Vehicle owners can attest that keeping their cars clean can be quite expensive and time-consuming. Taking the vehicle for cleaning in an auto shop can have you wait in line for a long time. However, whether you have the vehicle cleaned or do it yourself, you need to have some cleaning products. A microfiber towel makes vehicle cleaning quite easy.
A microfiber towel elevates the efficiency of a washing service. These towels are also quite useful in car detailing and cleaning companies. However, the towel may become useless if you fail to maintain it properly. One of the ways to keep a microfiber towel in good shape is by keeping it clean. Therefore, if you own one, you should learn oh how to wash microfiber towels for cars.
What is Microfiber?
Microfiber is not just any other type of fabric. It is a synthetic fiber made consisting of polyamide and polyester. Polyamide is similar to nylon, while polyester is a type of plastic. The fibers in a microfiber towel are split into very small strands that are absorbent and dry fast.
Polyester gives the structure of the towel, while the polyamide adds absorption and density. These towels are absorbent, soft, and quite durable. These features make microfiber towels ideal for cleaning cars, sports gear, furniture, and apparel. Its soft nature makes it suitable for cleaning car finish and windows without scratching.
Microfiber towels are quite sensitive to wear and tear, but you can keep them intact for a long time by taking good care. The best way to take care of these towels is to keep them clean. Before we get to how to wash microfiber towels for cars, let us learn some tips and things to know before the washing process:
Things to Know Before Washing a Microfiber Towel
Before you wash the microfiber, always separate them depending on how dirty they are. Separate the slightly soiled towels from others that are extremely grimy, oily, and dirty.
- Do not wash your microfiber towels together with other cotton towels or clothing. This will prevent the clothes from mucking up your towel with lint.
- Never use soap pods when washing your microfiber cloths. These soaps have detergents and scents that could cause clogging of the microfiber. A preferable way is washing microfiber towels with tide.
- You should never iron a microfiber towel since it will melt the fibers.
- Never use bleach on microfiber since it breaks down the fibers, thus reducing its effectiveness to correct dirt and dust.
How to Wash Microfiber Towels for Cars
Like we have said before, a microfiber towel is an important tool for every car owner and detailer. They offer you a lot of benefits while cleaning your vehicle. A clean microfiber cloth can clean up to 99% bacteria from a smooth surface. The towel can withstand up to 500 washes if cleaned regularly.
The way you clean a microfiber will impact its effectiveness. Failing to clean them will create a rank odor. Caring for a microfiber towel is quite easy if you understand the rules. You should wash your microfiber cloth after every use. Here is how to wash microfiber cloths UK:
Method 1: Hand Washing Microfiber Towels
You can use several methods to clean your microfiber towels, and one of them is hand washing. This is a simple method that you can use even when you do not have a washing machine. When hand washing the towels, you will require two buckets, a washboard brush, and a clear laundry detergent. Here are steps on how to wash microfiber towels by hand:
- Put warm to hot water in a bucket. Also, have another bucket with clean water for rinsing.
- Add a small amount of mild laundry detergent. Do not use harsh detergent or fabric softener. Some people recommend washing microfiber towels with dawn dish soap.
- Stir the water with your hands to form foam before you dip the towels
- Shake off dirt and debris from each microfiber towel before you dip it in the bucket of water. At this point, separate the towels depending on how soiled they are.
- Submerge the microfiber cloths in the water with the detergent. Toss the clothes to let the detergent sink in the fibers.
- Start washing the towels. You can use a washboard to scrub out dirt. Continue soaking and washing until the towel is completely clean.
- Dip the washed towels in the bucket with clean water for rinsing. This will assist in eliminating any particles that may have been left behind.
- Squeeze out extra from the towel and lay them out to dry.
Always presoak heavily soiled towels before washing. Presoaking these towels help in loosening bonds of particle contamination to the fiber. Soak the microfiber towels in warm water mixed with mild detergent for at least one hour.
Method 2: Using a Machine
Instead of hand washing, some people prefer to wash the microfiber towels with their washing machine. To use this method, you will require a washer, clear and free washing detergent. You can also use a microfiber cleaning solution if you have one. A washing machine will make the process easier and faster. Follow these steps to wash microfiber with a machine:
- Separate your towels based on how you use them or how dirty they are. If you use the towels for different purposes, washing them differently will avoid cross-contamination.
- Shake the microfiber towels to remove debris and dust.
- Set the washing machine to warm water. Warm water helps in removing grime and dirt from the towel without interfering with its electric charge.
- Add enough free detergent depending on the number of microfiber towels you will be washing. You can look for the best detergent for microfiber towels UK. Most of these detergents are made specifically for washing microfibers.
- Put your towels in the washing machine. Press the start button on the washer and wait for it to finish its cycle.
- You can let the towels soak for 20 minutes and resume the cycle.
- Remove the microfiber clothes from the washing machine and shake off the crinkles.
NB: Whether you wash the towels by hand or machine, you need to learn how to wash microfiber towels vinegar. Vinegar is recommended since it helps to remove wax from the towel. After putting the detergent into the water, add a little amount of vinegar for easy cleaning. As you enjoy its benefits, the detergent gets rid of the vinegar smell.
Drying Microfiber Towels
After washing the towel, the next step is to dry it. Drying microfiber towels is as important as washing them. However well you wash the towels and fail to dry them well, it will be all in vain. There are two ways that you can use to dry these clothes. You can dry them on a clothesline or use a dryer.
Hanging microfiber towels outside to dry in the sun helps in good air circulation. This method extends their useful life. However, most people these days prefer to use a dryer. If you choose the latter, you need to ensure that you are using the right process.
Drying Microfiber in a Dryer
Here are the steps of drying microfiber with a dryer:
- Clean the lint trap thoroughly to prevent the microfiber from getting lint.
- Separate microfiber from other clothes when drying. You should never dry your microfiber towels together with other clothes; else, they will get lint.
- Set the dryer to low heat or air fluff. Never dry microfiber towels on high heat.
- Do not use dryer balls or sheets to dry microfiber towels
- Load the towels in the dryer and dry them as necessary
- Remove the towels from the dryer when the cycle finishes
When your microfiber towels are clean and dry, fold them properly and place them in storage containers. Good storage of these towels will prevent them from contamination before the next usage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How Do You Restore a Microfiber Towel?
At times microfiber towels for washing cars become so dirty that we think you cannot restore them. However, you can clean the towels and bring them back to shape with the right tools and process. The first thing you should consider is presoaking the heavily soiled towel before you wash it.
Vinegar also helps a great deal to remove wax and grease from microfiber towels. Put an amount of vinegar and detergent in water and soak the soiled towels for at least one hour. This will help to break towels in, release lint and keep them fresh.
Q: Should You Wash and Reuse Car Detailing Microfiber Towels?
Microfiber towels are available in disposable and reusable forms. Each of the two forms has its advantages and disadvantages. Reusable microfiber towels can be washed and reused. They are meant to serve you for a long period.
Once you are done washing your vehicle with a microfiber cloth, wash it properly, dry it and store it for your next use. When well maintained, these towels can serve you up to 500 washes. This is what makes this towel an ideal tool to use in a car detailing shop.
Q: Can Microfiber Towels Go In the Dryer?
After washing microfiber towels, you can dry them by hanging them on the clothesline or in a dryer. However, if you shooed to use a dryer, you should be extra careful. Dry your microfiber towels in a dryer with a very low heat setting.
The towels should be dry alone in the dryer without mixing with other clothes. It is also advisable not to use dryer balls or dryer sheets to dry microfiber.
Q: Can You Wash Microfiber Towels With Dawn?
You should wash microfiber towels with mild soap. The soap should be free from harsh chemicals and scents. You can therefore wash microfiber towels with dawn dish soap, detergents, or car Shampoo.
Add the dawn soap to warm water and keep your towels. If the microfiber is heavily soiled, you can soak them overnight. Never use bleach, fabric softeners, or harsh detergents to wash microfiber towels for cars.
Q: Can I Use Tide to Wash Microfiber Towels?
You can use the tide to wash microfiber since it is mild. Tide helps to remove tough stains and odor from the microfiber towels. You will only require a small amount of tide and warm water to clean the towels. It is, however, more advisable to look for dedicated microfiber detergents that are made specifically to wash these towels.
Q: How Often Should You Wash Microfiber Cloths?
How often you wash your microfiber will depend on how you use them. Some people advise that you wash your microfiber after every use. This is especially if you are using them in places they may get grease or wax.
However, if you don’t use the towels for extensive jobs where they get soiled, you can wash them after three days. After washing the towels, ensure they dry completely and store them in a container until the next use. Do not keep your microfiber towels in dumpy places.
Q: What Temperature Should You Wash Microfiber Towels?
You should always wash your microfiber towels in warm water. Coldwater may not eliminate all the dirt from the towel, while extremely hot water can damage its fibers. Therefore, whether you are washing the towel with your hands or washing machine, ensure the water used is warm. The temperatures should not go beyond 105 degrees Fahrenheit.
How to wash microfiber towels properly YouTube
Final Words
Microfiber cloths are a great tool for car detailing companies and also for car owners. These towels make the process of cleaning your car easy and perfect. If you own one, then it is worth learning how to wash microfiber towels for cars. Microfiber towels come in disposable and reusable forms. You should not reuse disposable microfiber towels.
Reusable microfiber towels are cost-effective and environmentally friendly. These towels can last up to 500 washes if you maintain them well. The rules to keep your microfiber cloth for long are keeping them clean, and avoiding bleach, harsh detergents, and fabric softeners. You also should never iron the towels since extreme heat damages the fibers.
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