Want softer MFs? Like much softer?

G35stilez

G35stilez

Ari Gold
Add more vinegar!


I've tried products from standard detergents, degreasers, APCs, dedicated MF cleaners, and just about everything in between. I always seems to come back to the same regimen, but today I went a little over the top. Here's what I did for a load of 12 towels and 4 MF applicators:


-Hot wash with a cup of Gain detergent
-64 oz. distilled white vinegar
-Heavy setting with extra rinse cycle
-Low heat dry for 40 minutes


WOW!

I've always used an ounce or two of vinegar per MF towel, but today I was feeling over zealous after picking up (3) 1.5 gallon vinegar bottles from Costco this weekend (under $3 each). I just kept dumping until I drained about 1/2 gallon into the mix.

No chemical smells, no residue, just clean, incredibly soft towels.

Hope this helps.
 
I also use vinegar when I wash my towels but only about 1/4-1/2 cup.
Are you concerned over the long term effect of using that much vinegar?

Vinegar is acidic, and I was wondering what would happen to the fibers using that much.

"J"
 
Like I said in the other forums where you posted this info... THIS IS DANGEROUS! Using that much white vinegar will cause your towels to disintegrate very rapidy. This is not good advice and should not be followed.

Leo
 
Are you giving your MF's an 'acid bath' if you mix vinegar AND soap?

Occasionally (once or twice a year), I'll use 32oz of vinegar on my MF's for 'deep cleaning', and I have not had any noticeable ill effects outside of normal wear and tear.

Most of the time, I mix a 1 cup of vinegar per full load of MF's. This really does clean out your MF's.

I cycle out my MF's on average every 12-18 months (depending on use, etc), so eventually all of them land in the door jam/wheel tupper-wear bin. If I wanted to maintain a MF for 3+ years, I might consider another approach.

I prefer to have my MF's as clean as possible -especially the one's that I use on my personal cars. If I'm giving up a little durability, then I'm fine with that. Others may have a different opinion.
 
DFTowel said:
Like I said in the other forums where you posted this info... THIS IS DANGEROUS! Using that much white vinegar will cause your towels to disintegrate very rapidy. This is not good advice and should not be followed.

Leo
Click to expand...


Leo: Can you elaborate a bit? I have never heard of the fibers degrading if too much vinegar was used.
 
I did some research as well and I couldn't find anything that suggested Vineger would damage any type of fabric, actually from what I could find it is recommended for almost everything.

I didn't realize it was such a versital liquid. From killing weeds, to being a fertilizer for some types of plants, cleaning clothes...

Maybe we need a Poorboys vinegar cleaner
 
Stephan said:
I did some research as well and I couldn't find anything that suggested Vineger would damage any type of fabric, actually from what I could find it is recommended for almost everything.

I didn't realize it was such a versital liquid. From killing weeds, to being a fertilizer for some types of plants, cleaning clothes...
Click to expand...


Exactly my thoughts.

My mother uses it to wash her vegetables and fruits from pesticides before eating. It's like WD-40 in respect to it's plethora of uses.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinegar

http://www.versatilevinegar.org/usesandtips.html

http://www.vinegartips.com/laundry/ (says: "The acid in white distilled vinegar is too mild to harm fabrics, yet strong enough to dissolve the alkalies in soaps and detergents. Besides removing soap, white distilled vinegar prevents yellowing, acts as a fabric softener and static cling reducer, and attacks mold and mildew.")
 
G35stilez said:
Exactly my thoughts.

My mother uses it to wash her vegetables and fruits from pesticides before eating. It's like WD-40 in respect to it's plethora of uses.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinegar

http://www.versatilevinegar.org/usesandtips.html

http://www.vinegartips.com/laundry/ (says: "The acid in white distilled vinegar is too mild to harm fabrics, yet strong enough to dissolve the alkalies in soaps and detergents. Besides removing soap, white distilled vinegar prevents yellowing, acts as a fabric softener and static cling reducer, and attacks mold and mildew.")
Click to expand...
Sean, I wasn't questioning the use of the vinegar but more of the amount, many things are fine in proper proportion.

I was wondering if 1/2 gal doesn't seem excessive

Edit:
I didn't bother to check, but you can also use vinegar to loosen rusted bolts
"J"
 
I've never heard of using Vinegar when washing MF's, and it makes me mad that I heard about this today because I washed all of mine last night! :(

I usually put my MF's through a second cycle with no detergents whatsoever. Would adding vinegar in the first wash and running the second cycle make them even softer?
 
LikeaRock said:
I've never heard of using Vinegar when washing MF's, and it makes me mad that I heard about this today because I washed all of mine last night! :(

I usually put my MF's through a second cycle with no detergents whatsoever. Would adding vinegar in the first wash and running the second cycle make them even softer?
Click to expand...

The vinegar only needs to be added to the final rinse. If you add the vinegar to the detergent you're essentially buffering your alkaline detergent, and not allowing it to perform at the pH it is intended to work.
 
G35stilez said:
:



-64 oz. distilled white vinegar
-Heavy setting with extra rinse cycle
-Low heat dry for 40 minutes



No chemical smells, no residue, just clean, incredibly soft towels.

Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
The regimen works great i too use to use APC,pinnacle restorer, etc.
I started doing this when someone in the house put 2 fabric sheets in the dryer thinking they where helpling me out,btw i had 15-20 new MF's in the dryer at the time :wall .
 
We use vinegar solutions to break down fabrics before processing such as buffing. From 35+ years in the textile business I'm telling you guys, this is not a good idea! It's simply TOO MUCH, laundry sites will truthfully say that white vinegar won't damage but they are talking about recommended quantites such as 1/4 to 1/2 a cup per full laundry load, not amounts increased by a factor of over 200!

Just be careful with this.
 
I usually put White Vinegar in a few minutes after the Detergent gets applied to the towels, this is for a First Gen front loaded Washer, so the Soap unit gets water running from the start. Will there be any compatibility problems?
 
chml17l said:
The vinegar only needs to be added to the final rinse. If you add the vinegar to the detergent you're essentially buffering your alkaline detergent, and not allowing it to perform at the pH it is intended to work.
Click to expand...
+1
 
chml17l said:
The vinegar only needs to be added to the final rinse. If you add the vinegar to the detergent you're essentially buffering your alkaline detergent, and not allowing it to perform at the pH it is intended to work.
Click to expand...
I agree putting it in with the soap will only screw up the soap.
I have been using white vinegar for several years but i always use a double rinse and I add about a cup of vinegar to the final rinse.
Dry on low heat until nearly dry then Finnish drying with air fluff no heat.
They will be nice and soft do not use any softener in the dryer the MF towels will pick up the chemicals and may cause streaking.
 
We have used white vinegar prior to shampooing carpet for years, it actually shocks the carpet and dirt and stains loosen, works great for us
 
DFTowel said:
We use vinegar solutions to break down fabrics before processing such as buffing. From 35+ years in the textile business I'm telling you guys, this is not a good idea! It's simply TOO MUCH, laundry sites will truthfully say that white vinegar won't damage but they are talking about recommended quantites such as 1/4 to 1/2 a cup per full laundry load, not amounts increased by a factor of over 200!

Just be careful with this.
Click to expand...

I agree. I think a 1/4 to 1/2 cup might be good. To much would not be good. I use the Orange Power and use a 1/4 cup in a load the the results are great. If you look at pad cleaners and some Microfiber cleaners they have a citrus smell. The citrus is also an acid and removes product residues very well. You do not want to use to much though
 
jmillican said:
My wife has stopped using fabric softeners all together. Instead, we found some "Dryer Balls" at a Home & Flower Show which work great. They leave my mf towels soft and fluffy. They can be found on the internet, http://www.stacksandstacks.com/html/55174_the-amazing-dryer-balls.htm and I am told they can be found stores everywhere.
Click to expand...
I got to try that. I need to tell the wife about these dryer balls. My little girl has sensitive skin, maybe this will help her. Cheer free is 10 bucks a week!Here what the web site says!
Replaces other fabric softeners without the use of chemicals - great for sensitive skin!
They separate fabric, cutting your drying time by up to 25% while softening fabric!
The unique soft rubber material actually reduces static. Two year buy-back guarantee.
The littlest laundry aide that truly is amazing! These two little Dryer Balls will take the place other fabric softeners without the use of chemicals - so they are perfect for anyone with sensitive skin. Just toss the Dryer Balls into the dryer with your normal load of laundry. As they tumble around in the dryer they separate the fabrics, allowing air to pass through quicker and easier and cutting your drying time by up to 25%! The specially designed tips gently massage the fibers, opening them up and making them naturally soft and fluffy and reducing lint and wrinkles. The unique soft rubber material actually reduces static in fabrics, eliminating the need for dryer sheets. These Amazing Dryer Balls come with a two year buy-back guarantee. These dryer balls will last 2 to 5 years and up to 1,000 loads.
 
I own a similar product, have for about a year. I don't know about the 25% reduction in drying time. I don't notice much difference with normal loads. Where this type of product is useful is when drying larger items like comforters, bed spreads, quilts etc. Years ago we used tennis balls to aid in the drying of down comforters, the tennis balls helped to "fluff" up the down fill.

As for the vinegar, I use it regularly for all of my laundry. I suspect that the law of diminishing returns applies to adding more than a cup to your rinse water yet I also doubt that you will damage your textiles unless you practice this "overuse" continually. As far as breaking fabrics down, perhaps they are using 10% or even 20% dilutions, not the 5% that most folks are using for laundry purposes. I can attest to the danger of 20% as I use it for a herbicide regularly.
 
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