10 Best Microfiber Towels for Auto Detailing (+ How to Choose Microfiber Car Cloths)

What is Microfiber Towel?

It’s a piece of cleaning cloth made of microfiber fabrics initially intended for cleaning a vehicle.  Different materials are utilized in the fabrication of microfiber towels, often depending on the purpose. Still, they do share some common features like absorption capability, toughness, softness, electrostatic property, and filtering capability.

What Is It Made Off?

Polyester and polyamide are mixed at different ratios to produce different types of microfibers. It results in a broader range of microfiber towels for particular applications. You can see the blend ratio of a towel at the product description. The proportion is often stated as 75/25 or 90/10, which signifies the ratio of polyester to polyamide.



Another major differentiator for microfiber towels is density. The denser the microfibers, the more it can absorb and is generally more expensive. The thickness of a microfiber cloth is labeled in GSM (grams per square meter). That makes uniformity, which you can use to compare different towels. For instance, if a 12×16 cloth is 400 GSM, this means it a square meter of the fabric weighs 400 grams, not the 12×16 material itself. Microfibers are 2 times thinner than silk, 3 times thinner than wool, 8 times thinner than cotton, 100 times finer than a human hair.

Microfiber Cloths Benefits

The biggest gain from microfibers is their effectiveness at enticing dirt and absorbing liquid. Microfibers have a star-shaped structure on each strand, which is ideal for cleaning. Contrarily, the cotton towel has an inconsistent tube shape. Since microfiber cloths are super-soft, non-abrasive, they’re perfect for car detailers.

Types

One of the first and perhaps most essential elements to consider when buying a microfiber towel is the type. It’s crucial to be sure you choose the proper type as they’re meant for different uses. Most of them are classified into 5 main categories – short pile, medium pile, long pile, waffle weave pile, and applicator pile.

1. Short pile – The short pile towels are excellent for all-purpose cleaning, but they’re not ideal for very sensitive surfaces as they can leave scratches and marks. Most of the short pile towels come in 80-20 blend and with a GSM of 220-250. You can use them to clean upholstery, dashboard and all those parts of a vehicle that aren’t very delicate;
2. Medium pile – Medium pile towels can be further sorted into standard medium, plush, and medium-large pile. Standard medium towels are great for the removal of car wax. They can also be used to rinse water off of the surface. While medium pile towels are a little better than short ones, you still can’t use them on delicate surfaces. Plush towels are perfect for all kinds of delicate cleaning, including removing dirt and dust from chrome finished trims, glass, and other scratch-prone surfaces. Their blend is in the ratio of 75-25, and they have higher GSM ratings. Plus, the medium-long pile is useful for the semi-delicate surface. They have GSM of up to 400 and are handy for basic cleaning. But, they’re not as soft as the plush towels.
3. Long pile – The long pile is softer than the previous two types. These towels are suitable for buffing and have a superior water absorption capability. Also, they can deliver the best shine to your cars as well without any scratches.
4. Waffle weave pile – The waffle weave towels pile is great for all sorts of cleaning, but they work best for mirrors. These towels mostly come in a blend of 80-20 with 350 GSM.
5. Applicator pile – The applicator pile towels are fantastic for the application of paint sealants or car wax. And they come in a blend of 70-30 mix and with 350 GSM.

Core Features

When you shop for microfiber car cloths, there’re several things that you need to bear in mind to choose the right product. Especially, the following matters:

Grams per square meter

When it comes to accessing the quality of a microfiber towel, the GSM is what you want to check. As we said, It’s a measurement of the density of the towel. Therefore, the higher the rating, the thicker and softer the towel will be. The majority of low-cost microfiber towels you’ll find are usually between 200 and 350 GSM. Still, if you’re willing to spend the extra, you’ll be able to have an ultra-plush towel that is perfect for auto detailing due to the softness. If you’re using a microfiber towel for exterior detailing, it’s recommended to use 300 GSM and above. Anything below is suitable only for car interior or wiping off glass cleaner without leaving streaks on the window.

Thickness

The thickness or density of the microfiber is the number of fibers available per square inch. The more fibers in the towel, the more absorbent and efficient the cleaning cloth would be. Thick microfiber car towels will be denoted as “plush” products, like fluffy bath towels. The thick towels are ideal for polishing and buffing cars.

Dimension

You’ll notice that the most common size of the microfiber towel is 16 x 16 inches. Using towels that are too large will be difficult to handle and create streaks as your hand used for buffing isn’t in control of the full towel.

Reusability

Buy machine-washable microfiber cleaning cloths that you can use over and over again. These items offer the best value for the money.

Price Range

Top-quality microfiber cloths that are made by reputable brands like Meguiar’s, Chemical Guys, Detailer’s Preference, cost from $15 up to $40. Price usually depends on the cloths number included in the set, GSM and dimensions.

10 Best Microfiber Towels for Cars in 2022

Keep reading the reviews of the best microfiber car towels you can buy in the market.

For a package of 6 microfiber towels, it seems a little pricier, and they’re also quite thin, but they’re the best microfiber towels for auto detailing you can buy today.

Key features

• Ideal for final-touch buffing and wiping;
• Have lint-free/scratch-free results;
• Silk edges further minimize scratches;
• Prevent swirling and scratching;
• Bright yellow color highlights dirt – shows you when to flip to avoid scratches.

It’s one of the best microfiber towels for auto detailing, but also come with an expensive price tag. It’ll put off many people. Still, if you are looking to eliminate any swirl marks or scratches, this soft towel is terrific.

Key features

• Improved thickness;
• Outstanding 920 GSM;
• Extremely soft;
• Scratch-free satin edge;
• Buff away polishes and car wax with ease.

For a single towel, this one might seem relatively expensive. However, given its superior absorbent nature and the fact that it’ reusable and washable, you’ll still get excellent value for your money.

Key features

• Minimizes drying time with fewer wring-outs;
• Absorbs up to 2 times the water of conventional terry towels;
• Leaves a spot-free finish without streaking;
• Reusable, plus machine washable;
• Ultra-plush and extra-large.

Key features

• Premium microfiber fabric – ultra soft and gentle;
• Ultrasonic zero-edge finish;
• Includes two different piles;
• Ideal weight and size;
• It can be folded in 4 to 8 different clean sides.

Some people might find these microfiber detailing towels a little thinner and smaller, but the great news is they still clean up good and quick.

Key features

• Ultra-soft, non-abrasive microfiber cloths won’t scratch paints, coats, or other surfaces;
• Cleans with or without chemical cleaners, and leaves lint/streak-free results;
• Absorbs 8 times its own weight;
• The pack comes with 3 different towel colors (white, blue, and yellow);
• Rinse and reuse 100’s of times;
• Imported – 90% polyester/10% polyamide.

They seem a little abrasive, and so these towels might leave some tiny scratches, but they’ll hardly be noticeable for most cars. Although they’re not very durable, Buff Pro Red Microfiber Towels should last long enough for the price.

Key Features

• Absorbs 7 times their weight in liquid;
• Hypoallergenic;
• Works on any surface with/without chemicals, leaving no streaks or lint behind;
• Towels can be washed and reused hundreds of times;
• Great price.

Even though the colors fade a little too quickly with every wash, this should not be a big concern as it won’t affect the effectiveness of the towels.

Key features

• Plush, super-soft microfiber cloths, perfect for cleaning various surfaces;
• Designed with 110,000 fibers per square inch, enabling you to clean with/without chemicals;
• Streak-free and lint-free cleaning with a non-abrasive design that won’t scratch surfaces paints;
• Absorbs 8 times its weight in water, plus dries in half the time of conventional towels;
• They can be reused and washed 100’s of times.

Since all come in one color, it’s easy to cross-contaminate by using an already dirty one, but that’s an easy problem to fix by being keener. Despite being thinner, they still absorb and clean efficiently.

Key features

• Ultra-soft, non-abrasive microfiber cloths won’t scratch coats, paints or other surfaces;
• Cleans with or with no chemical cleaners, and leaves lint/streak-free results;
• Absorbs 8 times its own weight;
• 30black color pieces per pack;
• 100% polyester.

Key features

• Super soft;
• Multi-purpose;
• Absorbs up to 10x its weight and cleans without leaving lint or streaks;
• 24 pack is great value for your money ;
• It comes in 3 different colors.

Key features

• Excellent for cleaning cars, RVs, trucks, motorcycles, and boats;
• Soft, non-abrasive cloths won’t scratch paint or clear coat finishes;
• Lint-free cloth great for cleaning glass surfaces;
• Machine washable enabling you to reuse over and over.
• Durable

Key features

• No extra cleaners needed
• A bit pricey, but money well spent
• No streaks
• Antibacterial and Chemical-free
• The basic package includes one enviro cloth and one window cloth
• Easy to maintain and wash with warm water
• Fantastic reviews from satisfied buyers