If you want to achieve a professional-grade finish while detailing your car, microfibre cloths are key. They combine high absorbency to soak up water and cleaning products, with durability to last through many washes. Choose different cloths for different functions: cleaning windows, alloys, interiors or bodywork.
Microfibre cloths not only ensure scratch-free cleaning but also excel at polishing, making them a must-have for detailers and car enthusiasts alike. Whether you’re removing dust and dirt, applying wax or buffing out imperfections, the right microfibre cloth makes all the difference.
This blog will go into more in depth about the best microfibre cloths for cars.
How to Clean a Car
First things first. Let’s go through the steps of how to clean a car.
- Prep Work: Park in a shaded area and gather your supplies, such as a car shampoo like Autoglym Ceramic Wash, two buckets and several different grade microfibre cloths.
- Rinse It Off: Use a hose pipe or jet wash to remove loose dirt and debris to avoid scratching the paint later.
- Soap It Up: Fill a bucket with soapy water and use a microfibre cloth to gently clean the car. Start from the top and work your way down. Rinse the cloth in the second clean water bucket to avoid spreading dirt.
- Wheel Time: Clean the wheels with a separate heavy-duty microfibre cloth and soap solution, as they tend to be dirtier.
- Rinse and Dry: Give the car a final rinse to remove all soap. Use clean, microfibre cloths to dry the car to avoid water spots.
- Wash the windows: Fold a microfibre cloth into quarters, spray the cleaner onto the cloth, not directly on the window and wipe the glass. Ensure you dry the windows with a clean, dry microfibre cloth to prevent streaking.
How to Clean a Car Windscreen
To clean a car windscreen effectively, follow these steps:
- Prepare the windscreen: Remove loose dirt with a dry wipe before applying any cleaner.
- Use a glass cleaner: Spray the cleaner onto a microfibre cloth (not directly onto the windscreen) to avoid streaks.
- Wipe in circular motions: For the inside, start from the bottom and work your way up using circular motions.
- Buff the glass: After wiping, use a dry microfibre cloth to buff the glass to remove streaks and improve clarity.
Optional: You can use a vinegar and hot water solution for an eco-friendly option
How to Clean a Car Interior with Microfibre Cloths
Microfibre cloths are loved by detailers for a reason. Here’s how to use them for a clean car interior:
- Vacuum thoroughly: Remove any loose dirt, dust and crumbs before wiping.
- Dampen your microfibre cloth: Use water or a mild cleaning solution. A spray bottle can help distribute the liquid evenly.
- Wipe down surfaces: Start with the dashboard and work your way down, paying attention to vents, steering wheel and the centre console. For tight spaces, a smaller microfibre cloth is handy.
- Separate cloths for different tasks: Avoid spreading dirt by using one cloth for the whole interior. Consider having a different coloured microfibre cloth for windows to prevent streaks.
- Leather seats require special care: Consult your car’s manual for recommendations, but generally, a light wipe with a damp microfibre cloth should do.
What is the Best Microfibre Cloth for Cars
Let’s go in-depth on which microfibre cloth you should use to clean your car. There’s a perfect microfibre cloth for every car cleaning task.
- To wash the bodywork of the car, use medium-duty microfibre cloths to wash the dirt from the surface.
- Use dark-coloured, heavy-duty microfibre clothes for washing wheels and alloys that get particularly grimy.
- For windows, use light-duty microfibre cloths.
- Mineral impurities in tap water leave marks behind when you leave your car to dry naturally. Use the car drying microfibre towel in grey to dry the car with a streak-free finish. The towels are large enough to dry a whole vehicle in one go.
Using different coloured cloths can add an extra layer of organisation. Use light colours for polishing and buffing to minimise transferring dirt and dark colours for more heavy soiling.
What does GSM (grams per square metre) mean?
You may have noticed that microfibre cloths are graded by GSM. What does that stand for and how does it affect the microfibre cloth you choose to clean your car?
GSM stands for grams per square metre and refers to the weight and thickness of microfibre cloths In simpler terms, a higher GSM generally means a thicker and more absorbent cloth.
For microfibre cloths for cars, GSM is important because it affects how much water a cloth can hold:
High GSM cloths (typically 600 GSM and above) are very absorbent and ideal for drying large areas of your car after washing.
Lower GSM cloths (around 300-500 GSM) tend to be thinner and less absorbent. These are good for buffing and polishing tasks where you don’t want excess water on the surface
Chamois Leather vs Microfibre
If you have been cleaning cars for a long time, you may have used chamois leather cloth. However, these days, they have lost popularity. The rise of microfibre cloths has led to a decline in the use of chamois leathers for some purposes due to easier maintenance and potentially less risk of scratching surfaces.
However, if you are still using chamois leathers, here are the pros and cons of chamois leather vs microfibre cloths:
Care Instructions for Your Microfibre Cloth
Wash your microfibre cloths regularly to maintain their effectiveness and extend their lifespan. Here are some tips:
- Before first use: Wash new microfibre cloths to remove any loose fibres.
- Separate them: Wash microfibre cloths separately from other laundry to avoid lint transfer.
- Choose the right settings: Use warm water for heavily soiled cloths and cool water for lightly soiled ones. Opt for a delicate cycle on your washing machine.
- Skip the harsh stuff: Avoid fabric softeners, bleach and harsh detergents, as they can damage the fibres.
- Mild detergent: Use a small amount of gentle, fragrance-free detergent.
- Air dry: Ideally, air dry your microfibre cloths. If you must use a dryer, tumble dry on low heat
Not all microfibre cloths are created equal!
Whether you’re a seasoned professional valeter or a Sunday car washer, a wide selection of microfibre cloths is essential. So, why not kickstart your car washing and detailing with our collection of the best microfibre products, all from one place? Contact us for all your microfibre cloth needs.
