You might assume that keeping a clean car is as simple as getting to work on the car’s exterior when you see dirt on its surface. However, maintaining your car goes beyond cleaning it, especially if you want to prevent damaging your vehicle’s delicate surfaces. Microfibre cloth is the ultimate tool to use to keep your car clean and looking its best, thanks to its amazing ability to boost cleaning efficiency while preserving surfaces. This guide will explain everything you need to know about microfibre clothes and why every car care enthusiast or master detailer needs them for their cleaning routines.
What Are Microfiber Cloths?
This blend creates a polymer of over 50 per cent polyester and 40-47 per cent polyamide that is cut in to small filaments. The resulting fabric is finer than a human hair, making it particularly good at trapping dust and dirt, as well as water molecules, from surfaces. The split fibres account for this: as the manufacturer works them through the splitting process, they are pierced repeatedly by an array of tiny hooks. These hooks then catch on things and help the fibres to grab on when you wipe. And because microfibers have an extraordinary cleaning efficiency, they also tend not to leave behind debris and dirt from the cloth itself. This makes them excellent for cleaning surfaces that might easily get marked, like car paintwork, glass or leather interior panels.
Benefits of Using Microfiber Cloths for Car Cleaning
When it comes to car cleaning, microfiber cloths offer several key advantages:
Hi-Absorbency: Microfiber can hold up to seven times its dry weight in water, making it perfect for drying and cleaning your home.
Durability: Because microfiber cloths are built for long-term use, a high-quality microfiber cloth will last through many washes without you having to replace it.
Chemical-free cleaning: because of their elaborate structure, microfibre cloths can clean effectively just with water without the need for hazardous chemicals.
Scratch-and-swirl protection: Because the microfibres trap dirt in the fabric and not on its surface, you are less likely to be dragging dirt (which could form a distracting swirl) or debris (which could dig into your paint and scratch it) across it in the first place.
How to Choose the Right Microfiber Cloth
Selecting the right microfiber cloth for car cleaning involves considering several factors:
Density (GSM): Microfiber cloths are measured by weight in grams per square meter (GSM). A higher GSM cloth (300-400 GSM or higher) will be thicker, softer, more absorbent and better for drying and buffing, while lower GSM cloths (200-300 GSM) are better for general cleaning.
Size: The bigger the cloth, the easier it might be to handle – especially to hold over a large area. Smaller cloths are better for use in small spaces.
But weaves (and weights) can vary so much, depending on the purpose: for instance, a waffle weave is great for drying, while a plush weave is better for polishing.
Quality markers: good microfibre will have compact, uniform fibres and no stray hairs, while bad microfibre will be rough and have a lower density – less expensive and much less effective.
Best Practices for Using Microfiber Cloths
To get the most out of your microfiber cloths, follow these best practices:
Cleaning Different Parts of the Car:
Windows: Use a low-GSM cloth with a smooth weave to avoid streaks.
Dashboard and Headliner: In general, finishes are softer in the cabin than the hard-wearing grit- and salt-rich bodywork, so consider options such as medium-GSM cloth or a plush weave with a slight nap, particularly for carpets in footwells.
Interior: For exterior cleaning and drying, use a high-GSM plush/waffle weave cloth to absorb water and shine the paint.
Maintenance Tips:
Washing: Wash a microfibre cloth in the washing machine separately from other fabrics to avoid introducing lint contamination. Use a mild detergent. Do not use fabric softeners that clog the fibres.
Drying: Dri-drying is best but, if you have to use a dryer, use low-heat setting and protect the fibre.
Top Recommended Microfiber Cloths for Car Cleaning
Best-rated microfibre cloths by users and reviewers alike:
Chemical Guys Professional Grade Microfiber Towel: Super absorbent and durable, this is your jack-of-all-trades option.
Meguiar’s X2020 Supreme Shine Microfiber Cloths: Plush and soft for polishing and detailing.
The Rag Company’s Eagle Edgeless Microfibre Towels: ‘It probably doesn’t matter if it flap simplifies post-workout towel-friction’
Kirkland Signature Ultra Plush Microfiber Towels: Great value, very comfortable, and totally versatile for a wide range of car cleaning operations.
All three have been marketed as an ‘enhancement’ to the cleaning process, whether you’re drying, polishing or general cleaning.
Conclusion
The right microfibre cloths can keep your car looking its best for longer You no longer have to bathe your pride and joy in chemicals to see results – with the right microfibres you’ll be able to clean even delicate surfaces without fear of scratching, as well as keep the level of shine high. Follow the right routine using the right materials to see results quickly, safely and consistently, and your car will look its beautiful best for longer.
Do you want to raise the bar on your car cleaning game? Here are some of the best microfibre cloths on the market – and where you can buy them.
