For the big open days, we have a team of helpers come and help us give the cars a cleanup. After this we have a big pile of filthy cloths that need cleaning, here are our tipsand tricks for looking after the cloths so they last. All this is learnt from our own years of trial and much error!
As far as our family is concerned, if it’s a cloth and it comes near our cars, it has to be Microfibre. Apart from making the whole polishing routine that much easier and faster, it also provides you with a far superior finish.
Post open day cleaning, with 50 cars to clean, we do use a few cloths!
CORRECT CARE
Microfibre needs to be cared for correctly so from the people that know, here are some small tips that will give you big results.
• Be sure to cut off the nice little silk labels on all the cloths and applicators before use, they sometimes like to scratch fine paint coats.
• When the cloths are soiled, or stop absorbing wax/cleanser, then it is time to wash them. We suggest you do this every time after you cleanse and wax your car. Try to wash as soon as possible after waxing or cleansing as the longer you wait, the harder they are to clean.
• Buffing cloths and applicator mitts must be washed in hot water (the heated water helps the detergents as it reduces the surface tension of the fibre, allowing the wax or other imbedded oils to be released from the cloth) by your washing machine, or if you like, by hand. Most households today have child safety valves to make sure your water never gets too hot, which is good for microfibre as well, too hot (i.e.; too hot to put a finger in) and it affects the cloth as well. If your machine has it, use the soft wash or hand wash settings, so the agitator does not wreak havoc on your cloths.
• Applicator mitts could usually do with a warm soaking before being washed, give them an hour or more in a bucket or sink with some washing solution, for heavily caked mitts, rub some of the solution into the dirty part of the pad before leaving to soak. After soaking, add them to the wash.
• Use a good liquid detergent, or if using powder; dissolve it before adding to the wash. This stop’s the chance of any undissolved powder granules getting caught in the microfibre. Stay away from any washing detergents that have softening properties in them. As for the apparent purpose specific “microfiber washes” we have done a lot of washing and have not found any great advantage to using these.
• You can use ‘Napi-San’ for washing, but please, only if they are really soiled and dirty!
• NEVER use fabric conditioner or bleach. Both products only destroy your cloths.
• If you want to keep the nice soft feeling of your cloths, add around a tablespoon (15ml) per cloth, up to a cup (200ml) full of white vinegar in the final rinse of the wash. The acetic acid, which is vinegar, helps soften the detergents by balancing the pH value, thus making for a softer, fluffier cloth. Don't add too much or else your cloths will smell like a fish and chips pack!
Adding vinegar to the final rinse really works, we do it every time!
LOBSTER TREATMENT
If you find that after washing, the buffing cloth is still streaking and not that absorbent, you may need to get a bit more full-on with it, she needs the Bowden Lobster treatment… Slow boil them in a pot of water; let it stay there for a maximum of 15 minutes, you will see a heap of wax/residue on the surface of the water. After boiling first drain the top water off, making sure not adding this residue back into the cloth. Only lobster your cloths sparingly and as a last resort to bring your cloth back to being usable.
Dan busted cooking the cloths in his mothers good pots, while she is away.
• Our interior pack cloth /pad and the glass cleaning cloth can be washed with other microfibre safely.
• In the interest of sustaining relationships, please try to wash the Microfibre separately from everything, especially the regular clothes. This will also stop a few hours of fun, removing all the lint out of your cloths, strand by strand.
• Don’t wash the Metal polish cloth with anything other than another metal polish cloth! The black residue from these cloths leaves a really nice grey haze through anything it is washed with.
• Don’t put them in the tumble dryer on the hottest setting, it reduces their life as the tumbling action and heat can stretch the fabric. If your dryer allows for a medium or cool setting, we have found that this is fine.
• Letting them drip dry is great, but not in an overly exposed area outside, or on a windy day. Airborne particles from tree’s, lawns, dirt and other nasty bits and pieces can get caught in them. Likewise, do not leave them out on the line when the lawn is being mowed or if a neighbour is using his leaf blower... it makes for a very long afternoon removing all the collected material from the cloths!
• Cloths and Mitts can be washed over 200 times. (We know, as we have quite a few that are there!)
• Don’t ever drop them! If you do, shake vigorously and inspect them closely and remove anything you may have picked up in them. Most times we do not use them, they go straight back into the wash.
• The wash Mitt should not need to be washed after each use, just rinse it out and then put the hose in the hand section, to back flush it after each time it is used. If you do get grease or the like on it, wash as per normal microfibre. The Wheel cloth just needs be rinsed each time, but give it a wash once it looks really dirty.
• The Chamois only needs to be rinsed in some water and wrung out when you are finished using it. Unlike other chamois type products, letting it dry out will not kill or damage it.
• Store all the clean microfibre in an area they will not get dirty, we use big plastic storage bins, put the lid on and they are sealed from everything.
All clean and folded, ready for the next big cleaning day.
I hope this has helped you with the cleaning procedures we use, if you have any questions please contact Dan, being a Virgo this is one of his favourite topics! So email him on dan@bowdensown.com.au
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