Best Car Drying Cloths: Unlock the Secret to a Gleaming Finish

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Updated on:

July 27, 2023

Top 5 Microfiber Drying Towels for a Spotless Car Finish

Nobody likes to waste their time drying towels for too long when they can move on to the next steps like buffing wax or doing paint correction on your car. Having the best drying towels at your business will save you a lot of time and prevent streaks that can appear soon after the car dries by itself.

When looking for a car towel, you should go for one that is soft, very absorbent, and won't scratch the finish of your car. Towels can be made from a wide range of materials, including cotton, terrycloth, microfiber, and chamois.

Not all towels are created equal; some leave lint and stains behind, while others could damage the car's paint by scratching and swirling it.

In this guide, we will talk about the importance of having drying towels in your arsenal and which ones are the best on the market.

Key Takeaways:

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How To Choose the Best Car Drying Towels

Every inch of their vehicles is meticulously maintained by true car lovers and home detailers. They take cleaning the interior carpet seriously, insist on a body that shines in the sun, and want the windshield and other glass surfaces to be spotless. However, cleaning a vehicle alone won't give it a spot- and scratch-free sheen; you also need to swiftly and thoroughly remove the water from the car's surface too. Fortunately, drying a car manually is simple—as long as you have the proper towel for the job. This article will describe the various varieties of car drying towels and what to consider while selecting a particular item we have another article about best drying aid to avoid any scratches.

Best 5 Car Drying Towels For Your Car

Fortador PRO towel for drying car

Fortador PRO microfiber towel for drying car

Best overall

Fortador PRO drying towel is a high-quality microfiber towel designed to dry, wax, and ceramic coat your car effectively. Measuring 22x29.5 inches, the towel is made from premium-grade microfiber material that is highly absorbent, soft, and gentle on your car's surface. It has a plush and dense texture that enables it to trap dirt, dust, and grime without leaving any scratches or swirl marks. The towel is perfect for use on all types of vehicles, including cars, motorcycles, and boats. With its durable construction and superior performance, the Fortador PRO drying towel is an essential accessory for any car detailing enthusiast.

Price

$20.00 - $25.00

Chemical Guys Waffle weaving dry towels

Chemical Guys Waffle Weave Car Drying Towels

Best econome line

Chemical Guys Waffle weaving dry towels contains a polyamide, polyester blend. Despite being very thick, the material has a good feel like waffle weave towels but is softer and less scratchy. It's not nearly as soft as some others, but it does work if the vehicle is wiped clean. It has an extra large size as well as a great drying solution for large trucks. This product has good power and is able to buff away wax and sealing agent as well.

price

$8.49 - $12.49

Zwipes Auto Professional Microfiber Waffle Drying Towel

Zwipes Auto Professional Microfiber Waffle Drying Towels

Best mid level

Third is the Zwipes Auto Professional Microfiber Waffe-Drying Towel. These towels are a soft waffle weave and are very nice to use on a paintbrush. This towel was woven fairly tightly. When wiping out water from your car it can happen in certain cases that the liquid simply falls out in puddles rather than spreading across the vehicle surface. The best part about these towels is that they hold water when used after they are wet! If you need a large, durable microfiber towel to keep your car clean then this will suit you.

price

$10.51 for one

 Chemical Guys MIC1995 Grey woolly mammoth

Chemical Guys MIC1995 Gray Woolly Mammoth drying towel

Luxury drying towel with best feel

Price Check This micro fiber-based Chemical Guys MIC1995 Grey woolly mammoth is an outstanding choice to consider. The towel is no misnomer as it is 36x25 inches and very shaggy. This large car towel has silk-band edges that can keep scratches away. The edges of the cloth could be silk banded or-bound but the 1 inch thickness of the paper is enough to keep your car dry quickly. This auto dry towels are advertised on the website as holding a total of over a gallon water which can dry a vehicle in one go.

price

$29.99 for one

The Rag Company - The Gauntlet Drying Towel

The Rag Company The Gauntlet Drying Towel

Giant size

The Rag Company's Gauntlet Drying Towel is a high-quality automotive drying cloth designed to dry vehicles faster, more thoroughly, and more gently than other towels on the market. Made with a 70/30 blend of Korean microfiber, this towel boasts a plush 900gsm and a generous 20in x 30in size. The unique dual-color design of Ice Grey and Grey ensures any dirt or grime picked up during use is easily visible and can be washed out without damaging the towel. The Gauntlet Drying Towel's soft and absorbent microfiber material effortlessly picks up water and leaves a streak-free finish, making it an ideal choice for car enthusiasts and professionals alike.

price

$20.95 - $29.95

What to Consider When Choosing the Best Car Drying Towel

It may seem easy to dry a freshly washed automobile or truck, but anyone who has attempted to do so with a household towel or an old T-shirt has undoubtedly been frustrated by scuffs or stains. The most crucial qualities and aspects to consider when looking for the best automobile drying towel are listed below, including substance and size.

When searching for drying towels for your business, you have to make sure you know what you are looking for and ask yourself a couple of things:

How many cars a day does your car wash have?

The number of cars you wash at your business will depend on how many car drying towels you need in rotation. It is optimal to not reuse any of your towels on other cars if possible, but that is not always the case. Buying extra towels is always a safe option, just in case the designated person at your car wash forgets to wash them at the end of the business day.

washing microfiber towels for drying cars

How often are the microfiber towels being washed?

Washing a microfiber towel that was used the same day will make it easier to wash off any stains or residue that is left from the car or chemicals. Never leave your soiled microfiber drying towels unwashed for too long.

When you receive your towel, one of the first things you'll want to do is wash it. Hang dry after using a gentle detergent and a 10-minute warm water cycle. This will assist in removing any dust or debris.

different icrofiber towels

Size of microfiber towel

Although it might appear that a towel's ability to dry is increased by its size, bigger isn't always better when it comes to giving a car that just-left-the-showroom shine. Because they have a larger surface area than smaller towels, large towels can absorb water more quickly and hold it there for a longer period of time. Large towels, however, can be awkward to use. A big towel can accidently contact the ground while drying the side of a car, pick up dirt and rocks, and then rub them into the clear coat, ruining its brilliant and shining appearance.

However, a big towel might be the ideal option for bigger vehicles like trucks and SUVs. To avoid having to stop frequently during the drying process to wring out a little towel, which can lose practically all of its effectiveness before the task is finished. narrow towels can be a headache to repeatedly wring out, but they can frequently fit into narrow spaces—like those around the grill and headlights—more readily than large towel. A automobile enthusiast may find it helpful to keep a few towels on hand to dry vast areas and detail crevices.

microfiber towel label

Type Of Materials used in car cloths

Cotton towels

Towels are frequently made from cotton, a soft woven fabric. A flat cotton towel is cheap, but it often isn't absorbent enough to dry a car properly and it can leave bothersome lint behind. Cotton can, however, hold a lot more water when woven into waffle weaves, making it possible to dry a car. When drying your automobile, it's a good idea to use a cotton towel because it won't scratch the paint. We advise using a towel made of microfiber or chamois, however, if you want one that will last longer and offer additional advantages.

Terry cloth towels

Terry cloth has a ruffled appearance because it is comprised of loops of soft cotton. Although inexpensive and highly absorbent, terry cloth towels frequently leave lint in their wake. On the other hand, you might need more than one to dry your car because they can be less absorbent than other kinds of towels. They are also less gentle on your fingers or paint than other materials can be because they feature loops.

Microfiber towels

A mixture of polyester and nylon fabrics make up microfiber. These towels won't leave any lint behind and are very absorbent. The streak-free sheen may make up for their slight price premium over cotton or terry fabric.

maco image of microfiber towel for car drying

Important details of car drying cloths

Towel Edges

Towels are often overlooked, but they cause more damage than any others. While most of the towel itself has soft material the corners of the towel may not. The towel must be edgeless. These towels are made from soft fabric which will ensure no damage to car surfaces. When you prefer towels with edges, we suggest silk bands made in satin, or microfiber stitches – the soft material will not leave scratches.

Weave

A towel for drying cars may be more efficient if it is woven. The entire towel typically has a waffle texture, with tiny dimpled squares running the length of it except for the ends. A towel's increased surface area from the full waffle weave texture allows it to hold onto moisture longer before it becomes too saturated to dry. When it comes to removing those droplets before the sun bakes them on, this can be a major boost for drying effectiveness.

Pile depth

Similar to carpets, the majority of automobile drying towels have a pile depth, or loop thickness. This is especially true for towels made of terry fabric and microfiber. An significant factor in determining absorbency is pile depth.

Thicker-piled towels are better at absorbing liquid and may hold more water before losing their effectiveness. The user can dry the automobile considerably more quickly because they will have to stop and wring the towel out less frequently. Although thinner towels are plainly less absorbent than thicker, plusher towels, having two or three of them on hand can do the same task as one.

Price

The cost will vary according to the size and quality of your towel. Generally speaking, you get what you pay for! Expect to pay more for a higher-quality towel if you're looking for one. A reputable brand will ensure premium towels that are built to last.

storage containers for microfiber towel

How to store your car drying towels

It's ideal to hang up your towel when you're not using it. It may become unclean and odorous if you simply leave it on the ground. Additionally, anything else in the storage bag will also become wet if it becomes wet. The chance of putting dirt on it before you use it again is the worst aspect of it hitting the ground. The next time you use your car, this dirt might be scrubbed up against the paint, which is a recipe for scratches. To hang your towel up, it is recommended to use a hanger with clips on the back. By doing this, you won't have to be concerned about getting dirty or smelling like mold while drying out your automobile.

PRO Tips for Using Car Drying Towels

The bigger the better applies to a car drying towel as well. Just think about it, you just cleaned your car with a pressure washer or your steam machine wash.

Try to dry your car with lengthy strokes. This will guarantee that nearly dry surface of your entire automobile is dry and prevent streaks or stains from appearing on the paint, which may eventually necessitate some car paint restoration. Using soap to clean your car might leave residue on the paint and make it more difficult for the towel to absorb water, so avoid doing so.

Commonly asked quesitons

Can I dry my car with a normal towel?

Yes, but you might run into the problem of having chemicals mixed up with the drying towels and making them contaminated. The best thing to do is to wash towels that have been with chemicals (glass cleaner, interior cleaner, any spot treatment, or even ceramic coating) separately from car drying towels.

Are car drying towels worth it?

Generally dry towels can be more effective than Chamois towels. Although both can effectively remove dirt from the exterior of your car the towels can be much easier to maintain than Chamois. Dry towel cars are easier to wash and can be cleaned by hand.

Do car drying towels work?

A normal towel is not advisable to dry the car. Normal towels often ooze lint that can scratch your skin over time. It is easier using a microfiber towel as the drying surface.

What temperature do you dry towels in the dryer?

They are usually dry in low or moderate heat. Make sure you use the dryer for towels and normal/normal cycles. During hot and dry conditions, you should be careful when removing towels.

Are microfiber towels good for drying cars?

For the best finish, wipe your vehicle dry using microfiber towels. Microfiber dryer rags absorb moisture but don't leave stains on the painting surface.

About the Authors

Darren Priest
Proud owner of AutoFetishDetail, where the emphasis lies in the finer points. Passionate about instructing, guiding, and providing expert consultation for all things related to meticulous detailing.
Sabrina Tretyakova
In the world of cleanliness and hygiene, Sabrina Tretyakova stands as a beacon of expertise and dedication. As an ISSA-certified cleaning technician, Sabrina brings a wealth of knowledge and three years of unwavering commitment to her profession. Having served a staggering 1,200 clients

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