How do you clean these? Do you use cold water or warm water? What kind of soap do you use?

 

There was a thread about this on autopia and the consensus was that throwing them into the washing machine with normal wash detergent is the best way to do this. You just have to make sure you don't use any fabric softener. The amount of wringing that needs to go on when you wash them by hand is going to wear them out way faster than the machine will.

 

I throw my towels in the washing machine (best to pre-soak in them something and rinse them out if they're really loaded), and wash my applicator pads by hand in the sink with dish detergent.

 

Use hot water and liquid detergent. Dry detergent can contain hard dry particles which can scratch!

 

I usually run my car wash stuff through twice. Once on a long cycle with hot water and soap. Then a second time on a short cold cycle to get rid of any residue that may be in there.

I'm always suprised at how much soap the wash mit contains. Crazy amounts of suds on the first cycle. You almost don't need any more soap in the wash if there's a mit in there.

I always clean my wax stuff seperately from my wash and dry items too.

CM.

 

In addition, clean your microfiber towels separate from everything else.

 

What is the advantage of those microfiber towels?

 

I just use the microfiber cloths for dust removal. They work well for that purpose.

PS. I recommend steel wool rated at 000 or 0000 for removing stubborn bugs on the windshield. Make sure it is rated with at least 3 zeros though. That means it will not scratch the glass. I have pressed very hard with the steel wool and have not gotten any scratches from it.

 

Microfiber in general is much finer and less prone to scratching than cotton or other towel materials. It is also capable of retaining a lot of water and the way the fibers are shaped make them good for cleaning with just water (try it). They are basically good for everything except the really grungy work that makes you want to chuck the towel in the garbage instead of washing it. They're also important, IMO to keeping the quick detailing process (using detailing spray) gentle. Higher quality ones are better, but the cheap ones are better than nothing.

PrinzII gives great advice - be sure to wash them separately or you will cover them in lint from your cotton stuff!

PS: While I'm here , I might as well make my favourite warning about those bulk packs of so-called "100% cotton towels" made in India/Pakistan/etc. These suck and will scratch. I use them for wiping down my seats and the engine bay, and for wiping the tires. Oh yeah, they tend to self-destruct rapidly too. If you have to use cotton on your paint, head over to the bath aisle and guy US-made stuff from there.

 

WTF, my terry towels say they were made in Pakistan.
So why are the pakistan ones different than the others? Where do you get the good towels?

 

I don't use any 'terry cloth' stuff on my paint. Only microfiber and the 100% smooth cotton towels from Griots Garage. They are kinda small (14 x 14 approx), but they're the best for Quick detail sprays and the final buffing after you wax.

 

I wouldn't trust made in India/Pakistan/not Nort America terry towels from the auto/hardware aisle on my paint. They're coarse, hard, kinda scratchy in general, and often NOT 100% cotton like they claim. If you use some now and don't see that you're causing any damage, maybe you're okay, but...

As I said above, to get "good" cotton towels you'll have to hang out with the housewives in the Bath section and buy USA made hand/bath/whatever size towels from a well known towel manufacturer with a label that says "100% cotton". Many people have switched to microfiber for car detailing though.

 

The towels made in Pakistan/India/etc... are very poor quality, and may not even be 100% cotton. A simple way to check is to light a piece on fire. If it melts and or smokes a lot, it is probably polyester. If it burns clean like a wick, it's cotton. Also keep in mind any stitching (which a lot of times is polyester thread; this is why most diapers aren't good to use).
In short, don't skimp on the quality of towels you use on your paint. Quality towels, like microfiber and made in USA 100% cotton, will do a lot to prevent swirls.

Dave