
Microfiber towels are the very essence of the car detailing process. These small but mighty pieces of fabric tackle stubborn auto grime effortlessly, and their delicate touch always delivers flawless, streak-free finishes without damaging the vehicle’s paintwork.
Towels are the essential last step in the carwash process – guaranteeing a spotless car inside and out.
Their exceptional durability guarantees years of detailing perfection in your carwash. In exchange? They require special cleaning attention. Simply tossing them in the dryer doesn’t cut it. You must clean them right to maximize their effectiveness. But if you’re unsure how to wash microfiber towels, this guide should help you clear your doubts.
The Importance of Proper Microfiber Towel Maintenance
While microfiber towels boast remarkable durability, they’re still subject to wear and tear. Proper maintenance maximizes their lifespan. Regular cleaning and maintenance help preserve their absorbency and efficiency.
More importantly, proper maintenance keeps towels free of debris from previous cleaning sessions. This includes sand and grit, which scratch auto paintwork.
Microfiber Properties and Why They’re Great for Car Washes
At first glance, a microfiber cleaning cloth may appear ordinary, but look closer. Real close. It’s called “micro” fiber because it comprises ultra-fine polyester fibers. These fibers have a diameter of about 1/100th of a human hair strand and retain their shape regardless of how you fold or position the cloth.
This unique property makes a microfiber cleaning cloth exceptionally absorbent and perfectly suited for car wash tasks such as drying. The intricate structure of the synthetic fibers also enables them to trap and hold dirt from surfaces effectively. They prevent dirt particles from being re-deposited onto the car’s surface, resulting in a cleaner finish while making the task easier for car wash staff.
Moreover, the ultra-fine texture of microfiber cloths renders them incredibly soft and gentle on surfaces, making them suitable for detailing delicate car surfaces like windshields. Microfiber towels are also highly versatile and can serve various car detailing tasks, from washing to drying and polishing. They’re well suited for car wash environments where these tasks occur daily.
Better yet, microfiber towels are incredibly durable, and with proper maintenance, they can last up to 500 washes. This makes them relatively cost-effective for car washes compared to other fabrics.
Step-By-Step Guide To Wash Microfiber Towels
Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the best way of cleaning microfiber cloth.
Prepare Microfiber Towels Before Washing
By preparing your towels before washing them, you achieve effective cleaning and maintain their integrity for future use. Here’s how to go about it:
- Separate from other fabrics: Microfiber fibers are positively charged. They naturally attract negatively charged particles like dirt and lint, especially from fabrics that shed quickly, like cotton. To clean your microfiber cloths effectively, separate them from other washing towels first.
- Sort by purpose: Once they are separate, categorize the towels based on their purpose, such as drying, polishing, and general cleaning. This prevents dirt transfer, particularly from the heavily used towels. This step also facilitates a streamlined wash process as towels with similar care requirements are cleaned together.
- Sort by color: Sort the microfiber cleaning towels according to their color to mitigate the risk of discoloration caused by dye bleeding during the wash cycle.
- Shake to remove debris: Give the microfiber towels a good shake to dislodge loose dirt and fibers before you toss them in the washer.
Select the Right Detergent
Your current detergent may adequately clean other fabrics, but it could do more harm than good to microfiber towels. This is because regular detergents contain chemicals that weaken the fibers that make a microfiber cleaning cloth useable.
Regular detergents cause the towel to fray and develop an abrasive texture capable of damaging delicate surfaces, including a vehicle’s paint job. If this happens at your facility, you end up with an unhappy client and potential damage expenses.
Detergents with additives such as fabric softeners create a waxy residue on these tiny fibers, diminishing their overall absorbency. To avoid such issues, use detergents specifically designed for delicate fabrics. If you’re not sure what detergents to use, follow the manufacturer’s wash instructions.
Set the Right Temperature Settings and Wash Cycle
The polyester fibers that make microfiber cleaning cloths exceptionally good at cleaning surfaces are also their undoing. These fibers are susceptible to heat and shrink when exposed to high heat. When machine washing, use the correct temperature setting, typically 104⁰F (40⁰C).
Some microfiber towels feature specialized coatings such as anti-microbial finishes. Washing them in high temperatures or using harsh wash cycles strips these coatings, compromising the towel’s performance.
You should set the right temperature and use a gentle or delicate cycle to ensure thorough cleaning to avoid damaging your car wash microfiber towels.
Dry the Microfiber Towels
Once you’ve cleaned the towels using a washing machine, you must thoroughly dry them. Proper drying removes all the moisture from the towel, preventing bacteria, mold growth, and unpleasant odors.
In contrast, leaving them damp creates an environment for bacteria to thrive, which reduces their absorbency capacity. However, be careful not to overheat or over-dry the towels. Improper drying may cause the delicate fibers to become brittle. If you’re confident the towels are clean, air-dry or use low heat to dry them.
Commercial grade washer extractors, plus the right dryers, are the ticket for car wash businesses large or small. Your equipment needs to be appropriate for the purpose and load.
Properly Store Microfiber Towels To Avoid Contamination
Microfiber cloth fibers are prone to dust, dirt and other debris contamination. These pollutants compromise the cloth’s effectiveness and can damage it over time. Thus, storing your freshly dried microfiber towels in airtight containers or bags is essential to prevent contamination.
For ideal storage, organize them in separate compartments based on their purpose to ensure each towel is used for its intended tasks. Consider labeling the storage compartments to facilitate easy identification during car wash operations. You can also implement a color-coding system where specific towel colors are assigned particular tasks to prevent your employees from mixing them.
Common Mistakes To Avoid When Washing Microfiber Towels
Here are some common mistakes car wash operators make that you should avoid when washing car wash towels:
Using Hot Water or High Heat
For many, hot water or high-temperature settings are the default tricks for tackling stubborn stains or excess dirt. It might work with other fabrics but not microfiber cleaning cloths. The polyester fibers used in these cloths have a low melting point. When exposed to high heat, they shrink and become brittle.
Just like your dinner, overcooking your towels can ruin them for good.
Skipping Pre-Treatment
Another lazy mistake wash operators make is skipping pre-treatment, assuming a machine washer is powerful enough to remove all dirt. While these machines are efficient, caked-one stains are challenging to come off without pre-treatment.
For instance, detailing products like car wax and sealants are typically water-repellent. That means a machine washer may fail to remove wax grime from a microfiber towel adequately.
Consequently, the stain becomes deeply set into the fabric, making it extra hard to clean. Always soak your towels in cold water and a mild detergent before you toss them in the washer to loosen stubborn dirt and stains.
Using Fabric Softener
Another common mistake to avoid when washing microfiber towels is using fabric softeners. While softeners reduce static cling and impart pleasant scents to laundered items, they harm microfiber towels.
Overloading the Dryer Machine
While stuffing a washing machine with microfiber towels allows for a quicker cleaning, it often produces subpar results. It causes tangling that leads to uneven cleaning. Similarly, stuffing the dryer impedes hot air circulation, resulting in uneven drying. Eventually, some towels emerge excessively dry and stiff, while others remain damp and prone to moisture-related issues like mold.
Dealing with these consequences is time and resource consuming, as you may need to repeat the cleaning and drying process. Plus, it can strain the motor and damage your machine dryer, leaving you with even bigger bills. Always take time to wash your microfiber towels in small batches.
The Benefits of Proper Towel Care
Caring for your car wash towels preserves their absorbency, allowing for effortless yet cleaner detailing finishes. It also extends the lifespan of your towels, leading to cost-efficiency as you reduce the frequency of cleaning cloth replacements.
Use Only the Best Microfiber Towels for Cars
There have been extraordinary inventions in the car wash world, but microfiber towels will remain among the simplest and most valuable cleaning product innovations in the industry. They offer detailing perfection that impresses customers who want a squeaky-clean car with zero blemishes. If you want to set your business apart, they work great as part of a free car wash towel service.
However, not all microfiber towels are built the same. Get top-quality towels from a reputable car wash equipment supplier like NCS. At NCS, you’ll find top-of-the-range ultra-absorbent microfiber towels as well as professional detailing products trusted by most car wash chain operators countrywide.
Contact us today and shop for the best microfiber towels and other cleaning supplies for your car wash.