I purchased Big Blue II about one month ago. After several uses I washed it for the first time last night. I put my washing machine settings on delicate, colors, non-permanent press, and warm-cold. Used a little bit of liquid Tide and let it hang to dry. Anyway, after washing my car today Big Blue didn't seem to be as absorbent. I had to ring it out several times and it didn't seem to perform as it had in the past. Is this normal? How long of a life does Big Blue have? How often should I wash it? Did I do something wrong? Any thoughts or suggestions from fellow Big Blue owners? Thanks!

 

I wash mine after each use with other microfiber stuff. I use Tide powder with warm wash/cold rinse and no fabric softener. Does liquid tide have fabric softener in it? - Fabric softener can mess up absorbency, or so I've been lead to believe. I use the dryer set at delicate/very low heat. I've never had any problems.

At least for the fuzzy microfiber, I belive they last longer if you only wash them with other microfiber towels. At first I washed them with my cotton polishing cloths (in the process of being replaced by all microfiber). I found that the cotton cloths would end up sticking to the microfiber stuff - I think that might take some of the life out of the microfibers as well.

John

 

Thanks for the input Revenuer! I'll have to check and see if the liquid Tide has softener in it. If so I'll have to make a change.

 

I washed mine with only other microfiber products but had the same experience as you ... less absorbancy. I have several big blues and it happened to all of them. Eventually i gave up and went back to the absorber and the big blues have been benched as touch up drying towels

BTW, I washed them with liquid Tide, Cheer, All and Woolite ( I have to use liquids in my machine); it did not matter. I use no fabric softner.

 

I had purchased the big blue w/little blue from proper auto care. I wash the two of them together after every use, separartely from my other microfiber towels. I use very little detergent, and only use liquid detergent. I have read that regular detergent granules can become trapped inside the fibers and if they do not dissolve they can block the fibers and scratch your paint.
I have found that big blue and little blue dry even better now then they did the first time you have used them. I always make sure to wash them in cold water and dry them on a low setting not to melt the fibers.

 

i have been using sonus microfiber wash lately and love it...
keeps them just like new always-
check it out!

 

The instructions say not to dry them, this may be part of your problem

I have washed mine many times and it's absorbancy seems the same but a few weeks ago it got accidentally dried and that first wash after it wasn't nearly as good, I believe it has gone about back to normal by now.

I use the California blade first and then use the Blue Towel, never have to wring it out.