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What are everyone's thoughts on how to care for the old shammy when you've finished polishing your pride and joy?

i have previously been told two schools of thought and tried them both:

1. Let it dry completely so that it doesn't go moldy or rot. All well and good but it just dries out then cracks the next time you go to use it.

2. Put it straight in a plastic bag so that it never dries out. Just tried this one then took it out to do the car and the bike at the weekend and it was well, fragrant, to say the least, and very slimy, then when I washed it out it just disintegrated into yellow powder.

If anyone can offer andy advice it would be most appreciated as I am getting a bit sick of having to buy a new one every couple of washes.

forget about chamios leather - it sucks.

Microfibre cloths are where its at. use them as you would a regular chamios. not as long lasting, but when you can get decent ones at places like poundland for a 60cm by 30cm towel, they are better than good value. (seriously dont buy the expensive stuff from halfrauds - its exactly the same but costs you 5x as much!)

once you have finished using them, just rinse them out in hot water and some fairy liquid and leave them to dry on the washing line.

Simple as.

I've not found anything as good as a genuine chammy (these synthetic ones are shite)

I rinse it, ring it out and hang it over the edge of my bucket to gradually dry.
Seems to work fine.

I tend to agree with D-Rider, with the proviso that it does depend on how often you use it, or not.

Yup, I'm with D on this as well. Personally I do let it dry out but just as I start to wash the bike or car I dunk the dry chammy in a small bucket of clean water. Within minutes it's soaking wet...a quick wring out and it's ready for action again.

I've tried all (well most) the synthetic ones with no joy, a real bit of chammy leather just can't be beaten IMHO

F9

Yeh, I'm with DR as well.
When use again, just stick it in the bucket of clean warm water, don't bend it dry.
Get a good none, not the cheap crap.

Yep, good point . They vary tremendously in quality and price.

Waffle-weave micro fibre ones seem to work well.

Chammy leather every time here. Rinse when done, let it dry flat (usually drape it over the bucket), then drop it in clean water before I use it again. Lasts for years and years.

I have a synthetic chamois that is at least 20 years old. It's called a Kanebo Plas Chamois and you keep it damp inside a plastic tube and it works brilliantly. It also lasts as I have a spare one bought years ago that is still in it's wrapping.

I also have a good quality proper Chamois but it's never used as by the time I had it wet and ready for use the job would be done by the Kanebo. I think the real Chamois is more absorbant but noy by enough for me to bother with it.