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A Detail Geek’s Guide to Microfiber Towels
Microfibers were invented by Japanese textile company Toray in 1970, but the technology wasn’t used for cleaning until the late 1980s. The key, as the name suggests, is in the fiber: Each strand is really tiny—100 times finer than human hair—which allows them to be packed densely on a towel. That creates a lot of surface area to absorb water and pick up dust and dirt. Plus, microfibers have a positive electric charge when dry (you might notice the static cling on your towels), which further helps the towel to pick up and hold dirt. “They tend to trap the dirt in but not allow it to re-scratch the finish,” explains professional concours detailer Tim McNair, who ditched old T-shirts and terry cloths for microfibers back in the 1990s.
These days, the little towels are ubiquitous and relatively cheap, but in order to perform wonders consistently, they need to be treated with respect. Below, a miniature guide to microfibers.
Care for Your Towels: Dos and Don’ts
“They’re just towels,” you might say to yourself. But if you want them to last and retain their effectiveness, microfiber towels need more care than your shop rags:
DO: Keep your microfiber towels together in a clean storage space like a Rubbermaid container. They absorb dirt so readily that a carelessly stored one will be dirty before you even use it.
DON’T: Keep towels that are dropped on the ground. It’s hard to get that gunk out and it will scratch your paint.
DO: Reuse your towels. “I have towels that have lasted 15 years,” says McNair. That said, he recommends keeping track of how they’re used. “I’ll use a general-purpose microfiber to clean an interior or two, and I’ll take them home and wash them. After about two, three washings, it starts to fade and get funky, and then that becomes the towel that does lower rockers. Then the lower rocker towel becomes the engine towel. After engines, it gets thrown away.”
DON’T: Wash your microfibers with scented detergent, which can damage the fibers and make them less effective at trapping dirt. OxiClean works great, according to McNair.
DO: Separate your microfibers from other laundry. “Make sure that you keep the really good stuff with the really good stuff and the filthy stuff with the filthy stuff,” says McNair.
DO: Air-dry your towels. Heat from the dryer can damage the delicate fibers. If you’re in a rush, use the dryer’s lowest setting.
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The budget pack of microfiber towels will serve you fine, but if you want to go down the detailing rabbit hole, there’s a dizzying variety of towel types that will help you do specific jobs more effectively. Here’s what McNair recommends:
General Use: German janitorial supply company Unger’s towels are “the most durable things I’ve ever seen,” says McNair.
Drying: Towels with a big heavy nap are great for drying a wet car (but not so great for taking off polish).
Polishing: Larger edgeless towels are good at picking up polishing compound residue without scratching the paint.
Wheels and other greasy areas: This roll of 75 microfiber towels from Walmart is perfect for down-and-dirty cleaning, like wire wheels. When your towel gets too dirty, throw it away and rip a new one off the roll.
Glass: There are specific two-sided towels for glass cleaning. One side has a thick nap that is good for getting bugs and gunk off the windshield. The other side has no nap—just a smooth nylon finish—that’s good for a streak-free final wipe down.
This story first appeared in the January/February 2025 issue of Hagerty Drivers Club magazine. Join the club to receive our award-winning magazine and enjoy insider access to automotive events, discounts, roadside assistance, and more.
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For final finish it is Chemical Guys Happy Ending Towels. They are the best on final results.
Yeppppp!!!!
Does any one still use a chamois?
Years ago that was the go to for windows and drying off wet cars.
Yes I do
Nope. The chamois does a good job but will remove wax because of the natural oils in it. Synthetic chamois is a better option. I use them all the time removing water from a freshly washed vehicle.
I do.
That is ALL I use. Since I wax the car every two or three washes, I have never noticed a serious amount of wax removal by the chamois.
I have used a Fireman’s Friend synthetic chamois for over 40 years – it still works great like it did when my wife bought it for me in 1984.
It always stays damp and ready to use in it’s plastic container, but has never been any problem with mold or mildew.
Is there any recommendation or washing to reuse towels? I’m not talking so much for ones I might use to clean the car body but more for ones I would use for say tire care products or interior cleaning, etc.
I get the mega pack at Costco for those.
I believe Griots has a product for cleaning
I use the same product regardless of which type(or use) of microfiber it is. I tried several different kinds over the years and found that Chemical Guys Microfiber Wash did the best job of cleaning as well as the best job at promoting longevity of the fibers.
Paul is right on, I have the used the Griot’s Garage 11078 Micro Fiber and Foam Pad Cleaner for years. Fifteen buck on Amazon and lasts a long time if you follow directions. Works great on cleaning my towels.
We also buy the Costco or Sams packs. We have had great success washing like this:
1. Pull off any solids, vigorously shake outside, then pretreat stains
2. In front load washing machine – put OxiClear in detergent bin (no fragrance, dyes, or softener), vinegar in bleach and softener bins; use normal cycle with extra rinse; warm/cold water, not hot
3. In dryer – air only, no heat; do not use dryer sheets (dryer makes them fluffy, but heat will melt them)
4. Hang on rack to fully dry
I do as well. Just make sure you cut the labels off so it won’t scratch the paint
Wal Mart Auto Drive brand 30 borderless towels for 11 bucks. Work perfect for my new Silverado and Stingray. S
Yes…. even with cotton towels I bought several in a color I’d never have in the house like purple to be the car towels…. and I wash them seperately…. they are for the cleaner areas of the car. The dirty areas get paper towels or old rags…..
I am really lucky and have an Ardex dealer in my town so I can get my hands on just about any cleaning brush or towel I need unless it is Sunday, they are closed Sunday.
I wash mine by hand in hot water with Dawn Premium dish soap ( just enough to make suds) then rinse with warm water. Hang all over the garage until dry. Usually purchase bulk bundle from Canadian Tire.
Has anyone noticed after using after using an edgeless towel, oh, let’s say kind of like a Griot’s-type, that your windshield is left with streaks? In my case it is a 30-year old windshield with who knows what on it, but all of the premium window cleaning products have a tough time getting rid of the streaks. Thanks.
Here’s a source for good towels.
https://theragcompany.com/
Microfibers start new to be used for paint cleaning or wax removal, then graduate to lower jobs like trim, sills, and the like. Later they become dirtier area under hood or oil change rags. By the time they get there they have paid for themselves! I only wash the thicker more expensive towels and only use for cleaning like drying water and glass cleaning. After several uses they get ratty and end up in the low-value rotation.
The best way to dry a car is a leaf blower. Your no touching the paint so scratches.
If you don’t have one of them, but have a Shop Vacuum, use the exhaust hole with the vacuum hose plugged into it. Just move from the “suck” to the “blow” [position.
Tim McNair, as I live and breath! Please tell me the folks at Hagerty are going to do some more BEYOND THE DETAILS video’s!!!! This was a great series!!!!!!
I keep a sharp eye on on my microfiber cloths. As mentioned by others, embedded particles can scratch paint instead of polishing it. I use a magic marker to draw an “X” on contaminated cloths to make sure they are demoted to lesser uses. Also: carefully remove the tags sewn on some cloths, as they might accidentally get caught between the cloth and the paint.
Can you over wash a microfiber towel?
My goal is to get them as clean as possible, therefore I use the HD cycle, hot water, steam, extra rinse, everything that I can throw at them.
Then it occurred to me that I might be over washing.
Once my microfibers are finished with their first life, they become bench cloths — absolutely the best hand & parts wipes, or for small spills or a general bench wipe. In this role, they seem to absorb and last forever!