MF Cleaning: Distilled Vinegar?

I

imported_Speedy

New member
I recieved my first set of MF's from my girlfriend on Christmas, but they have been sitting unused so far.



After reading all the archives stuff on (the debated) topic of cleaning MFs, I am now looking for some Distilled Vinegar to add to my rinse. There in lies the problem, as all the grocey stores around here have regular vinegar (and malt for that matter!), but nothing of the "distilled" sort.



Which brings me to my question; what the heck is distilled vinegar? Is it the regular white stuff (and can that be used), or is it special?



Thanks for my setting me straight, I can't wait to start using them!



Oh, and one more thing; will liquid tide, (in fractional amounts, of course) be an accepteble cleaning agent? That is what is handy on my Mom's laundry table, I'm sure she won't mind me stealing some!
 
I use the normal white vinegar and its been working fine.



Any liquid detergent will be ok in smaller doses. I find it helps to let them soak an hour before starting the full wash. Let it run for a minute then stop the machine.



A hint from Forrest from Mother's: let them air dry until 3/4 dry, then finish them of in the drier on warm. They come out super-fluffy and staticy. Ready for use!
 
A liquid washing detergent is fine (Woolite)



Do not use fabric softener (most contain silicone that the towel will adsorb and it will weaken the towels static charge thereby reducing their effectiveness) towel will also treat the fabric softener as if it was dirt by trying to store the tiny particles of the softener in the towel fibres. This will clog up the micro fibres and render the towel ineffective.



Add a teaspoon per towel distilled white / white vinegar in place of a softener, the vinegar doesn't coat the fibres but instead works to eliminate detergent residue. Vinegar (Acetic acid, pH=2) works well in the rinse cycle to make your towels softer. Detergent is an alkaline (pH=12, the opposite of acidic on the pH scale). When you wash your towels (or anything for that matter) there are small amounts of detergent left behind, when your add Vinegar it balances the pH of the solution and helps removes the excess detergent from the wash. Do not wash micro fibre cloths / towels with other non- micro fibre fabrics, as they will pick up lint from other fabrics.
 
Speedy said:
After reading all the archives stuff on (the debated) topic of cleaning MFs, I am now looking for some Distilled Vinegar to add to my rinse. There in lies the problem, as all the grocey stores around here have regular vinegar (and malt for that matter!), but nothing of the "distilled" sort.
Click to expand...



I had the same problem. Could not find distilled vinegar in Canada. I went over the border and they sell it by the gallons in the grocery stores in Niagara falls. You live in Windsor might be time for a trip to Detroit.
 
Alfisti said:
As I said, regular white vinegar is suitable.
Click to expand...



Paul is right .. distilled vinegar IS white vinegar. It's just vinegar minus the flavorings and colors contained in malt, cider or salad vinegars.
 
Alfisti said:
I use the normal white vinegar and its been working fine.



Any liquid detergent will be ok in smaller doses. I find it helps to let them soak an hour before starting the full wash. Let it run for a minute then stop the machine.



A hint from Forrest from Mother's: let them air dry until 3/4 dry, then finish them of in the drier on warm. They come out super-fluffy and staticy. Ready for use!
Click to expand...



Originally posted by TOGWT

Do not use fabric softener (most contain silicone that the towel will adsorb and it will weaken the towels static charge thereby reducing their effectiveness) towel will also treat the fabric softener as if it was dirt by trying to store the tiny particles of the softener in the towel fibres. This will clog up the micro fibres and render the towel ineffective.



Add a teaspoon per towel distilled white / white vinegar in place of a softener, the vinegar doesn't coat the fibres but instead works to eliminate detergent residue. Vinegar (Acetic acid, pH=2) works well in the rinse cycle to make your towels softer. Detergent is an alkaline (pH=12, the opposite of acidic on the pH scale). When you wash your towels (or anything for that matter) there are small amounts of detergent left behind, when your add Vinegar it balances the pH of the solution and helps removes the excess detergent from the wash. Do not wash micro fibre cloths / towels with other non- micro fibre fabrics, as they will pick up lint from other fabrics.
Click to expand...



Thanks for the tips! :xyxthumbs
 
One last tip I read over at DC in a 'cleaning MF thread': presoak your MF in a bucket before washing, to help release dirt. Thanks to Kim Wallace for this tip.
 
Also, washing with hot water helps to break down the wax and grease in the MF's.



Along with the detergent (Tide Free for me) and vinegar, I have added a 1/4 cup of Simple Green and find that this truly cuts through the buildup in the MF's. I have seen zero ill effect except color loss in the cheap Costco MFs.



I find Simple Green a much better solution than all the dedicated MF cleaners for $10 a pint. At $8 a gallon for Simple Green at Home Depot, you can get the same results if not better.



I do an extra rinse at the end to ensure everyhting is removed.



Simple Green also does wonders for cleaning buffing pads and foam applicators. I put them all in the wash on a medium cycle with warm water with Simple Green and detergent. Allow to air dry. Contrary to what is recommended, 4" - 8" pads in the washing machine has not ended up with the backing separating from the pad. Plus they get SUPER clean.
 
1SLOW50 said:
I thought you were supposed to wash in cold water....??
Click to expand...



You can wash in hot water. I have read definitively from MF salesmen on this board, that you can do so.



I wash my WW mfs in cold water because they do not get dirty, they simply dry the clean car.
 
RedondoV6 said:
One last tip I read over at DC in a 'cleaning MF thread': presoak your MF in a bucket before washing, to help release dirt. Thanks to Kim Wallace for this tip.
Click to expand...



Thanks for shareing the info :up
 
Spilchy said:


Along with the detergent (Tide Free for me) and vinegar, I have added a 1/4 cup of Simple Green and find that this truly cuts through the buildup in the MF's. I have seen zero ill effect except color loss in the cheap Costco MFs.
Click to expand...



Wait a minute... so how do you use Simple Green along with the liquid detergent and vinegar exactly?



White (distilled) vinegar is to be used like a softener, right? So this means you add it in the rinse cycle. But when do you add the simple green (and how much do you add per towel)?
 
I wash mine in warm water.



I've read that you can wash in hot, and I can see the cleaning benefit of doing so, but polyamide is a nylon by-product and I've seen how nylon gets in hot water.



Maybe being a by-product makes difference, but I don't want to take any chances.



Pre-soaking is a must.
 
merci said:
Wait a minute... so how do you use Simple Green along with the liquid detergent and vinegar exactly?



White (distilled) vinegar is to be used like a softener, right? So this means you add it in the rinse cycle. But when do you add the simple green (and how much do you add per towel)?
Click to expand...



I fill the detergent cup to the "medium load" line. I use like a 1/4 to a 1/2 cup of Simple Green.



I fill the fabric softner cup near the top with distilled white vinegar that I get at Costco for $2.50 for a MASSIVE multi-gallon jug. Just rinse the cup when finished so your machine doesn't smell like vinegar.



I run the machine on a large load to allow for the MFs to move around and get clean.



I do an extra cold water rinse.
 
Spilchy said:
Also, washing with hot water helps to break down the wax and grease in the MF's.



Along with the detergent (Tide Free for me) and vinegar, I have added a 1/4 cup of Simple Green and find that this truly cuts through the buildup in the MF's. I have seen zero ill effect except color loss in the cheap Costco MFs.



I find Simple Green a much better solution than all the dedicated MF cleaners for $10 a pint. At $8 a gallon for Simple Green at Home Depot, you can get the same results if not better.



I do an extra rinse at the end to ensure everyhting is removed.



Simple Green also does wonders for cleaning buffing pads and foam applicators. I put them all in the wash on a medium cycle with warm water with Simple Green and detergent. Allow to air dry. Contrary to what is recommended, 4" - 8" pads in the washing machine has not ended up with the backing separating from the pad. Plus they get SUPER clean.
Click to expand...



So, you put the pads in with the MF's together in the same load ? I thought this would have adverse affects to the MFs. I thought the MF's were to be washed always by themselves - am i wrong ?



It would be nice to be able to wash them all at once.
 
93zder said:
So, you put the pads in with the MF's together in the same load ? I thought this would have adverse affects to the MFs. I thought the MF's were to be washed always by themselves - am i wrong ?



It would be nice to be able to wash them all at once.
Click to expand...



You don't want to wash your MF with anything that will lint. You can wash them with your pads no problem .
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top