Although synthetic microfiber is a relatively new innovation, having been developed in the 1970s by Toray Industries in Japan as an “Ultrasuede”, it has rapidly gained popularity in the car-care industry.
What is more, most automotive enthusiasts have turned to using microfiber towels for detailing their vehicles because they can be used on just about any surface – from painted bodywork, to interior trim and glass – and the best microfiber towels deliver streak- and spot-free results. The microfiber fabric is also long-lasting and can be washed numerous times.
These features, along with its impressive absorbency, has seen microfiber towels replace traditional terry cloth as the most commonly used all-round cleaning and detailing material. But what exactly is a microfiber towel and what makes it so effective?
The structure of the best microfiber towels gives them incredible cleaning properties
Microfiber can be manufactured from many different materials, including polyamide, polyester, and polypropylene – although most microfiber towels used for automotive detailing come in a combination of polyester and polyamide.
The best microfiber towels contain at least 20 percent polyamide and 80 percent polyester. When woven into a fabric, the microfibers create a porous structure that can absorb and trap moisture, dirt and other particles, while remaining soft and pliable.
The microfibers are extremely fine, about one-sixteenth of the thickness of a human hair, and thus contain many more fibers than any other cleaning cloth. This characteristic makes them ideal for deep-cleaning surfaces where these fine fibers can penetrate micro-cracks and crevices traditional cleaning fabrics cannot, allowing them to sweep-up the smallest dirt particles.
Augmenting the microfiber’s ability to trap dirt is the material’s static charge, created when the polyamide is split during manufacture. This positive static charge is capable of attracting most dirt particles, even those of microscopic dimensions.
See also: The Best Leather Conditioners & Upholstery Cleaners
At the same time, the fine polyester fibers give the microfiber towels their excellent absorbent and quick drying properties: The fabric is capable of absorbing between seven to eight times its weight in liquid. The best microfiber towels can be used wet or dry and can remove up to 99 percent of dust, dirt and other residues without requiring any chemicals or polishes.
These wide-ranging properties make microfiber towels ideally suited to a variety of car maintenance tasks: They can be used to clean up dirt off most surfaces, absorb liquids, apply wax, wipe down upholstery, and remove grime from plastic interior trim.
But while at first glance all microfiber towels may look the same, there are some subtle differences potential buyers should be aware of.
Review of The Best Microfiber Towels
PROS
- Effectiveness in drying and scrubbing
- Can be used for long without suffering wear
- Doesn’t leave scratches or lint
- Has the silk edges for better care
- 100% suitable for machine wash
CONS
- It's better for cleaning & detailing, not for washing
- Quite pricey for 6-pack of size 16x24"
This towel was specially designed to be used on cars. It has a 70% polyester content and a 30% polyamide content which guarantees its effectiveness. It’s topnotch scrubbing ability comes from its short fibers. These fibers ensure that you need to apply little or no force to get your car cleaned. This towel boasts of a perfect blend of abrasiveness and softness. After using it, you are assured that no scratches are left behind on your car. Another very important thing about this towel is its durability. This towel can be used and washed for as long as possible without showing signs of wear and tear.
PROS
- Comfortable washing of the car
- Absorbs water quickly
- Large size towel made from quality microfiber
- Absorbs biggest water quantities than analogs
- Suitable for machine wash
CONS
- Only 1 towel of size 22" x 30" in the pack
This is another interesting microfiber towel option. It comes in the yellow color and boasts of a 22″ X 30″ size. A very notable quality this towel possesses is its ability to absorb a lot of water. In fact, it absorbs twice the quantity of water that traditional towels can absorb. It also does a good job in cleaning without leaving any spots behind. If there is one thing car owners are weary about, it’s how towels will not leave stains on their cars after using them. This towel guarantees this.
If you have questions as to whether you can use this towel over and over, then “yes” is your answer. You can use it as many times as possible and wash it with a machine.
PROS
- Good price for the 24-pack
- Real size sometimes is little bit larger
- Doesn't scratch or damage surfaces
- It is soft and lint free construction
- Reused and washed easily
CONS
- Relatively small size of the towels 10x13"
- Shrinks significantly after you wash it
This great option gets your car cleaned and polished with excellent precision. It boasts of a non-abrasive and ultra-soft texture that has no negative effect on your car. It possesses a 90% polyester content and a 10% polyamide content. This perfect blend gives it the quality of great absorption and softness. Another interesting fact about this towel is its ability to absorb up to eight times its own weight. It is able to clean your car without leaving lint or streaks behind whether you make use of chemical cleaners or not. It can be easily washed and reused. It can also be washed in a washing machine without losing its quality.
PROS
- Excellent for various kinds of surfaces
- Absorbs a lot of water, which makes it easy-to-use
- It has a great soft and lint-free texture
- Soft-edge construction prevents from scratches and swirls
CONS
- Great for polishing, but not best for washing
- Can have a lot of lint when new, so wash it before using
This towel is an excellent option for various surfaces like glass, paint, plastic, and chrome. It is a pack of 3 towels. Making use of this towel is a very easy and fast way of getting rid of spray detailers, compounds, waxes and polishes that have stained your car. This towel also absorbs twice as much as much the quantity of water absorbed by traditional tailors. This feature makes it wipe dirt off faster and more effectively. Making use of this towel means that the issue of swirls is taken care of. It can also be used more than once and can be washed with a machine without a reduction in it’s quality.
PROS
- Quality mid-size 16 x 12" towels
- Available at a fair price
- Can be washed and reused many times
- It is lint-free and streak-free
CONS
- Good for detailing, but not best for car washing
This amazing microfiber towel option is designed with 100,000+ fibers a square inch and this makes it easy for you to clean with or without chemicals and detergents. It is super soft and suitable for other places other than your car. It can be used for cleaning in the garage, the office or the house as the case may be. It boasts of being lint-free and streak-free and doesn’t leave scratches on surfaces. It is able to absorb eight times its weight and is able to dry in half the time that it takes other towels. Another very important quality it possesses is it can be used repeatedly without losing its quality in any way.
PROS
- Very suitable for detailing of the cars
- Has a premium density of the fibers
- Towels have good durability
- Made of topnotch quality materials
CONS
- Smaller versions are not so durable
- It leaves little fibers behind after being washed
This excellent 16″ x 16″ microfiber towel option boasts of around 600,000 fibres a square inch. It is able to withstand numerous washings without losing its quality. It is also very effective on surfaces and gives your car that desired sparkle without leaving lint or streak behind. It boasts of the finest quality and gets softer with continuous use. It leaves your car without scratches and swirls and can be washed with a machine without losing its texture. It is perfect for “no rinse” products, for polishes and waxes. It is a kind of towel you keep using and never get tired of.
PROS
- 12-pack of 16x16" towels comes at a good price
- Multipurpose, can be used for almost every cleaning task
- Keeps high cleaning and absorbing ability within 500 washes
CONS
- The edges of the towels are not of premium quality
This towel comes prominently in the black color and is excellent for general cleaning. It can also be used on screens, automotive, windows, glasses and shop. It can be used to clean, dust, scrub and polish your home among other things. It is thicker, more absorbent, and softer than other microfiber towels. This towel is designed for cleaning professionals who desire the best out of whatever they lay their hands on. You are assured of 100% quality and satisfaction all through the year.
PROS
- The pack includes 18 towels in 2 colors
- Each towel is large-sized 18" x 18"
- Suitable for any cleaning task, including car washing and detaining
- Lint and streak free quality-in-mind product
CONS
- No significant downsides
This towels are really soft and lint-free and this makes them suitable for all surfaces. HDX Microfiber Towel’s unique design helps it to lift and trap dirt like a magnet without the use of chemicals. When cleaning, ensure that it is damp, when faced with really soiled areas, ensure it is wet and when dusting make sure it is dry. It can be washed by a machine without losing its quality and can be used over and over. Since there are any in a pack, you can have a piece everywhere.
PROS
- Highly durable towels and they can be used for various purposes
- Comes in the big 50-pack of microfiber towels
- Great for using for car care, cleaning and even for detailing
- Nice water absorbing ability
CONS
- Relatively small size 11.5" x 11.5"
This microfiber towel comes in various colors and can serve a lot of purposes. It can be used on any kind of surface. It is very soft and leaves surfaces without scratches. It is made up of 88% polyester and 12% polyamide. This perfect balance makes it excellent for surfaces. This towel also boasts of being highly durable and washable without losing its quality. The 50-pack of the towels by the regular price $18 make this product very cost-effective.
Selecting The Best Microfiber Towel
One of the major indicators of a microfiber’s performance is the pile. The pile determines the characteristics of the best microfiber towels. So, they are usually classified according to their pile – the visible fiber strand of the fabric. The pile length determines the characteristics of the cloth, as follows:
Ultra Low: Microfiber towels with these short piles are best suited to removing human oils and ultra-small particles. This type of pile is generally too fine to be of use in car detailing or cleaning, being better suited to headlights lens cleaning.
Low: This pile excels at trapping particles, making it a good choice for removing car compounds, waxes, and polishes.
Medium: Usually the best medium pile towels have a low pile on one side and a medium pile on the other, which gives them versatility. Typically these towels are used for all-purpose cleaning, and drying moderate amounts of water.
High: The best long pile microfiber towels are extremely absorbent and soft, making them well suited to removing liquids from surfaces.
While the fabric’s pile may determine the characteristics of the towel, consumers still need to select the best microfiber towel based on the features that best align with their requirements.
Properties Of The Microfiber Towels
Although the ‘quality’ of the best microfiber towels is often linked to the percentage polyamide in the fabric, the advertised percentage is also an indicator of other properties of the material.
So, even though standard microfiber towels contain 15 to 20 percent polyamide, with the best ‘Super Plush’ microfiber towels going up to 30 percent, polyester makes up the greatest percentage, and plays the largest role in determining the towel’s strength, durability, and scrubbing ability. The polyamide, on the other hand, determines the cloth’s absorbency.
Thus, by adjusting the percentages in the composition the features of a specific fiber can change significantly:
1. Scrubbing ability. While microfiber towels are mostly used to apply car soap to lift dirt particles, a higher percentage of polyester in the best microfiber towels can increase the strength of the fabric allowing for harder-to-remove particles to be ‘scrubbed’ from the surface.
2. Capacity to absorb water. Microfiber towels are particularly good at absorbing water when used to dry the car after washing, thus preventing water stains. The best microfiber towels for this task contain higher percentages of polyamide to assist with absorbing water and other liquids.
3. Non-Scratch. Irrespective of the surface, it is important that the microfiber towel does not leave any scratches. The best indicator of the cloth’s scratch performance is the grams per square meter (GSM) of the material. The GSM is a measurement of the density of the towel based on the number of fibers it contains. The best microfiber cloth’s density ranges from 300 to 500 GSM.
For fine detailing several manufacturers offer Super Plush Microfiber Towels that often have densities approaching 600 GSM.
4. Longevity. The best microfiber towels can be reused, and machine-washed several times without any deterioration of the fabric. If properly cared for, microfiber fabric can be washed and re-used up to 500 times or more.
Almost as important as selecting the correct type of microfiber for the job is making sure that the microfiber towel is correctly sized for the work it is intended for: Too small a towel won’t absorb nearly enough water, while too large a cloth will be unwieldy in confined spaces when being used for fine detailing. For this reason manufacturers offer products that range in size from about 250mm by 200mm to 1,000mm by 750mm.
Obviously the size and quantity of towels in a pack impact the pricing – with most products ranging from $15 to $30 for the best microfiber towels.
For peace of mind it is always advisable to stick with well-known, reputable brands when shopping for the best microfiber towels.
It is impossible to gauge the quality of microfiber cloth merely by looking at the towel. They all look the same. Thus, the best advice the consumer can follow is to only consider well trusted brands and their products.
And as with any product there will always be brands that stand out – whether it be because of personal experience or features – thus the following three products have been chosen as representing the best in their respective class:
- The best general purpose Professional Grade Premium Microfiber Towel, Gold from Chemical Guys is a scratch free, lint free and swirl free, long lasting microfiber that is machine washable.
- The best priced AmazonBasics Microfiber Cleaning Cloth is a 90 percent polyester, 10 percent polyamide microfiber that produces lint and streak free results while absorbing eight times its own weight in liquid.
- The premium choice X2000 Water Magnet Microfiber Drying Towel from Meguiar, is a large 22” X 30” waffle weave microfiber towel that absorbs up to two times the water of traditional terry towels.
Using the best microfiber towel to wash and detail a car is probably the cheapest way of optimizing a vehicle’s resale value – without the cost and inconvenience of taking the vehicle to a professional detailer the average DIY enthusiast can keep their vehicle in showroom condition, all year round.
While professional car-detailers and car wash businesses, who use microfiber towels every day, understand the function, use and limitations of the material, DIY enthusiasts may have several questions.
Is a microfiber towel good for washing cars?
Currently microfiber towels are probably the best all round fabrics used for washing and detailing cars.
This is largely because:
– They’re reusable.
– They’re durable.
– They’re ideal for painted and glass surfaces.
– They won’t scratch the vehicle’s surface.
Why can I not use a regular towel to clean my vehicle?
Regular towels, dish cloths, washcloths or rags, though they may feel soft to the touch can be abrasive on highly reflective automotive surfaces, causing fine scratches.
These materials are also not as absorbent as the best microfiber towels which makes drying the vehicle’s surfaces without streaking, very difficult.
Can a microfiber towel damage my car's paintwork?
The structure of the microfiber towel makes it less prone to scratching automotive paintwork. And for extremely sensitive or reflective surfaces the best microfiber towels and lint-free, suede microfiber cloths can surpass a density of 600 GSM making them extremely soft and pliable when used for fine detailing.
It is however important that the microfiber is rinsed frequently when cleaning a very dirty surface – a concentration of grit and dust trapped in the microfiber could result in scratching. We also recommend to use ceramic coatings for additional and long-lasting car’s paint protection.
Are microfiber towels washable?
Yes microfiber towels can be washed, although the following precautions should be taken:
– The microfiber should be washed in warm or hot water with a mild detergent.
– Microfiber towels should not be washed with other items that could contaminate the fabric with lint.
– No fabric softeners are to be used, as they will clog the open pores in the microfiber, rendering the fabric useless.
– If the microfiber towels are hand washed they should be washed in hot water with mild detergent and rinsed thoroughly.
Using the best microfiber towel to wash and detail a car is probably the cheapest way of optimizing a vehicle’s resale value – without the cost and inconvenience of taking the vehicle to a professional detailer the average DIY enthusiast can keep their vehicle in showroom condition, all year round.
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