Microfiber towel

A microfiber towel is a synthetic cloth woven from extremely fine split fibers, designed to be soft, absorbent and less likely to scratch paint than cotton. Detailing uses different towel types for different jobs, from thick, plush drying towels to shorter napped buffing towels for wiping off sealant, wax or quick detailer.

The fiber structure matters because it traps dirt particles inside the weave rather than pushing them across the surface the way a rougher cotton towel can, which is a large part of why microfiber became the standard for anything touching paint. Towel weight, measured in GSM or grams per square meter, is a rough guide to plushness and absorbency, with higher GSM towels generally used for drying and lower GSM towels for lighter wiping tasks.

Look at edge construction when buying, since a stitched or overlocked edge that is not tucked away can create a hard seam capable of scratching paint on a pass. Wash microfiber separately from other fabrics, without fabric softener, which clogs the fibers and ruins their absorbency. A common mistake is reusing the same towel across wheels, glass and paint without a clear separation, which cross contaminates grit between very different surfaces.