Detailing 101 Need to find out how to pamper your new MINI? Find out all the detailing secrets here.

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Old Apr 20, 2009 | 01:38 PM
  #3801  
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i would suggest this. and buy new towels in the order.


 
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Old Apr 20, 2009 | 02:34 PM
  #3802  
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From: NH
Originally Posted by CR&PW&JB
Good excuse to buy new ones !

I have some older Monster Fluffies that have turned a yellowish-light brown color. They're still clean soft, no worries using them as long as they don't have any contaminents embedded in them. Run your fingers through the fibers slowly, you'll feel if there's anything *bad* in there.
It's mostly black-ish stuff, like after a quick detailing. It _feels_ okay, I think. Just looks really gross.
 
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Old Apr 20, 2009 | 03:34 PM
  #3803  
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Originally Posted by Tu13es
It's mostly black-ish stuff, like after a quick detailing. It _feels_ okay, I think. Just looks really gross.
Ahhhh yes, the dusty dirty grime stuff you get when QD'ing after a few days of being out in the harsh outdoors.

Either try a new detergent, or just get used to the dark areas on the towels. They're clean enough to keep using, just don't look so pretty.
 
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Old Apr 20, 2009 | 03:57 PM
  #3804  
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Originally Posted by CR&PW&JB
Ahhhh yes, the dusty dirty grime stuff you get when QD'ing after a few days of being out in the harsh outdoors.

Either try a new detergent, or just get used to the dark areas on the towels. They're clean enough to keep using, just don't look so pretty.
Good enough for me! Also, will washing the towels "too much" damage them? I generally do the soak-for-a-while-in-white-vinegar-then-wash wash. Sometimes I'm stupid and mix up which towels are clean and dirty. It shouldn't be overly damaging to the towels by washing them a little more, right?

And yes, I do need to buy more.
 
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Old Apr 20, 2009 | 04:45 PM
  #3805  
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Nah... you'll wear them out from use before you wear them out from washing. Those Moster Fluffies are built tough... they can take it.

And yeah, although they're not cheap, what I do is buy enough microfiber towels to pretty much have a full load for the washer. That way, I'm not doing a half load every week, I'm doing a full load every two or three weeks.

Of course, that's for three MINIs. A full load of towels might mean washing once a month for most OCDetailers.
 
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Old Apr 20, 2009 | 04:55 PM
  #3806  
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Yeah, I just hate leaving the towels dirty or covered in chemicals for days or weeks.

Woot!
 
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Old Apr 20, 2009 | 05:14 PM
  #3807  
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Then just have enough to get you through one week.

Me... I have 12 waffle weave drying towels, 14 Monster Fluffies, 6 Starfish mitts, 6 Platinums, and various other small mf towels.

Not to mention all the mf "disposable" rags... I think I have 36 of those.
 
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Old Apr 20, 2009 | 05:44 PM
  #3808  
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Another option *might* be to keep a 5 gal bucket (with lid) with some water and detergent pre-mixed in it, in the garage. Drop in your dirty towels when done and let them soak until you have enough for the washer... will keep the chemicals and grease and grime from setting in... just an idea... I haven't tried this and don't know what if any long term positive or negative effect a soak in dilute modern detergent would have on microfiber - I'm guessing "none"... other than giving you a head-start on removing the nasties.

I may try this with my "dirty" bucket...
 
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Old Apr 20, 2009 | 05:56 PM
  #3809  
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Originally Posted by CR&PW&JB
Then just have enough to get you through one week.

Me... I have 12 waffle weave drying towels, 14 Monster Fluffies, 6 Starfish mitts, 6 Platinums, and various other small mf towels.

Not to mention all the mf "disposable" rags... I think I have 36 of those.
Haha, holy crap. I think I have 3 waffle weave, 2 monster fluffies, and maybe a dozen or two other assorted rags.
 
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Old Apr 20, 2009 | 06:01 PM
  #3810  
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I have enough microfibers to clothe half of India.
 
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Old Apr 20, 2009 | 06:23 PM
  #3811  
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From: Always curious ...
Originally Posted by kenchan
i would suggest this. and buy new towels in the order.


I was expecting vodka as I scrolled down.

 
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Old Apr 20, 2009 | 06:27 PM
  #3812  
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From: Always curious ...
Originally Posted by CR&PW&JB
Sweeeeeeeeeeet... those ceramic pads, huh ??
Yes, I went for the Hawk ceramics. Now I only wipe down the wheels once every two days instead of twice a day.
 
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Old Apr 20, 2009 | 06:32 PM
  #3813  
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From: Always curious ...
Originally Posted by Tu13es
I have a few MF towels that got dirty from one way or another and they just won't get clean, even after a few washes. I tried soaking them overnight in the washer with some white vinegar before starting a load as well. It helped a bit with the softness but they're still somewhat dirty.

Any other suggestions?
What detergent are you using? For the towels that I use on the wheels to clean the brake dust, I use Dawn in the washer and it does a really good job.
Don't use too much though. The first time I did this there were bubbles all over the place.
 
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Old Apr 20, 2009 | 06:37 PM
  #3814  
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Originally Posted by ofioliti
What detergent are you using? For the towels that I use on the wheels to clean the brake dust, I use Dawn in the washer and it does a really good job.
Don't use too much though. The first time I did this there were bubbles all over the place.
I think I've just been using Tide or whatever laundry detergent we have. How much is too much Dawn?
 
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Old Apr 20, 2009 | 06:37 PM
  #3815  
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Originally Posted by ofioliti
Yes, I went for the Hawk ceramics. Now I only wipe down the wheels once every two days instead of twice a day.
That's still a lot of wheel wiping. You must do a lot of city driving.

I only wipe my wheels once in between weekly washings. My commute is 52 miles, round trip, but I typically only have to hit my brakes about 8 times each way.
 
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Old Apr 20, 2009 | 06:45 PM
  #3816  
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From: Always curious ...
Originally Posted by CR&PW&JB
That's still a lot of wheel wiping. You must do a lot of city driving.

I only wipe my wheels once in between weekly washings. My commute is 52 miles, round trip, but I typically only have to hit my brakes about 8 times each way.
Yes, a lot of braking!
 
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Old Apr 20, 2009 | 06:47 PM
  #3817  
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From: Always curious ...
Originally Posted by Tu13es
I think I've just been using Tide or whatever laundry detergent we have. How much is too much Dawn?
I use less than half what you would normally use in laundry detergent. For a full load, its about two ounces.
 
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Old Apr 21, 2009 | 09:40 AM
  #3818  
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Originally Posted by ofioliti
I was expecting vodka as I scrolled down.


hahaha.


i like how prima's workhorse MF towel that i use most
(Platinum) comes in that gray color. stains dont bother
me.


i decided i dont like my new wheelset on my FitS.
functionally it's great. visually, rota's gunmetal is too
brown like bronze. brown wheels on a silver car looks
like crap. i want to get something in the gray scale.
i shouldve just stuck to my first choice (above) from
TR...
 
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Old Apr 22, 2009 | 11:39 AM
  #3819  
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this morning i decided the new wheelset on my FitS
wasn't nearly as bad as i thought.

i think rota's need to be visually broken in.
 
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Old Apr 22, 2009 | 01:26 PM
  #3820  
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thanks for caring.


 
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Old Apr 22, 2009 | 01:30 PM
  #3821  
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I was gonna post a picture of a can of Rustoleum... but I decided that I cared enough not to.
 
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Old Apr 22, 2009 | 02:03 PM
  #3822  
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And hey, Ken... your wheels sound like one of my former girlfriends. She needed to be visually broken-in, too. Lucky for her, she had...ummmmmm... certain talents.
 
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Old Apr 22, 2009 | 02:58 PM
  #3823  
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come to think of it, one of my old gf was just like my rota's too. i see the resemblence now.

so i need to sympathize for the wheels and thus shall
find the true value past the ugliness.

but then reality is, i see those damn drum brakes on the
rear through the spokes and that's a big nono.
 
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Old Apr 22, 2009 | 03:10 PM
  #3824  
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And what's this ?? They still make cars with brake drums ?

 
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Old Apr 22, 2009 | 05:10 PM
  #3825  
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Originally Posted by CR&PW&JB


And what's this ?? They still make cars with brake drums ?

Yah, in the poorman's world this still holds true. so drum brakes are not going to win me any no-breakin required visuals.

 
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