pH scale).When you wash your towels (or anything for that matter) there are small amounts of detergent left behind, when you add Vinegar it balances the pH of the solution and helps removes the excess detergent from the wash.

    After using Washing Machine

    To ensure that the washing machine has no residual detergent or fabric softener; rise the machine drum with a 1:3 solution of washing liquid (with no bleach) / distilled white vinegar, clean about every 2-3 months
     
  16. Darkstar752

    Darkstar752 Horizon Detailing

    Crap my towels do the same thing since I guess I use too much vinegar, I was doing it every single time. Sounds like a wash and normal rinse is in order?
     
  17. calypso

    calypso Any Rag Vehicle Washer

    I fill the fabric softener dispenser to teh top with vinager, probably about 200ml
     
  18. GDAL

    GDAL Guest

    I think I have removed all the fabric softener residue after my 12-hour soak in Zep Citrus. I also followed Togwt's suggestion of cleaning the washer. Didn't use vinegar this time.

    Thank you all for the suggestions!!
     
  19. Quattro3.2

    Quattro3.2 Virgin Detailer

    Is diluted CG Grime Reaper to strong of an APC to use to soak microfibers? What would be a safe dilution? 1:5 or less?
     

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