What's up everyone!?!?
So some months ago I was asking about methods for washing mf's and what products people were using. Mr. Fermani recommended some Towel Kleen and happened to send some my way (Thank you!). So for the past few months I've been washing my towels with 3 different "soaps".
Products:
DSC_0037 by Shook1db, on Flickr
I had been using Tide Free & Gentle for several months before this test started and have now been using these for the past few months.
Here's how the test was setup:
Maytag Washer and Dryer (High Efficiency). These are both darn near brand new units so they both are functioning properly
Ultrasoft 16x16 MF Towels from Autoality
All towels were used for polish, wax removal, and glass cleaning
4 Towels washed with each type of soap
Each towel washed 7 times
All towels washed on "color/towels" mode on medium soil level on the warm water
All towels were dried for 40 minutes at extra low heat
NO Vinegar used in any of these tests
1.5 oz of Towel Kleen used per wash
1.5 oz of CG MicroFiberWash+ used per wash
Followed directions on the kap of the Tide per wash (Very close to 1.5 oz)
Now that I've explained the process let's get down to the results. I sadly do not have pictures of the towels I washed with CG's MicroFiberWash+ because some adhesive remover spilled on them and some plastic and the towels were ruined and had plastic fused into the fibers. . . Good waste of 4 towels.
What I will say about the Chemical Guys Soap is that it worked well. I got 4 washes out of those towels before ruining them. The smell wasn't my favorite but I don't smell my towels that much so I don't mind. The towels had no staining or degradation of the fibers on the towels after 4 washes. I would recommend it as a good microfiber soap with the forewarning that I have only used it a few times and do not know the long term effects of the product.
Chemical Guys MicroFiberWash+
128 oz = $24.99
Pros:
Amount of product used was slightly less than 3d
Held up while I was using it on those towels
Cons:
Cost
Smell isn't amazing
Tide Free & Gentle:
50 oz = $9.99
Pros:
Can find it in most stores that carry laundry soap
Smell is fine
Can use on clothes as well
Cons:
Doesn't remove stains well
Degraded fibers quickly (possibly the polish/wax left over in the fibers)
Slightly Expensive
After 6 washes the towels had stains, and were no longer soft/fluffy. Vinegar fixes this issue as it helps the polish/wax release from the fibers. Without that this stuff is not worth using unless you are in a pinch (IMO). I actually ended up demoting the towels to interior care because of this.
3d Towel Kleen:
128 oz = $15.99
Pros:
Cheap
Smells good
Great at removing stains
Great at keeping fibers fluffy and soft
Cons:
May need a decent amount per wash depending on amount of towels. If I was washing 10+ towels I would use 2 oz each wash
Doesn't Specify what a small and large load are on packaging. (Not a product issue)
After all the washes were complete the towels were like new. No stains, very fluffy and soft and the fibers were still standing up great. I will continue to use these towels as paint towels until they eventually do fall apart from use. At least I will know it's not from the soap I'm using.
Proof is in the pudding:
3d towels on the left, Tide on the right:
DSC_0044 by Shook1db, on Flickr
3d Towel:
DSC_0047 by Shook1db, on Flickr
DSC_0045 by Shook1db, on Flickr
DSC_0051 by Shook1db, on Flickr
Sorry for the blurry picture. Tide:
DSC_0050 by Shook1db, on Flickr
DSC_0046 by Shook1db, on Flickr
And the final pictures.
Tide:
DSC_0052 by Shook1db, on Flickr
3d:
DSC_0053 by Shook1db, on Flickr
All in all I would recommend 3d OR Chemical guys to anyone looking for a better soap than Tide. I will use 3d until it's gone, then use the Chemical guys soap, then buy more 3d. Chemical guys soap is 10 dollars more per gallon and 3d is doing a great job with keeping my towels new so I don't have to constantly buy new ones. Somehow, this soap is managing to save me money in two ways!
Thanks for reading!
So some months ago I was asking about methods for washing mf's and what products people were using. Mr. Fermani recommended some Towel Kleen and happened to send some my way (Thank you!). So for the past few months I've been washing my towels with 3 different "soaps".
Products:
DSC_0037 by Shook1db, on Flickr
I had been using Tide Free & Gentle for several months before this test started and have now been using these for the past few months.
Here's how the test was setup:
Maytag Washer and Dryer (High Efficiency). These are both darn near brand new units so they both are functioning properly
Ultrasoft 16x16 MF Towels from Autoality
All towels were used for polish, wax removal, and glass cleaning
4 Towels washed with each type of soap
Each towel washed 7 times
All towels washed on "color/towels" mode on medium soil level on the warm water
All towels were dried for 40 minutes at extra low heat
NO Vinegar used in any of these tests
1.5 oz of Towel Kleen used per wash
1.5 oz of CG MicroFiberWash+ used per wash
Followed directions on the kap of the Tide per wash (Very close to 1.5 oz)
Now that I've explained the process let's get down to the results. I sadly do not have pictures of the towels I washed with CG's MicroFiberWash+ because some adhesive remover spilled on them and some plastic and the towels were ruined and had plastic fused into the fibers. . . Good waste of 4 towels.
What I will say about the Chemical Guys Soap is that it worked well. I got 4 washes out of those towels before ruining them. The smell wasn't my favorite but I don't smell my towels that much so I don't mind. The towels had no staining or degradation of the fibers on the towels after 4 washes. I would recommend it as a good microfiber soap with the forewarning that I have only used it a few times and do not know the long term effects of the product.
Chemical Guys MicroFiberWash+
128 oz = $24.99
Pros:
Amount of product used was slightly less than 3d
Held up while I was using it on those towels
Cons:
Cost
Smell isn't amazing
Tide Free & Gentle:
50 oz = $9.99
Pros:
Can find it in most stores that carry laundry soap
Smell is fine
Can use on clothes as well
Cons:
Doesn't remove stains well
Degraded fibers quickly (possibly the polish/wax left over in the fibers)
Slightly Expensive
After 6 washes the towels had stains, and were no longer soft/fluffy. Vinegar fixes this issue as it helps the polish/wax release from the fibers. Without that this stuff is not worth using unless you are in a pinch (IMO). I actually ended up demoting the towels to interior care because of this.
3d Towel Kleen:
128 oz = $15.99
Pros:
Cheap
Smells good
Great at removing stains
Great at keeping fibers fluffy and soft
Cons:
May need a decent amount per wash depending on amount of towels. If I was washing 10+ towels I would use 2 oz each wash
Doesn't Specify what a small and large load are on packaging. (Not a product issue)
After all the washes were complete the towels were like new. No stains, very fluffy and soft and the fibers were still standing up great. I will continue to use these towels as paint towels until they eventually do fall apart from use. At least I will know it's not from the soap I'm using.
Proof is in the pudding:
3d towels on the left, Tide on the right:
DSC_0044 by Shook1db, on Flickr
3d Towel:
DSC_0047 by Shook1db, on Flickr
DSC_0045 by Shook1db, on Flickr
DSC_0051 by Shook1db, on Flickr
Sorry for the blurry picture. Tide:
DSC_0050 by Shook1db, on Flickr
DSC_0046 by Shook1db, on Flickr
And the final pictures.
Tide:
DSC_0052 by Shook1db, on Flickr
3d:
DSC_0053 by Shook1db, on Flickr
All in all I would recommend 3d OR Chemical guys to anyone looking for a better soap than Tide. I will use 3d until it's gone, then use the Chemical guys soap, then buy more 3d. Chemical guys soap is 10 dollars more per gallon and 3d is doing a great job with keeping my towels new so I don't have to constantly buy new ones. Somehow, this soap is managing to save me money in two ways!
Thanks for reading!