Can I reuse waxing/polishing rags?
 

Hi,
I don't polish and wax my car all that often, but I still go through a fortune's worth of rags and polishing cloths. Can I throw these into the washer and reuse them? Will the residue clog up the water channels in the washing machine? Thanks.

Alex

I was mine all the time and have had no problems with the machine or drainage. Use hot water.

I wash my good cloths after every use which is at least once a month and have never had a problem.

Just be careful if you decide to wash any of those red shopcloths, my wife nearly killed me when I threw one into the last wash:eek: :confused: , I realized why after seeing the results.

Washing the polish cloths is perfectly fine. The ultra purist will advise not to use powder detergent, only liquid, so there's no chance of detergent grit to scratch the paint.

Also, very important, don't wash microfiber towels with regular cloth ones, the microfiber will be loaded with lint when you pull them from the washer. :)

And don't use fabric softener (Bounce) - it will leave a coating on your rags. I also wash an extra large towel with the car cloths, then run it by itself through the dryer before drying the rest of the rags in order to clean residual softener out of the dryer.

And I thought I was nuts.;)

I soak my wax rags ( after use ), in a pail of hot water for a couple of hours.
Then I rinse them & run them through the washer & dryer.
Been doing this for years without any problems ( the wife or washer dryer ).:D