Microfiber 101 with DFB

[young at heart]

I’ve got some TRC FTWs coming in that I let myself be talked into before I discovered that they require more care than I’m willing to invest in them. And given that they are the most expensive (-$6.00) normal towels they sell I’d feel bad about not tending to them. Evidently the pile is such that they adsorb and hold on to any Si02, coatings, sealants or even wax they are used to remove and if not either washed right after use or soaked until washing they’re toast. I think I’ll just relegate them to glass and stick with the Edgeless 300, EE350 and EE500 that are a known quantity and easier to live with.

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[DFB5.0]

I’ve got some TRC FTWs coming in that I let myself be talked into before I discovered that they require more care than I’m willing to invest in them. And given that they are the most expensive (-$6.00) normal towels they sell I’d feel bad about not tending to them. Evidently the pile is such that they adsorb and hold on to any Si02, coatings, sealants or even wax they are used to remove and if not either washed right after use or soaked until washing they’re toast. I think I’ll just relegate them to glass and stick with the Edgeless 300, EE350 and EE500 that are a known quantity and easier to live with.

I think you are waaay overthinking this.

 

[young at heart]

I think you are waaay overthinking this.

Quite likely given my nature!

By this do you mean the FTWs do not in fact require more immediate and intense attention after use?

None of this was a huge problem for me until I recently acquired a black Mustang. That was a game changer. Until then I was happily chugging along with my Edgeless 300s for virtually everything on my red, blue and white cars. Literally everything from waterless washing to wax removal, you name it and the Edgeless 300s did the trick beautifully. I’d simply order a case and throw ‘em away when they got dirty. At ~70 cents each it was a no brainer for me. Now, with ol’ Blackie not so much anymore!

 

[MrMike]

Any towels that have product on them get soaked in a bucket with 1-2oz of Rags to Riches, then in the washing machine with 1oz. Always cold water. Never had an issue. I would treat FTW the same way.

 

[young at heart]

Any towels that have product on them get soaked in a bucket with 1-2oz of Rags to Riches, then in the washing machine with 1oz. Always cold water. Never had an issue. I would treat FTW the same way.

Yes. That is in fact the correct way per TRC.

But it’s way more process than I’m willing to undertake.

 

[MrMike]

Yes. That is in fact the correct way per TRC.

But it’s way more process than I’m willing to undertake.

The one time I did not follow the process, the issue was not the condition of the towels.

My dryer ended up with product in it because the washing machine wash was insufficient. The towels came clean again after starting over with the correct process.

If you're not soaking, I would be sure to run your washer on extra rinse and a cleaning cycle after. Low pile towels are probably safest.

 

[skinnyb]

The one time I did not follow the process, the issue was not the condition of the towels.

My dryer ended up with product in it because the washing machine wash was insufficient. The towels came clean again after starting over with the correct process.

If you're not soaking, I would be sure to run your washer on extra rinse and a cleaning cycle after. Low pile towels are probably safest.

I do this on all my towels. I have the washer on the extra rinse cycle every time. Works like a charm. And I wash "glass" towels separate from "paint" towels.. I also use my wash soap bucket for the soak after using the towels to keep them wet and soapy especially for the ones I use a Si02 drying aid with.. I only rinse and put away the bucket after the towels are in the washer... 2 birds, 1 stone

 

[young at heart]

So are you guys pre-soaking towels that are used with products only containing waxes or perhaps gloss-enhancing polymers? Say stuff like waterless wash/wax, spray detailers, spray waxes, etc.? I would have thought that towels used with these things would be ok to lay around waiting on a full wash load. I guess I just assumed the precautions only applied to towels used to remove sealants, coatings, ceramics and that sort of stuff. Maybe not?

 

[MrMike]

I do this on all my towels. I have the washer on the extra rinse cycle every time. Works like a charm. And I wash "glass" towels separate from "paint" towels.. I also use my wash soap bucket for the soak after using the towels to keep them wet and soapy especially for the ones I use a Si02 drying aid with.. I only rinse and put away the bucket after the towels are in the washer... 2 birds, 1 stone

Yes this is exactly what I do as well. After I finish washing the car, I empty the buckets then I toss the towels in the soap bucket as I am doing stuff. After I'm done, bucket goes in the utility sink, squirt some R2R in there, and fill it with water.

So are you guys pre-soaking towels that are used with products only containing waxes or perhaps gloss-enhancing polymers? Say stuff like waterless wash/wax, spray detailers, spray waxes, etc.? I would have thought that towels used with these things would be ok to lay around waiting on a full wash load. I guess I just assumed the precautions only applied to towels used to remove sealants, coatings, ceramics and that sort of stuff. Maybe not?

Anything that has polymers, wax, SiO2, etc gets soaked for me.

If a towel is just used to dry (e.g. a TRC pluffle with no drying aid) or on glass (I don't use glass coatings) it can go right in.

 

[kilobravo]

Are those the Everest?

I don't think so, Alex but I've since deleted the order email. Got the Platinum Pluffle as directed but I can't remember what name TRC uses for the white towels. Maybe I DID order the Everest. <smile>

 

[skinnyb]

I don't think so, Alex but I've since deleted the order email. Got the Platinum Pluffle as directed but I can't remember what name TRC uses for the white towels. Maybe I DID order the Everest. <smile>

I love the Everest. They are so soft and nice. I haven't tried the Pluffle yet. I have Gauntlet and Double Twistress...

 

[young at heart]

I love the Everest. They are so soft and nice. I haven't tried the Pluffle yet. I have Gauntlet and Double Twistress...

I have some Eagle Edgeless 350s and 500s ordered to see if they’re worth the money over my Edgeless 300s for a do-everything towel that can be thrown away. But factoring in cost I doubt it. TRC has such a broad product line I find myself falling into the analysis paralysis rabbit hole.

Like I said earlier until I recently got this black car the E300s did all I needed. I’ve always thought they were underrated.

 

[GrabberBargeCaptain]

I just use regular washing detergent on hot cycle ( i do not hit the "water heater" button which would make it hotter). Have used the same Rag Company towels (nano 500s and 3 gauntlet drying towels) and they're still all as soft and effective as the day i bought them. I thought about trying Rags to Riches but don't see the need.

 

[DFB5.0]

I just use regular washing detergent on hot cycle ( i do not hit the "water heater" button which would make it hotter). Have used the same Rag Company towels (nano 500s and 3 gauntlet drying towels) and they're still all as soft and effective as the day i bought them. I thought about trying Rags to Riches but don't see the need.

Just make sure its a liquid and not a powder. The powered type is quite abrasive when dry, so any undissolved powder remaining in the towel could end in tears.

 

[MAGS1]

I just use regular washing detergent on hot cycle ( i do not hit the "water heater" button which would make it hotter). Have used the same Rag Company towels (nano 500s and 3 gauntlet drying towels) and they're still all as soft and effective as the day i bought them. I thought about trying Rags to Riches but don't see the need.

Should really use cold water with microfiber towels and rags. Hot water damages the fibers.

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