Ok, so I washed/sealed/waxed my new baby on Sunday and it's beautiful. But now I wanna make sure I take care of the tools...

i have:
6 blue polishing microfiber towels
1 ultimate drying microfiber towel
1 detailing microfiber towel
1 wool sheepskin wash mitt

all from autopia

i'm going to wash all in a washing machine (cool/warm/hot is best?) with liquid detergent (no bleach or softeners in it!) on a delicate cycle...then i'll dry them once in the cool-down part of the dryer and then hang them till they are totally dry


however, should i do 2,3 or 4 separate washes?

a) wash ALL microfiber together, even tho color is different and some are waffle and some aren't...then wash mitt separately

b) wash all blue towels together and wash the other two yellow ones together and then mitt in 3rd wash

c) wash all blue together, the drying yellow by itsel, the detailing yellow by itself, the mitt by itself


also, do i need to wash the foam applicator pads that i used for applying the sealant and wax? and how should i?


Thanks,
Nicholas

 

Unless you're going to fabricate them into some kind of garment, I'd wash all the MF together on a mild or medium heat cycle (that's what I'm going to do & hopefully the colours won't run; though I've not tested this hypothesis yet ).

As for the applicator pads, I just throw them away (at least the el-cheapo foam ones.

With the sheepskin mit, I simply rinse it out with clean water after washing the car and let it air dry.

 

I wash all my microfiber together, regardless of color. I just seperate the plush from the waffleweave. I wash with a liquid detergent and dry in a low heat.

I wash my mitts in the washing machine, too. They come out perfect. It's a sure way of getting out grit and debris. I do this every three or four car washes.

I even wash my foam applicators.

I have a hamper where I collect my dirty stuff and run a load or two each week.

Towel storage and hamper:

 

Wow, Brad! What a pristine garage you have! Most impressive!

Clover

 

Gosh, (blush) Thanks!

 

^^Clover is a softie for clean garages

>>Brad: have you tried Sonus Wunder microfiber shampoo?

 

:sigh: I dream about buying my MINI a garage like that some day :smile: Good info about the towels.. I've always wondered how to wash them. Seems like I'm doing it properly Now that I'm back to MINI-ing, it looks like its back to hand washing as well...

 

hand washing = bonding time!

 

Very true MINI had his first bath today. I'm so proud

 

No, It's on my "need to try" list, though!

 

Wash all micro fiber together in cold water with a liquid detergent, if they are particularly dirty I'll send them through another rinse without detergent. Then throw them in the drier with low heat. Go ahead and throw in the foam pads as well. I wash the Concourse buffing towel by itself. I think it's cotton and I don't want to contaminate it with the other cotton towels, that are used to dry wheels and engine components.

Brad, Have you run a wool mit through the washer?

 

I am not Brad, but I have washed my wool mitts in the washing machine. I feel that there isn't a problem with it. I had two wool mitts, one an el-cheapo from WalMart that got used on the body once and then relegated to the wheels and black bits when the mitt from Griot's Garage came. Wow, what a difference! The cheap one lasted almost a year, but has disintegrated now. Maybe the machine washing didn't help it. But it was so inferior a product, I don't know. The good one comes out of the washer beautifully clean and almost fluffed out. I hang dry it. It has no ill effects yet, after about 8 washes.
Of course, I am a guy who has been known to wash and dry any and all running shoes, too. Regardless of trim type. Never had any full leather shoes though. Nylon mainly. For whatever that is worth.
Cheers,

 

Never a problem!