Do you guys use microfiber towels on your cars? If you do, how do you use them? Do you use them for quick detailer? Do you use them for taking wax off? Do you use them for buffing? Do they work better than a old bath towel? Thanks
Microfiber towels
- Thread starter jim
- Start date
I have been using microfiber towels for about 4 years. I use a waffle weave towel to dry/"pat off" any water remaining on the car after washing and prior to waxing.
I also use microfiber towels to remove the wax (Zaino for me). I have two grades, one is slightly thicker/softer that I use for the final wipe.
I haven't studied this stuff in about 4 years and don't know if anything has changed. I recommend that you study the autopia.org sight to learn more.
One way to ruin a perfect car finish is to use towels that will put micro scratches in the paint. Zaino (last I checked) recommends high quality cotton towels - Egyptian or Supina cotton. Regarding microfiber, many claim that cheap ones are abrasive or that the edging on them can scratch paint. At autopia, you will find 4 or 5 brands that are recommended as being safe. Those guys suggest testing a towel by wiping it on a DVD and looking for scratches.
Is it OCD to mail order special microfiber towels? Maybe. I get mine from PakShak. He gives a nice discount if you are an autopia member (free sign up). I'm still using the ones I bought 4 years ago, so they were very cheap in the long run.
Good luck
I also use microfiber towels to remove the wax (Zaino for me). I have two grades, one is slightly thicker/softer that I use for the final wipe.
I haven't studied this stuff in about 4 years and don't know if anything has changed. I recommend that you study the autopia.org sight to learn more.
One way to ruin a perfect car finish is to use towels that will put micro scratches in the paint. Zaino (last I checked) recommends high quality cotton towels - Egyptian or Supina cotton. Regarding microfiber, many claim that cheap ones are abrasive or that the edging on them can scratch paint. At autopia, you will find 4 or 5 brands that are recommended as being safe. Those guys suggest testing a towel by wiping it on a DVD and looking for scratches.
Is it OCD to mail order special microfiber towels? Maybe. I get mine from PakShak. He gives a nice discount if you are an autopia member (free sign up). I'm still using the ones I bought 4 years ago, so they were very cheap in the long run.
Good luck
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bugdust
Well-known member
I can't really answer this but my wife owns a mobile auto detailing business and I have a friend that owns a very succesful mobile auto detailing business. Both use microfiber towels but I don't know what brands or exactly what they use them on. I know we get a lot of stuff from AutoMagic. They both remove water after washing with a soft squeegee (my buddy does a lot of high-end cars: Ferraris, Porsches, BMW 7-series, Range Rovers, etc). My wife also has terry cloth towels. They put wax on with a buffer and take it off by hand with the terry cloth, I think.
Chris Adams
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2007
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I buy the bag of yellow ones at Costco. They are better than most the cheaper or even slightly more expensive ones. They work well. I use them to dry the water after pressure washing (with filtered water) my cars/trucks.
And anywhere a good quailty wiping or washing rag is needed. I wash them in the machine, seperate load, and they get softer over time.
Can't complain. No micro scratches on my cars, but then, I use them correctly, never using them on a dry surface unless it's just washed.
And anywhere a good quailty wiping or washing rag is needed. I wash them in the machine, seperate load, and they get softer over time.
Can't complain. No micro scratches on my cars, but then, I use them correctly, never using them on a dry surface unless it's just washed.
mikester
Well-known member
Ive been using them for a few years now. I buy them in BJs for cheap. The last time I bought 12 packs because the local store didnt have any and the manager told me they might not get them again. So I called around and found them in another BJs and stocked up on them. They did get them again and they had them the last time I went there . Bjs even sells a 2 pack of large microfiber towels. Theyre great for drying off the vehicles. I use them for polish, glaze and wax. I keep the used polishing cloths in a seperate garbage can in my shop and when I get a bunch of them I throw them in the wash machine with some soap and a couple of cups of bleach. They get dried on medium and I keep using them. I usually use them for 3 or 4 washings and eventually wind up using the beat up ones for polishing aluminum wheels or some other dirty job and they get tossed at that point. I dont know what other guys will say but I think they work really well. Much better than old towels and tee shirts !
I use them on everything, great towels. The costco/sams's club ones are ok for general use like wiping dust, interiors. They are not very plush but a great value.
For quick detailing I use http://www.pakshak.com/big-boy-ultra-microband-plush-micro-fiber-towel-16x16-1.html super thick and plush good thing about it is that it is not too absorbant so the QD doesn't get totally absorbed into the towel, but has a chance to spread on the paint. It makes if you think the costco ones are soft you'll be amazed when you feel these.
The waffle weave towels http://www.pakshak.com/ultra-soft-waffle-weave-micro-fiber-towel-25x36-1.html are good for drying a car. I usually use two towels, the first one to remove the bulk of the water and the second drier one to pick up the traces of water left behind.
One thing about microfiber towels is that you must only wash them with other microfiber towels. If you wash with cotton ones you will ruin the microfiber. The MF will pickup all the lint from the cotton towels like a magnet. And only dry them using med/low heat. high heat will melt the fibers since they are so fine and the towel will get hard and scratchy.
For quick detailing I use http://www.pakshak.com/big-boy-ultra-microband-plush-micro-fiber-towel-16x16-1.html super thick and plush good thing about it is that it is not too absorbant so the QD doesn't get totally absorbed into the towel, but has a chance to spread on the paint. It makes if you think the costco ones are soft you'll be amazed when you feel these.
The waffle weave towels http://www.pakshak.com/ultra-soft-waffle-weave-micro-fiber-towel-25x36-1.html are good for drying a car. I usually use two towels, the first one to remove the bulk of the water and the second drier one to pick up the traces of water left behind.
One thing about microfiber towels is that you must only wash them with other microfiber towels. If you wash with cotton ones you will ruin the microfiber. The MF will pickup all the lint from the cotton towels like a magnet. And only dry them using med/low heat. high heat will melt the fibers since they are so fine and the towel will get hard and scratchy.
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I'm curious about towels, so I buy a variety and compare them. I have cheap ones from Walmart, 24 pack for $10, and some pricey Rubbermaid $6 each, some from the 99 cent store, some from a detailer supply (nice big waffle).
I like them.
Typically I use two or three of the Walmart sized towels to dry a car. First one to get the bulk of the water off, wringing it out by hand as needed, second to final dry, and third for glass.
I also have some surgical towels, hucks, made from cotton, and same huck weave some tea towel / dish drying towels from Ikea.
And a couple hundred shop towels, some red, some blue, some Hazet with Porsche logo.
I use nothing but Supima (very long fibre pima cotton) towels for drying me.
I like them.
Typically I use two or three of the Walmart sized towels to dry a car. First one to get the bulk of the water off, wringing it out by hand as needed, second to final dry, and third for glass.
I also have some surgical towels, hucks, made from cotton, and same huck weave some tea towel / dish drying towels from Ikea.
And a couple hundred shop towels, some red, some blue, some Hazet with Porsche logo.
I use nothing but Supima (very long fibre pima cotton) towels for drying me.
-B-
Well-known member
I use them for all paint prep and waxing a few tips I have for users.
wash then before fist use once with liquid detergent then with just water after use always wash alone and double rinse.
when removing wax wear a pair of cheap cotton liner gloves when the clot slips or snags it will stay put and not go flying.
wash then before fist use once with liquid detergent then with just water after use always wash alone and double rinse.
when removing wax wear a pair of cheap cotton liner gloves when the clot slips or snags it will stay put and not go flying.
beelsr
Well-known member
Scooterfish
Well-known member
I have heard to never use any liquid fabric softner or dryer sheets when washing. Any truth to that?
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right...no softener and only wash them seperatly!
Good brand are Meguairs, Prima and Zaino.
Don't buy microfibre from Wall-Mart ...they are made for you household and not for a clear coat. You will make thousands of micro scratches!
With right equipment (and skill) you can make old cars to new extreme show room cars! You know these "pimped" cars from TV? Hot shine and extrem gloss?
That is what I do since 2 years in my free time....but you need microfibre and the right brands.
Good brand are Meguairs, Prima and Zaino.
Don't buy microfibre from Wall-Mart ...they are made for you household and not for a clear coat. You will make thousands of micro scratches!
With right equipment (and skill) you can make old cars to new extreme show room cars! You know these "pimped" cars from TV? Hot shine and extrem gloss?
That is what I do since 2 years in my free time....but you need microfibre and the right brands.
kartracer23
Well-known member
I've been using MF towels for over 10 years now. Back then, they were very pricey. Even a 14" x 14" was $15 or so! And there was a huge variation in quality. Now, I don't think it makes a huge difference. I have the yellow ones from Costco, drying towels from WalMart and a host of high end towels from about everyone (Pakshak, Griot's, MFtech, Poorboy's etc.). For me, the biggest thing is the nap. Some naps just work better than others for certain things. The quality, as a general rule, seems fairly consistent across the board anymore.
As mentioned above, wash alone and no fabric softener. How you clean them is more important than anything. For a locally available soap, try Tide Free. My personal preference is Charlie's Soap. No residue at all. I also use it on all of my clothes.
And I kind of have a sliding scale of using them. Newest / cleanest get used on the paint. When they start to get a little dirty or greasy, they get used for doorjambs, etc. After than, they become dusting cloths for the house (I never use cleaners-just wet MF). And finally, they become tack cloths. I just use a Sharpie to mark if they're for dust or tack, and wash those separately from the ones for the car.
As mentioned above, wash alone and no fabric softener. How you clean them is more important than anything. For a locally available soap, try Tide Free. My personal preference is Charlie's Soap. No residue at all. I also use it on all of my clothes.
And I kind of have a sliding scale of using them. Newest / cleanest get used on the paint. When they start to get a little dirty or greasy, they get used for doorjambs, etc. After than, they become dusting cloths for the house (I never use cleaners-just wet MF). And finally, they become tack cloths. I just use a Sharpie to mark if they're for dust or tack, and wash those separately from the ones for the car.
r6_cannibal
Well-known member
+1
The harbor freight MF hand mit (for washing the car) is surprisingly good. Only the green one though, and make sure you wash it first. I use ALL free and clear detergent on all MF towels, double rinse, and no heat in the drier. I prefer the Cobra brand towels but there are a *lot* of good MF towels out there. The DVD test mentioned is a great way to make sure it will not cause spider-webbing/microabrasions in the clear coat. I use blank DVD-R's since I always have some around and it's easy to notice on those when scratches show up. Plus they're cheap.
For applying wax/sealant I like Pinnacle Foam Applicator Pads. They're inexpenive and apply the wax/sealant very evenly. I use the Zaino brand stuff as well, and for the other guys on this board that use ZainoBros I highly suggest trying one of these pads.
For wax/sealant removal I use my newest MF towels. My 2nd grade towels are used for cleaning windows and the interior. 3rd grade towels are used for door door jambs and the more neglected parts of the car, these are washed separately.
Waffle weave for drying the car. Again, check this against a DVD for scratching.
My big thing is engine detailing. I'll use my grade 3 towels in the engine bay if I've already detailed it before. If it's the first time doing it I'll use old t-shirts, rags, or cheap terry cloth towels.
I air dry all my towels over night before putting them away in a canvas bag.
Phew! ok, that post was longer than expected.
the reason why new MF towels feel like they are snagging on your skin is that the fibers are so small and fine they are grabbing onto the tiny pores in your skin. There is nothing wrong with them, that's why they are so good the tiny fibers grab onto dust.
Warning about usign MF washmits. I used to use them and developed micro scratches in my paint. From what I hear MF is so good at picking up dust that it traps them in the fibers, the problem is that it doesn't release them and it's actually the dust that scratching the paint. Since them I switched and went to a sheepskin wash mit, The sheepskin picks up the dust but releases it when you wash it in the rinse bucket.
john300k
Well-known member
I love the MF towels to dry my black cars off after I wash them. One thing I really love is to clean my eye glasses with them....no scratchs ever and they really get them spotless. I keep one in my car consol and one at my desk at work.
Senorpablo
Well-known member
Great buy!
JerseyJim
Well-known member
Sam's Club has very high quality microfiber towels at a very reasonable price. They come in several colors. I use them for any number of chores. I have a number of collector cars. The previous owner of one of my babies turned me on to a great combination for quick detailing before shows. Lucas Oil makes a product called Slick Mist. This stuff applies from a pump bottle and is about the same viscosity as water. I mist it on and use one towel to wipe and then a second drier towel to lightly buff. So lightly that I would describe it more as fluffing the towel over the surface rather than buffing.
I agree with everyone stressing the need for soft towels for paint finishes. But I also think a very key factor is to use products that do not require heavy buffing. Other products that I have used for quick detailing including Meguires sometimes produced streaks that would have me subconciously bearing down and buffing more heavily. Slick Mist doesn't streak and it can be used on paint, chrome, and glass. Takes me literally minutes to wipe down the whole car and the finish is incredible.
I agree with everyone stressing the need for soft towels for paint finishes. But I also think a very key factor is to use products that do not require heavy buffing. Other products that I have used for quick detailing including Meguires sometimes produced streaks that would have me subconciously bearing down and buffing more heavily. Slick Mist doesn't streak and it can be used on paint, chrome, and glass. Takes me literally minutes to wipe down the whole car and the finish is incredible.