By Haroun Adamu
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Microfiber towels have revolutionized the cleaning business. They are constructed of microfiber, a high-tech fabric woven from polyester and polyamide threads that are thinner than silk.
In practically every respect, microfiber material beats comparable natural fabrics such as cotton and wool. That’s why we examined many options to select the best car microfiber towels. We also categorized them based on their most suitable functions.
Types of Car Microfiber Towels
The kind is one of the first, and possibly most important, factors to consider when purchasing a microfiber towel. It is critical to choose the correct sort since they are intended for various purposes. Most fall into five categories: short pile, medium pile, long pile, waffle weave pile, and applicator pile.
Short Pile
Short-pile towels are lovely for all-purpose cleaning. However, they are not recommended for use on highly delicate surfaces like chrome since the short pile traps whatever it encounters.
You can notice the somewhat chaffy feeling it gives off, even if ever so slightly. You can use them to clean the upholstery, dashboard, and other non-sensitive areas of a car.
Medium Pile
Towels in the medium pile may be classified as usual or medium-large piles. Standard medium towels work well for removing car wax and may also be used to clean the surface of a vessel. While medium pile towels are better than short pile towels for drying, they do not offer the best results.
Long Pile
Long pile towels are generally the softest of the bunch, thanks to the numerous caterpillar-like strands, which increase the surface area for contact. In addition, these towels are ideal for drying, thanks to their excellent water absorption and for applying sealants and quick detail sprays.
Waffle Weave Pile
This is not necessarily a type of pile. It just refers to the weave patterns which resemble waffles. These towels are fantastic for many types of cleaning, but they perform best on mirrors and glass in general.
While these are the generally accepted microfiber types, this is just one classification in reality. Microfiber towels can also be grouped based on their constituent materials—polyester, polyamide (nylon), and polypropylene (Prolen)—and GSM (grams per square meter), a measure of density and thickness.
The majority of towels come in an 80:20 or 75:25 polyester-to-polyamide mix. Meanwhile, GSM of 300 to 400 represents lightweight, thin, and coarse towels, 400 to 600 is medium to higher weight, soft and absorbent, and 700 to 900 has the highest, heavyweight, soft and absorbent nature and is viewed as luxurious.
Choosing the Best Car Microfiber Towel
Here are some purchasing factors to help you make your decision:
Size
The standard towel is 12 inches long, but you may opt for something longer. The more the surface area covered in a single pass, the faster you will clean your car. It goes without saying that you should also consider the towel’s weight when soaked in water if you intend to wash with it.
Absorption
Some towels may mention their absorption volume. For instance, the manufacturer may state that each towel can absorb its weight in fluids ten times. The greater the absorption rate, the more work each towel can do before it has to be cleaned.
Machine Washable
Surprisingly not all towels can be washed in a washing machine. This feature will simplify your life, so look for it if it’s essential. Our list includes several machine-washable products. However, as a general rule, read the tiny print when shopping for microfiber towels.
Quantity
Car towels are often offered in huge numbers, usually providing a higher value for money. There is, however, the issue of quality to consider. Remember that one excellent towel may easily outweigh five poor ones.
Tag-Free
Tags do much more damage to your car than you think. They tend to scrape paint jobs, which is the polar opposite of what you want when cleaning your vehicle. As a result, some manufacturers avoid them entirely.
Fabric Type
You don’t have to be concerned about the fabric since it’s almost always polyester. Of course, the grade of the polyester will vary from one item to the next. Still, the primary material is the same.
Best Car Microfiber Towel
After extensive study and careful analysis, we have identified the best microfiber car towels to wash, clean, and dry your car. Here are the best car microfiber towels in a variety of sizes, materials, and functions to suit your needs:
Best Car Microfiber Towel Overall: Chemical Guys Microfiber Towel
The detailing towels from Chemical Guys are constructed of 70/30 microfiber, and each towel is trimmed with genuine silk. The cleaning cloths are soft and have a good pile length.
The towels are elegantly crafted with silk-coated edges to prevent scratching when cleaning a car. In addition, they are available in gold hue, which is, in fact, a brilliant yellow tint that accentuates trapped dirt, alerting you when it’s time to turn over.
They are very soft, similar to genuine absorbent bath towels. As a result, these cleaning towels are adaptable and ideal for adding finishing touches during car detailing.
The towels are also very absorbent, soaking up any moisture on the car’s surface. They are also lint-free, durable, and machine washable. Plus, you may reuse each pack several times.
The Chemical Guys microfiber towel is soft and has a good pile length. It’s constructed with a 70:30 microfiber mix with genuine silk-trimmed edges.
- Works in both wet and dry situations
- Does not generate lint
- Machine washable
- Possible durability issues
Best Budget Car Microfiber Towel: Amazon Basics Microfiber Cloths
If you’re seeking a low-cost towel, Amazon’s brand Amazon Basics offers a lint-free and streak-free option. It comprises 90% polyester and 10% polyamide, making it ultra-soft and non-abrasive.
It removes dirt, filth, and other particles without harming the paints, coatings, or other sensitive surfaces encountered when cleaning the interior/exterior of a car, gadgets, eyeglasses, screens, etc.
Throw the microfiber towel in the washing machine after use to clean it. You may reuse it several times. This microfiber towel is relatively thin, though, making it unsuitable for drying.
The Amazon Basics microfiber cleaning cloth is available in 24-pack, 36-pack, 48-pack, and 144-pack sizes in three different colors: blue/white/yellow and green/grey/pink.
Amazon Basics offers a lint-free option if you're seeking a low-cost towel. It comprises 90% polyester and 10% polyamide, making it ultra-soft and non-abrasive.
- Low cost
- 24 pack
- Soft
- Very thin towel
Best Premium Car Microfiber Towel: Adam’s Ultra Plush Drying Towel
Suppose you’re looking for a soft towel good for drying, polishing, and waxing delicate paintwork and don’t mind paying a premium; you should consider Adam’s ultra plush towel. It boasts a superior fabric combination that outperforms any towel made of cotton, terry, or chamois.
You may remove wax residues from paint, metal, chrome, and even old lacquer paints with this cloth without damaging the surface. This is also thanks to the edges being covered with silk to reduce the possibility of harming delicate paintwork.
With a 16-inch x 16-inch size, this soft microfiber towel is ideal for a scratch-free and swirl-free finish on any surface, sealant removal, drying, and paint polishing. Its 920 GSM measurement makes it one of the plushest, longest-lasting towels you can have in your detailing arsenal.
Adam’s ultra plush towel is soft and excellent for drying, polishing, and waxing delicate paintwork. You should definitely get it if you don’t mind the price tag.
- Increased thickness
- Outstanding 920 GSM
- Extremely soft
- Scratch-free satin edge
- Expensive
Best Microfiber Car Drying Towel: Chemical Guys Woolly Mammoth
The Woolly Mammoth is hands down the best towel for drying a car. It is one of the softest, thickest drying towels you can find. It’s manufactured from a high-quality 70/30 mix and has a capacity of nearly a gallon! We couldn’t wait to put it to the test.
This towel is as big as a woolly mammoth! This will become obvious as soon as you take it out of the wrapping. Plus, it has a fluffy and fantastic feel.
To remove stray lint, machine-wash and tumble-dry the brand-new towel as directed. After that, it’s simple to use: toss it over your newly washed, damp hood and drag it across without swiping or exerting pressure. The whole area will be entirely dry in one sweep. The towel will hardly feel soaked even after repeating the procedure on the roof and trunk lid.
Among automotive enthusiasts, the Woolly Mammoth car drying towel is quite popular. Customers appreciate this XXL fluffy microfiber towel because it allows them to dry many cars without wringing it out. They also like how it doesn’t shed lint and strongly suggest it.
The Woolly Mammoth is one of the softest, thickest drying towels you can find. It is hands down the best towel for drying a car.
- 100% scratch-free
- Fantastic water absorption (up to 1 gallon)
- Lint-free drying action
- Leaves lint if not washed before first use
Best 12-Pack Car Microfiber Towel: Microfiber Wholesale Multi-Surface Towel
If you’re looking for a low-cost microfiber cloth bundle that works well for cleaning cars, the Microfiber Wholesale towel is the way to go. It comes in a box of 12 with three distinct colors.
It’s made of 80% polyester and 20% nylon and absorbs water quickly with no lint or stains. Plus, it is flexible enough to clean various other objects, such as kitchen appliances, worktops, mirrors, and more.
Compared to cotton towels, this Microfiber Wholesale towel is lightweight, super-absorbent, and dries rapidly. Whether you toss it in the washing machine or hand wash it, it’ll still be fine and functional for 100 more washes.
The Microfiber Wholesale towel is the way to go if you’re looking for a low-cost microfiber cloth bundle to clean your car. It comes in a three-colored box of 12.
- Affordable
- Machine washable
- Lint-free material
- Watch out for the tag
Best Car Microfiber Towel for Interiors: The Rag Company Waffle Weave Towels
The Rag Company’s waffle weave towel is ideal for cleaning leather seats and other interior finishes. Plus, it’s small enough to fit into your glovebox or center storage for easy access whenever you need to clean up a water spillage or anything else on the go.
Although most of a car’s inside is less susceptible to scratches than the outside, certain coatings or shiny features need to be shown extra care. This professional detailing towel is suitable for such purposes since it’s soft and has overlock stitched edges.
Of course, the towel is versatile and can be used to wash your car’s exterior and rub in polishes, waxes, or sealants. The only downside to this towel is that they may leave lint behind.
The Rag Company’s waffle weave towel is ideal for cleaning leather seats and other interior finishes. Plus, it can be stashed in a small space for easy access.
- 100% scratch-free
- Ideal for car interior maintenance
- Can be stashed away for frequent use
- May leave lint
Benefits of Microfiber Towels for Cleaning Cars
Microfiber towels have several benefits for washing and cleaning cars. Here are some of them:
Pull on Dust and Oil
Microfiber towels are excellent for drying, thanks to their ability to absorb excess water. But they’re also great for removing dust or oil on your car’s surface.
Some towel materials, mainly cotton, may allow dust and oil to spread, giving a car a filthy and blemished appearance. However, since the microfibre component is positively charged, it attracts negatively charged particles such as dust and oil.
It Enhances Efficiency
Time is money—this statement holds for car washing just as much as any other activity. You will save time and effort by using microfiber towels to dry off cars after washing. Unlike cotton towels, a microfiber car drying cloth can absorb much water without being wrung.
It Guarantees a Spotless Finish
Cotton towels and other drying options might leave streaks on your car. Air drying a vehicle is the most common cause of water stains. However, drying with a cotton towel may leave spots and lint. Microfiber towels can make your car—old or new—as clean and blemish-free as possible.
Top Car Microfiber Brands
So many companies make microfiber towels, but which are the top, most popular brands? Find out.
Chemical Guys
Chemical Guys is a prominent seller of car detailing materials in Southern California. The Chemical Guys Woolly Mammoth Microfiber Dryer Towel is part of a line of high-quality waxes, varnishes, polishes, and sealants.
Adam’s Polishes
Initially started in California in 2000 by Adam Pitale, Adam’s Polishes has since moved to Thornton, Colorado, where it sells premium car care products worldwide.
The Rag Company
The Rag Company is more than a towel manufacturer; they’re a multimedia powerhouse. They employ content creation and networking platforms to advocate for high-end finishing and microfiber fabrics. They are a family-owned and operated firm in Boise, Idaho.
Meguiar’s
Meguiar’s, headquartered in Irvine, California, is well-known in the industry for its more than 100-year devotion to automotive quality. It creates products for all car surfaces, such as paint, wheels, tires, and interiors.
Though not featured in our list of best car microfiber towels, the Meguiar’s X2000 water magnet is a close runner-up missing, only missing out on the drying towel category to the more superior Woolly Mammoth.
Switch to Microfiber if You Haven’t Already
We’ve dug in deep to find the best car microfiber towels you can buy currently. We’ve also categorized them based on their best use cases to make your decision process easier.
To get the most out of your towels, don’t use them with dish soap. Instead, pair them with the best car wash soap so your ride remains in pristine condition.
FAQs
Is Microfiber Good For Cars?
Yes, microfiber towels are good for cars. They are the safest and most popular solutions for washing and drying vehicles. They’re also great for cleaning the interior trim and wiping off the steering wheel.
Which Type Of Microfiber Towel Is Best?
The best type of microfiber towel is a blend of polyester and polyamide. For the best results, look for towels with an 80:20 or 70:30 polyester-to-polyamide ratio.
Do Microfiber Cloths Scratch Car Paint?
No, microfiber cloths do not scratch car paint—not on their own, at least. However, like any other material, a dirty microfiber towel will that dirt and debris against your car’s clear coat, causing swirls and scratches.
Is There a Difference in Microfiber Towels?
Yes, there is a difference in microfiber towels. There are several grades of microfiber towels, and manufacturers differ significantly in terms of raw material composition, content quality, and price. Microfiber cloths also vary by fiber density and length mix.
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