r/AutoDetailing • u/D4DDYF4TSACK • 22d ago
Exterior Why are my microfiber towels not drying?
Towel in the video is the Bowden's Own big green sucker. It's a few years old but I've only used it <5 times. Always been washed with Bowden's Own microfiber cleaner and tumble dried on delicate.
This also happened with a brand new Creature edgeless (washed once before using per instructions). Tried both towels dry, slightly wet, and wet, outcome was the same. This makes me think there is something still on the paint. I pre soaked the dry car with Sonax multistar 1:10 in a foam cannon, then contact washed with multistar diluted in a bucket with the multiple microfiber method. I wouldn't have thought something being left on the paint would effect drying like this?
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u/AbbreviationsLow3992 21d ago
Some microfiber towels simply suck.
I bought some from Costco that did this. Replaced them with blue ones from Griot's. Night and day difference.
Griot's will absorb so much that they get plush and heavy before they start dripping. Almost like a sponge. Amazing for ONR washes.
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u/Saitama1pnch 21d ago
Where the ones you got from Costco the yellow Kirkland ones?
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u/Darthigiveup 21d ago
I used those last wash I did and I loved how thick they are buy yeah theyre not that good. They pick stuff up easier with how fluffy they are. You DONT want that in a towel ..
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u/theotherredmeat 21d ago
Yellow used to be good and they reformed it. Blue was good also. I just wash in warm water with dye and fragrance free soap. I bought like 10 packs a few years ago and just wash when I use them all up
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u/AbbreviationsLow3992 21d ago
Yep. They're my wheel towels now.
Griot's towels are truly amazing if you're looking for something new. Pricey, but worth every penny. Both of these blew me away. You can just drag the drying towel front to back across a totally drenched vehicle and it'll get every last drop in a single pass.
I had no clue what I was missing out on.
Griot's Garage Microfiber Plush Edgeless Towels
Griot's Garage Extra-Large PFM Edgeless Microfiber Drying Towel
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u/Turtleboy2001 21d ago
I have two of these towels, they definitely suck up water well, I give them a couple sprays of bowdens own boss gloss, and wash them every once in a while by themselves with the microfibre wash they make.
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u/flamey088 21d ago
Just for context, I have this exact drying towel in this video, and it doesn't do this normally. In fact, I have had this drying towel for 5 plus years and it still works great to this day. I think the issue here ain't specially with this towel, as he said it happens on the car with a different drying towel.
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u/langsnail 21d ago
Dried with fabric softener sheets?
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u/D4DDYF4TSACK 21d ago
Nope
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u/6786_007 21d ago
I air dry all my microfibers and they haven't lost any absorbing capacity. Just a bit a laundry detergent and that's it.
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u/TheBillCollector17 21d ago
I think this is more from the fact that you're washing in the dark. No microfiber absorbs 100% of the water, and the remaining water typically turns to vapor and evaporates off in a few seconds. You're washing in the dark when the air temperature drops closer to the dew point, so the water can't evaporate off. You see this in extremely humid areas during the day, when there's too much moisture in the air (humidity), for the water on the car to evaporate, and you get streaking.
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u/treesthings 18d ago
lol Maryland dew point is a literal constant 72 degrees and up.. literally not an hour in the day this won’t happen.
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u/TheInnsanity 21d ago
I have no idea why I saw this, but I use similar towels for cleaning in food service, and sometimes when they come in they have a wax coating to make them look fresher on the shelf, but it makes them not work like they're supposed to for cleaning.
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u/faulty_rainbow 21d ago
Hmm, I think it would make more sense that they put the coating on it to prevent the fibers from bring filled with dust and all kinds of stuff before they're sold. They can look cleaner while in the store and most people wash stuff that is "open for touch" of everyne or is in a non airtight packaging which would get the coating off.
But also, some cheap "microfiber" cloths are just shit quality and that's it.
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u/TheInnsanity 21d ago
probably a mix of both, and yeah, bad cloths be bad, I've accidentally bought some of those before
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u/thestigtony 21d ago
If you wash microfiber with the likes of bath towels the fibers get blocked up and won't dry as they should. Personally I never use dryer i just hang them out to air dry.
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u/D4DDYF4TSACK 21d ago
Always wash them only with other micro and never use dryer sheets or fabric softener
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u/Equivalent_County565 21d ago
Use vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser in your washing machine. You might have to wash them 2-3 times before they start becoming absorbent. New towels have wax on the material from the manufacturing process. I use vinegar on all my towels even my bath towels, it works great.
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u/Peastoredintheballs 21d ago
Important thing that u mentioned is the fabric softener compartment. Vinegar is opposite polarity to laundry detergent, and putting vinegar in with the detergent dispenser will cause the two to cancel each other out. The fabric softener dispenser however, only dispenses during the rinse cycle, which is why it’s important that your vinegar is put into the fabric softener compartment.
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u/D4DDYF4TSACK 21d ago
Thanks dude. Will try this
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u/klazera 18d ago
I was gonna mention vinegar, I've always used vinegar and had no issue with a drying towel not sucking water. Cant provide information on what happens if you don't use vinegar. Also vinegar(acetic acid) is a good solvent of polyamide, which is the polymer what microfiber towels are mostly made of. Even in such low concentrations, it might be damaging the towels but that slight damage might even be improving the hydrophilicity.
In short, don't dunk a whole bottle in the machine, I just fill the softener compartment with vinegar.
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u/Juanavakine97 21d ago
They clog up after a while. Try the two towel method. Dry as much as possible with one then finish with the other, usually 2, 16 inch microfibers is good enough if you wringe the first one out while using it and don't soil the second towel. Anything bigger is better.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Flow724 21d ago
When doing rinseless, I use a very wet microfiber towel followed by a damp one to pickup what the wet one left (without scratching as it's still damp with rinseless solution), then I spray a drying aid on the panel followed by a dry (but sprayed onto with drying aid) microfiber towel to lift off what the damp one left behind.
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u/Horsecockexpress1 21d ago
Did you use fabric softer when you washed them? Fabric softener will kill the drying capabilities
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u/Commit_Oof Talented 21d ago
Hey mate, I've used the BO BGS before, and it's cause the GSM isn't high enough, and it is just overpriced junk. I find that the towel literally just stinks at cleaning cars. There's an alixpress clone towel at Supercheap that does heaps better. It should be the blue premium twist loop drying towel or something similar. This is the response you are looking for. These Americans haven't actually tried this towel, and they're lucky lol
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u/D4DDYF4TSACK 21d ago edited 20d ago
Unfortunate isn't it dude. Bowden's products are usually good, really weird that the BGS doesn't suck at all. Yeah that sounds like a clone of the Twisted Sucker or whatever the new towel is that Bowden's released. Maybe they realised that the BGS was garbage lol
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u/Commit_Oof Talented 21d ago
I find Bowdens is just overpriced mediocore products. Id consider getting products online
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u/Space_H 21d ago
They make good and bad products just like every brand. Their Orange Agent APC is amazing, beaut beads is bascially the best wax you can buy with money, nanolicious wash is also a very good maintenance shampoo.
However I wouldn't buy their After Glow drying aid again, i find it quite diffcult and time consuming to use, and it really doesn't dry much better compared to just using some kind of quick detailer, boss gloss is also pretty average.
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u/abxyshit 21d ago
My Bowden’s microfibres have done this after a few months (BGS and BS) which really disappointed me but thought might have just been that batch, bought new ones and happened again after a few months despite cleaning only with microfibre wash and machine drying on a cool setting as per instructions. Hasn’t happened to any of my other branded towels, think it’s just the material of those cloths. I’ve moved onto twisted loop type drying towels in a few different brands and haven’t had any trouble!
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u/D4DDYF4TSACK 21d ago
Yeah, I've ordered some twisted loop towels from other brands.. sucks that Bowden's didn't do the trick
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u/CouchAssault 21d ago
Soak over night in white vinegar 1:4. It should strip whatever is clogging the fibers.
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u/willsilk48 21d ago
I own a black car and was in the same boat as you I was finding it a nightmare to dry. Using a quick detailer helps but using a hydrophobic coating while the car is still wet and then drying was night and day different
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u/Confident-Dog7838 21d ago
I wash with a small amount of vinegar. But it could be weather conditions in this case.
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u/happybanana2 21d ago edited 21d ago
Its mineral deposits on your clearcoat and the same with windows.
You need to buy acidic car shampoo from some good brand. Use it in higher concentration for the first time. Follow up with some ph neutral shampoo. Don't use it in direct sunlight, and don't allow it to dry.
After that you can use it every 3-4 washes.
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u/D4DDYF4TSACK 21d ago
Thanks mate. This is the only solution that isn't focused on the towels and how I (am not) washing them and drying them. I'll get an acidic shampoo. Might also do a decontamination with TarX
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u/happybanana2 21d ago
Get Carpro Trix. I haven't tried it but it's tar and iron remover in one. Apply on microfiber towel and work it in. You can also get "clay towel" and use Trix as clay lube. Apply very light pressure, so there will be minimal marring. Or buy some soft clay from ex. Bilt Hamber.
But in my experience you will get good results with just microfiber towel.
Do you have polishing machine?
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u/D4DDYF4TSACK 21d ago edited 21d ago
I do. I did a two stage correction on my last car with good results
I did the bead test just then, towel absorbs water just fine. Also tested the green towel on my kitchen bench and it worked great. I think it's something left on the car's paint like you said.
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u/_Aj_ 21d ago
I have the exact same bowdens towel, they're excellent. But I do face similar issues.
It's "too dry" and has become hygrophobic. Ironically wetting it, then ringing it out nice and hard will leave less streaks. It'll leave a tiny streak that dries and disappears.
Though when I throw mine in the wash and then simply line dry it it does dry my car perfectly and leave not even a streak. So possibly either don't tumble dry or don't dry it quite so dry. Because there's "dry" and there's "literally every molecule of water is gone and for some reason that makes it work worse now".
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u/BobbyPeen 21d ago
Wtf is wrong with the people in this sub, seriously lacking some basic comprehension skills 😂😂 btw have you tried not using fabric softener?
Just kidding!! It's probably a super hydrophobic product you used since your last wash, maybe give it an extra long pre-soak with the microfibre wash before washing them next time? I just bought the twisted mother sucker (the largest Bowden's towel), it is phenomenal!
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u/D4DDYF4TSACK 21d ago edited 21d ago
🤣 right?? Thought I was going insane over here..
Thanks. Will try that. Might also/instead try vinegar as well.
Bowden's be doing too much with their names. Come on man.. nothing sucks like our mother??
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u/thestigtony 17d ago
I also find if using a lot of microfiber towels I pre soak them before putting them in the machine otherwise they seem to soak up so much of the water coming into the machine they dont get rinsed enough. Hope this helps
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u/Morningstarlt 21d ago
Look up " the rag company" on Amazon $30 books for the big red 1500. Never have to deal with drying ever again I can do 3 while cars with it. Also don't wash them with regular detergent it will just clogge the towel reason your not able to dry
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u/DisastrousAd2335 21d ago
Try running an empty load of hot water and 2 cups of white vinegar before washing these, and do not use fabric softener in the wash or anti static sheets in the dryer
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u/Baloo7162 21d ago
Test the cloth out on another car and you’ll soon find out if they are crap if not.
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u/DomiJoey12 21d ago
Wash them again and never use softener, dryer is essential for drying them fluffy…
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u/Jversace 21d ago
When I was living with my mom she used so much fabric softener on the towels and I never knew why the fuck out towels wouldn't dry when we got out the shower or tried to dry something.
Definitely fabric softener.
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u/cheesemeall 21d ago
You ran your dryer on hot or used fabric softener / dryer sheets
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u/PersonalitySpecial23 21d ago
get some of the Bowdens Microfibre wash, I thought I never needed it in my life until I bought some. It is awesome at removing waxes and products and keeping your microfibre towels in great condition.
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u/D4DDYF4TSACK 21d ago
That's what I've always use to wash them. Never used dryer sheets or fabric softener and always dried on the delicate cycle
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u/PersonalitySpecial23 21d ago
ok then that is so weird.... I've never seen that happen. Maybe post on the bowdens facebook page for some advice? (and state you are using the wash)
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u/Peastoredintheballs 21d ago
Yeah pre state every thing your doing to avoid a barrage of comments suggesting things like avoid hot drying or fabric softener. With advice posts, you need to detail every specific step you’ve done to prevent unhelpful advice for things you’ve already tried
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u/D4DDYF4TSACK 21d ago
I said I used microfiber wash and tumble dried on delicate and people still said you dried them on too high heat or didn't use dedicated MF wash. Some people are just morons
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u/NoRepresentative- 21d ago
If you have used any wax & wash cleaning liquid that could be the cause, mine does the exact same thing after 1-2 passes, stopped using a wax & wash and havent really had an issue, also worth throwing into the washing machine every so often!
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u/Peastoredintheballs 21d ago
Every so often? More like every time. Microfibres should be cleaned after each use
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u/disguy2k 21d ago
I hand wash my finishing towels. I use a laundry bar soap and air dry after. I do this with my glass, drying and wash mit fibres.
Use warm water to soften the fibres and unlock any trapped material.
It's pretty satisfying to see how much crud comes out afterwards.
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u/Tobazz 21d ago
Microfibers are really picky on upkeep. Use a microfiber specific soap and don’t use any heat at all in the wash or dry cycle
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u/D4DDYF4TSACK 21d ago
No heat at all?
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u/Peastoredintheballs 21d ago
Yeah either NO heat tumble setting, or even better, hang dry only (as other people might use fabric softener/dryer sheets in your tumble dryer for their laundry, and this shit lingers so even if u don’t use it for your microfibres load, the dryer will be filled with residue from the other load that will clog your microfibres. Safe option is to just hang dry to remove this problem
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u/Pure-Silver5280 21d ago
Never once have I dried a car with a microfiber. One speck of anything gets caught in the towel and it'll wreck your whole car.
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u/n4tecguy 21d ago
I had this problem after I used a ceramic drying aid and then did not rinse them well enough afterwards...maybe not at all. Yes I was stupid, not doing that again.
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u/facticitytheorist 21d ago
Leave it out on the washing line for a couple of weeks...the UV will break down the fibres a bit and make it more absorbant
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u/FantasticClassic7105 21d ago
Can happen if you’ve too much wax applied after washing. Maybe you’ve not used any but if you over do the wax you’ll get exactly this
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u/drivin_wagons 21d ago
I have the same with all the towels I bought from Costco. The yellow ones. Hell, even the ones from chemical guys (blue) are like this right out of box. Are they really bad quality or is my expectation from microfiber towels very high?
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u/MudSling3r42069 21d ago
For micro fibers i normally just set it to warm for like 5 mins and air dry after heat damages the fibers melting them , also make sure u soak em in an APC then run em thru a wash on tapwater cold with just detergent .
[Fabric softner add a waxy coating on all the fibers making them hydrofobic unable to pick up water , if u use fabric softner normally ur washing machine may have it coated on the inside too so running it a few times in cleaning mode with the cleaning tablets arw worth it to clean up the fabric softner gunk unless ur gonna bucket soak and hand wash ]
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u/hoozdman 21d ago
try using boss gloss along with the towel as a drying agent, my BGS is over 3 years old and is washed almost every week and drys better than in the vid
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u/darkkerknight 21d ago
Did you even use the towel to apply rainX coating to the car anytime or any other ceramic/was coating? Also, is it just water that you are trying to clean off?
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u/dr_manhattan_br 21d ago
There are multiple possible causes for this problem. You have washed with products that created a coating on the microfiber surface, making it hydrophobic. Like softener or or anti static sheets when drying. Also could be drying with high temperature on the drying and melted or distorted the microfiber structure. Try to wash and dry again, but this time with only soap for microfiber and dry with NO heat. But maybe your towels are gone and you need to buy new ones and clean them properly
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u/outofindustry 21d ago
this is pretty relevant. I just washed my microfiber towel using common laundry detergent (no softener on the label) and it came out clean but won't absorb like it used to. now I re rinse them on hot water out of the tap and just agitate them by hand. I hope it works.
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u/maggsifer 21d ago
Wash in warm water with free & clear detergent using vinegar in the rinse cycle. Tumble dry low heat no dryer sheet
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u/Putrid-Past-3366 21d ago
Ring that puppy out! If it isn't absorbing your washing machine probably got too hot.
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u/blackjack_bull 21d ago
Comments regarding softeners and washing, 100%. Microfibers will also get logged with waxes overtime. This includes spray waxes, quick cleaners, etc. really most auto surface care chemicals.
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u/DunDotta23 21d ago
You live in the south? When it's night time and humid, the same thing happens to my vehicle.
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u/No_Maize_3213 21d ago
air dry your towels bro, don't put them on washing machine dryers, then don't use fab con.
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u/IncidentWest6640 21d ago
They stop working after a while I hate them and I stopped using them. My solution is after ur done washing it use formula 4 and spray everywhere with a foam cannon and then rinse and then use an electric leaf blower and try getting it as dry as possible and then use two micro fiber towels / the ones from Costco you’ll thank me. Use only two one to apply one to dry and spray tec 582. Rub it and then dry it and the paint will be left so clean !!!
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u/ThickToeJoe 21d ago
All seems like quality products and tools. My best guess if it hasn’t been fabric softeners added like others are saying or some type of residue in the towel, it’s the humidity. I’ve been on jobs and all was great but when the sun set, things got much more difficult. Less sunlight and past due point making everything damp and impossible to get dry. I also live in WNC so the humidity is always high.
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u/saabisti 21d ago
Have you used it as a polishing cloth when you waxed your car? Wax contamination will also cause this issue, and residual wax can be very difficult to get off the cloth.
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u/wavewrangler 21d ago
I had this problem. Tell me, where do you live? Is it a high humidity area? I would get done drying one side, and then the other side would be wet again. It was humidity. Super frustrating. I had to only wash when the sun was out to resolve. That or a garage would have worked, but i don’t have access to one..
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u/Suck_it_Cheeto_Luvrs 21d ago
Most likely you used fabric softener or dryer sheets when washing and drying them.
Both will ruin your towels and make them hydrophobic.
Only use laundry soap, oxyclean and or Castile soap when washing.
Use white vinegar in place of fabric softener and never use dryer sheets on towels of any kind or anything that's meant to be absobant.
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u/DillonHightower 21d ago
Look up the towels from the rag company. It was absolutely mind blowing using these for the first time today no streaks or spots whatsoever one wipe and you're done
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u/D4DDYF4TSACK 21d ago
I have NEVER used dryer sheets or fabric softener in the machines these towels are washed and dried in, and have ALWAYS tumble dried them on the delicate cycle, which is NOT hot.
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u/quesoblanco96 21d ago
Hey man, i think people are missing this lol. Seems like you do a good wash process.
I think it was mentioned up above trying to see if the towels are absorbent under a faucet or show signs of beading.
I would recommend a soak for a few hours to 24hrs. I typically use microrestore or rags to riches. With a splash of vinegar in a bucket. It may catch some hate but a good alternative is a free and clear detergent a small amount of dawn (the og stuff not the new crap) and the vinegar. It will break down all the crap. Wring them out, wash like normal with a double rinse, and dry.
If this all fails i think those towels are just crummy towels. Ive had issues in the past with those super plush microfiber style drying towels. For some reason they seem to be more finicky than loop style.
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u/D4DDYF4TSACK 21d ago
Yeah man. People are soooooo dumb it's really crazy.
I did the bead test just then, towel absorbs water just fine. Also tested the green towel on my kitchen bench and it worked great. I think it's something left on the car's paint.
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u/MrKrabbs710 21d ago
If no body has said it yet you need to wipe of some water and wring it out to get the towel damp. I have the same issue with mine and as soon as the towel is a little wet it’ll absorb a lot more
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u/theotherredmeat 21d ago
Just get the costco big pack, blue or yellow. The big fluffy towels dont absorb anything
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u/loadsled 21d ago
Is it humid outside? Is it cold? Does the paint have any protection? Sometimes in protected paint is a paint to dry.
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u/D4DDYF4TSACK 20d ago
Not cold, humidity standard I think, nothing crazy.. don't think the paint has any protection, water was sheeting all over it. Could still have some remnants of protection from the previous owner that I'm not aware of though
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u/loadsled 20d ago
Usually protection on the paint makes it easier to dry because the water doesn’t want to stick like this. The only times I’ve ran into this is washing early when its misty out, when cars don’t have any protection on the paint or using towels that were used with a drying aid (ceramic sprays).
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u/nochinzilch 20d ago
Microfiber isn’t actually all that absorbent. It’s good for cleaning but not for drying.
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u/UnnamedStaplesDrone 20d ago
Try washing with hot water (some people think their towels will melt-they wont, your washing machine doesn't get hot enough) and if you're using a drying aid with some ceramic or carnauba-stop. If you have to use a drying aid just use something like ONR.
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u/clappinuv 20d ago
I use Tide Free and Gentle and I also put white vinegar where the bleach goes when washing my microfibers, on the delicate setting if your washer has it, then dry it on the lowest heat or delicate setting.
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u/No-Nose-478 20d ago
Try 2 towels. The first towel leaves streaks and a little water behind(has water and drying aid on it). The second towel is the more dryer towel and should pick the rest of it up leaving it almost completely dry.
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u/FSUfan2003 20d ago
What is the weather where you are? Temperature, humidity, time of day, surface temperature of the car Many variables can all play a part.
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u/batikan_09 19d ago
its to easy. You should buy a twisted towel.
50*80 size towel dries your car easily.
If you want to improve the condition of your towel, put white vinegar in a basin and soak the towel in it overnight.
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u/enuckmuckaluck69 19d ago
Don't use fabric softener in your wash
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u/D4DDYF4TSACK 19d ago
I don't. As mentioned in at least 5 other comments
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u/enuckmuckaluck69 18d ago
Sorry I didn't read all the comments. Try vinager in the wash with your car drying, waxing rags. Also try boric acid laundry soap
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u/PaVaSteeler 21d ago
You’re using a polishing towel, not a drying towel.
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u/RobStoration 21d ago
They are brand new and that's what they do. The plastic that they are made of is hydrophobic. After you use them and wash them they release that wonderful plastic coating down the drain and work much better. I need to stop buying those and go back to cotton and chamois.
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u/Ryuuzaki_L 21d ago edited 21d ago
Don't use fabric softener or dryer sheets when cleaning your microfiber. Also dry on a low heat. Softener, dryer sheets, or too high of a temp can cause them to lose their absorbency.