The Best Microfiber Towels (Review & Buying Guide) in 2018

If you look in the market today, you’d definitely have a headache picking the right microfiber towel for your car. The reason is simple. They all look the same. Unfortunately, the difference between a premium quality product and a mediocre one cannot be readily ascertained without performing a series of tests. For one, testing for the absorptive capabilities of such products will typically indicate whether they have split fibers or not. The point is that you will have to be more vigilant and pay attention to even the smallest detail so you’ll be able to bring home the best microfiber cloth for your car or for any other possession of yours.

 

What is a Microfiber Car Towel?

As the name implies, a microfiber car towel is a piece of cleaning cloth made of microfiber fabrics primarily intended for cleaning a vehicle, be it a car, truck, SUV, a recreational vehicle, or any other mode of transportation. While it is easy to say that other fabric materials can also be used in the cleaning and drying of your car’s interior and exterior details, there are certain unique characteristics of microfiber that make them especially fit for the job.

They call these fibers as such because they are generally smaller than the standard 1 denier measurement of a single silk strand. By comparison, the average diameter of a human hair follicle is 5 times the diameter of a single strand of silk. Since microfiber is smaller than a silk strand, rated at 1 denier, this effectively puts a single microfiber strand at less than 10 micrometers in diameter.

Different materials are used in the fabrication of microfiber towels, often depending on the intended purpose. However, they do share some common characteristics including softness, absorption capability, toughness, filtering capability, and electrostatic property.

It is through these properties that microfiber car towels exert their cleaning and drying efficiency. We shall explore later on just how these so-called water- and dirt-magnets are able to work their magic on almost any other surface. Suffice it to say, while microfiber car towels are labeled as such, they can also be used on other items. As we have already said, these cleaning implements can be used on virtually any surface.

What is a Microfiber Towel Made Of?

Microfiber towels are typically made up of polyester, polyamide, or a combination of these two materials. Some manufacturers also include polypropylene giving it a recyclable characteristic.

Polyesters are valued for their strength and durability, giving them exceptional resistance against repeated washings, shrinkage, abrasion, wrinkling, and even stretching. In many cases, these fibers are also resistant to the formation of mildew. The unique chemical structure of polyesters gives it exceptional insulation and the ability to dry quickly. This makes it easy to wash and dry.

Polyamides, of which nylon seems to be a venerable representative, are exceptionally strong and highly resistant to damage brought about by chemicals and oils. This feature makes it ideal for cleaning grease and grime off certain components or parts of the modern automobile. It’s elastic, too, which is perfect for reaching into deeper nooks and crannies. Like polyesters, polyamides are resistant to abrasion and are easy to wash and dry, too.

Different Types of Microfiber Towels

Microfiber towels are generally classified according to their pile height. Like all other items that use this metric, the longer or higher the pile, the softer and plusher it is. The shorter the pile, the more dense and compact the fibers appear, giving it a more ‘rigid’ structure. It is within these parameters that we shall take a look at the different types of microfiber towels and their specific uses.

• Short pile

As the name suggests, short pile microfiber towels are excellent for all-purpose cleaning, but mostly for non-sensitive or non-delicate surfaces that you don’t want damaged by scratches or even miniature swirl marks. These generally come in 80/20 blends at around 220-250 GSM. Dashboards, plastic trims, car upholstery, exhausts, and other car parts that do not rely on a glossy-smooth finish will benefit from a short pile.

• Medium pile 

These types of microfiber car towels come in 3 different variants: the standard medium, plush, and the medium long pile.

The standard medium is ideal for applying and removing car waxes as well as removing car polishes. It is also perfect for other applications where there is no need to rinse the surface. Standard medium piles can also be used for cleaning the interiors as well as buffing your vehicle. However, it should not be used for cleaning really dirty surfaces. These come in 75/25 blend and feel a lot softer than the short pile.

The medium plush pile is perfect for highly delicate surfaces such as chrome finished trims, glass, and clear plastics or any other surface that can be easily scratched. It is way softer than the standard medium although it still comes at the usual 75/25 blend. Typically, the medium plush comes with a higher GSM rating, often in the 600 upwards, while the standard is more on the 360 GSM levels.

The medium long sits well between the standard medium and the medium plush when it comes to GSM rating at about 400. It has the same characteristics of the standard medium especially when it comes to its cleaning purposes. However, it is softer and plusher, too, but not so much as to mimic that of the medium plush.

• Long pile 

At 70/30 blend, often in 600 GSM, the long pile microfiber car towel is the perfect solution of buffing and drying as its exceptionally longer pile allows for greater absorption. It is the softest among the different types of microfiber cleaning cloths and is great for achieving the optimum shine in your car.

Aside from the usual length of the pile, there are also microfiber towels that are categorized according to their intended purpose. Here are two of the more commonly used microfiber towels in car detailing and cleaning applications.

• Waffle weave pile 

The waffle weave can be used on all surfaces but most especially on glass and mirrors. It’s superb as a drying towel and comes in an 80/20 blend at 350 GSM.

• Applicator pile 

As the name suggests, this microfiber towel is perfect as an applicator or wax, glaze, sealant, and even dressing. It comes in 350 GSM at a 70/30 mix.

 

Why are Microfiber Towels Good for Cleaning?

The magic of microfiber towels can be found in the way the fibers have been split during the course of their manufacture. This results in the creation of multiple fibers within a single strand of microfiber. If you are going to look at its cross-section, it would resemble an asterisk while a conventional fiber will be cylindrical. Because there are spaces in between these split fibers, dust, particles, dirt, and other microscopic substances can get lodged in these spaces, affording the microfiber towel exceptional cleaning ability at the same time picking up the contaminants and away from the surface. Simply put, dirt is removed without leaving scratches.

The same structure allows water molecules to get trapped and picked up by the fiber giving it the ability to wipe moist or wet surfaces in a more efficient manner. This is made even more efficient because of the hydrogen bonds that exist in polyamides. The fibers of a microfiber towel also do not leave lint, unlike cotton products. It is this combination of efficient dirt and oil removal, liquid absorption, and lint-free characteristics that make microfiber cloths the go-to by professional car detailers.

Are Microfiber Towels Washable?

Because of the inherent structure of both polyester and polyamide, microfiber towels are fully washable. They dry easily, too, allowing for multiple uses within a shorter period of time. However, it is important to use only the correct washing solution when cleaning the microfiber towel. Most manufacturers have their own recommendations on how to properly wash their products including the right cleaning solution to use for such a purpose. The recommendations also include the correct settings on both the washing machine and the dryer. So, if you want to keep the integrity of your microfiber towel, it is imperative to adhere to manufacturer recommendations.

Using Microfiber Car Towels for Cleaning Your Vehicle

Since we’re talking about microfiber car towels as excellent cleaning materials, then it is important to know how to properly use them. Here are some tips.

• When washing your car, wet the microfiber, wring it well, and use this to wipe your car. When drying your car, you will need to wipe it first with the microfiber towel before wringing it out. Then repeat the process until your car is completely dry.
• For detailing chores, simply spray a little amount of your detailing product onto the microfiber and wipe it onto the surface you want to work on.
• Always wipe any surface in one direction only, never in a back-and-forth motion especially when removing dust and grime. This helps minimize scraping or scratching the surface.
• Always rinse the towel after every few strokes to help remove the contaminants and particles from the microfiber.

Tips on Keeping Your Microfiber Car Towels in Great Condition

Microfiber car towels may be constructed of durable and strong polyester and polyamide. However, with repeated use, they somehow lose some of their strength and durability. Here are some tips on how you can keep your microfiber car towel in good condition.

• Always use cold water when washing your cleaning cloths to prevent shrinking. You can also refer to the manufacturer’s recommendation for specific temperatures when washing your microfiber.
• Don’t use fabric softeners as these tend to damage the overall density of the microfiber towel. This significantly reduces its water absorption capabilities.
• Just as you don’t wash your towels in hot water, you’re also not supposed to dry them in high heat. Medium heat should be enough.
• If you want your towels to be smelling fresh and soft, you can add distilled white vinegar during the rinse cycle.

Microfiber towels are increasingly finding their place in the hearts of avid automotive owners and professional detailers. Its exceptional cleaning properties together with washability, strength and durability, and other beneficial characteristics clearly make the microfiber cloth one of the best when it comes to keeping our cars and all of our other possessions relatively clean and dirt-free.