Who's become a genie at keeping microfibers soft as new?

Hey guys,

I know this is probably a dud thread from the way it sounds, but I just wondered if someone has found the magic routine to keep microfibers in new performing condition. I know all the basics of no fabric softeners/ bleach etc...in fact I exclusively use micro-restore to wash mine. I've tried to air dry, but that actually makes the fibers stiffer in my experience (I let them hang indoors in the A/C. I can't seem to make microfibers last, they tend to get less plush through washing, so I didn't know if anyone knew of a particular type of towel that is great at staying fluffy at least for a few months.

I need not go for bulk or efficiency, as I am just a hobby detailer for my own car. I really like the cookie monster type towels from eshine, and the blue griots speed shine clothes (which im fairly sure are the same towel), but these seem to lose their plushness when I dry them after a wash.

Any tips I'd appreciate!

 

I have a ton of older Monster Fluffies from Nick (Prima) and they are still in near perfect condition. As well as a bunch of 10 year old waffles and other misc. from Waynes Towels (really old school) and they are all in mint condition. I wash them by themselves in cold water with allergy free liquid soap, usually just the generic store brand soap. I dry them on low heat or fluff. No fabric softners or bleach and they've given me years of service.

 

I've got to be doing something way wrong in my wash cycles because I have some towels that have lost their softness (as far as what I consider a standard to touch my paint) after one wash. I think maybe micro-restore isn't all it's cracked up to be maybe? Especially my waffle weaves get stiff, ive got to get to the bottom of this, because buying new towels every few weeks when I wanna wash and wax is crazy in my wallet!

 

I use Chemical guys MF wash, but when that is out ill probably used Oxy clean, I dry on low heat for 10 minutes then run for till dry on no heat.............give that a shot

 

Hey Karl you get your stuff yet??

I'm gonna give thata try

 

not yet sir...... prob tomorrow.

 

I used to have similar challenges with m/f towels not staying soft and absorbent, until I started using Distilled White Vinegar in the Rinse Cycle.
I also use either Microfiber or Chemical Guys microfiber liquid detergent, but I always use the distilled white vinegar in the rinse cycle and now all my towels including cotton are way nicer.
Also use low heat, perhaps 15 minutes on, then cool then down, then if still damp, another round or perhaps less time at low heat.
My towels even the cheap ones for cleaning yucky stuff are very soft and work great.
Dan F

 

I'm generally not experiencing the problem you're reporting and I mostly use Micro-Restore although I have used Tide Free & Gentle and BioKleen Free & Clear. I have seen this with a few cheap towels but rarely. My good towels are mostly a mix of PakShak, MicrofiberTech, Autoality and Detailer's Domain. I think if I were you I'd start with getting a water report from the city if you're on city water. If you use well water try Ward Labs in Nebraska. You could also use them to double check a city water report which is usually an average over a 90-day or longer period. I use a dryer on low heat until the towels are 75% - 85% dry and then use an air cycle to finish. I find that at least partially machine drying leaves the towels softer than hang drying. Have you tried a double rinse and/or distilled white vinegar in the rise cycle? You might also ask someone to touch some new towels and some that have been washed a couple times without telling them which are which and ask them if they feel a difference. It is better yet if you aren't even present when they do this. My take is that people in general are far more suggestible than they would like to believe.
There has been some positive buzz recently about the Blackfire Microfiber Cleaner & Restorer but I haven't tried it. My friends who have used both CG MicroFiber Rejuvenator and Micro-Restore didn't feel that there were substantial differences between them

 

I keep reading about using the distilled white vinegar in the rinse cycle. I'm going to have to try that.

 

For those that use the vinegar, how much do you use?

 

how much vinegar do you put in? i've washed my towels once and they arent as fluffy as they were when new. (used tide liq detergent)

 

I am using at least 3 fluid ounces of Distilled White Vinegar in the Rinse Cycle. It has made my towels better each time I use it.
Dan F

 

I've gotten great results just using All Free detergent on a gentle cold wash cycle with a low heat or fluff drying cycle. Never tried vinegar or Micro Restore since I've never felt like I needed to.

 

I had a real interesting finding tonight!!! I think I may have spotted my problem source. Believe it or not, I think micro restore is actually the problem. I asked my niece tonight what she thought of some of my towels and she described them as "grabby". I said yeah that's a great way to describe it. So then I thought what would make it grabby would be residue....the only source being my detergent. So, I tested out rewashing them but with this time I used just normal gain with no fabric softeners or bleach. Then dried on low heat like normal. Shazam! The towels are completely restored to softness. Go figure, the micro restore actually did the opposite of its desired effect...

I can't believe it but it's what happened!

 

I'm having the same issue with my towels, I also use Micro-Restore. Looks like I'll be changing it up!

 

I use baby liquid detergent - no dyes, optical brighteners, enzymes, bleach or fabric softeners, supposed to rinse clean too. To be safe though, I also do a second rinse cycle, with a cup of vinegar added.

 

I have never used any microfiber specific detergents and had great luck. Follow the rules and you are good to go.

 

Yep, can't believe that the microfiber detergent was actually the culprit! Gonna try dreft next

 

I use All Free and Clear in the wash on gentle hot wash/cold rinse. Then throw them in the dryer on tumble dry. Seems to be working pretty well. I have mostly Uber All Purpose MF's and the CG Ultra Plush towels.

 

Per recommendation a couple years ago I started using Tide Free and Clear when I ran out of Chemical Guys Microfiber wash.

Some of my WW towels are 6 years old and still going strong.