Different types of microfiber car cloths are excellent for various car interior detailing tasks. Use these non-abrasive cloths, wet or dry, for effective cleaning. Moreover, you can use them again and again. Also, microfiber car cloths can withstand numerous uses and wash cycles, making them cost-effective in the long run compared to throwaway cleaning materials.

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Popular Types of Microfiber Car Cloths

The microfiber material is effective at trapping and lifting dust, dirt, and grime from surfaces. Equally important, it removes contaminants without scratching or damaging your car interior. Here’s our guide to the different types to add to your car interior detailing kit:

Chenille Microfiber Car Cloth

This specialized type of microfiber car cloth is available in different shapes and sizes, with the mitt design being a favorite with the pros. The cloth has thick, tufted threads woven into individual “fingers. The cloth’s plush texture is excellent at grabbing dirt and dust. For that reason, use them for dusting your car’s dashboard and center console.

Additionally, chenille microfiber cloths have exceptional absorbent properties. They hold a lot of liquid, making them ideal for wiping up spills or drying material after you deep clean car seats. Also, you can use them to hand wash your car exterior.

If you’re looking for a recommendation, try Ultimate Car Wash Mitt by Relentless Drive. It doubles as a duster and is great for car interior windows and mirrors.

General Purpose

You can use general-purpose microfiber cloths for various places to clean the inside of your car. By and large, these cloths are made from a blend of polyester and polyamide fibers to create a high-quality product. And a popular size for detailing a car interior is 16” x 16”. Alternatively, you can go extra-large with a 24” x 16” design.

Look out for the Workhorse Yellow Professional Grade Microfiber Towel by the Chemical Guys. This microfiber car cloth is made with a 70/30 microfiber blend, making it ideal for cleaning and buffing interior surfaces, including leather seats. See our tips on how to steam clean car seats.

Waffle Weave

Must-have car interior detailing tools include the waffle weave cloth. You’ll recognize waffle weave microfiber cloths by their distinctive pattern – raised squares or rectangles with small depressions in between. This textured surface is perfect for drying surfaces after using car interior detailing products.

Like the other microfiber car cloths, they are lint-free. Therefore, they won’t leave behind fibers or lint on surfaces. So, you can also use them to clean glass and mirrors for a streak-free finish.

The Rag Company has an excellent range of microfiber car cloths, including a waffle weave one called Dry Me A River. It is available in 4 sizes ranging from 16” x 16” to 26” x 59”. This non-abrasive design is safe for your car electrical equipment and navigation screens.

Edgeless Cloths

Edgeless cloths have no stitched or hemmed edges, making them super safe to use on delicate materials and glossy surfaces. Use them damp with a car interior cleaner on surfaces or dry for dusting.

Again, these cloths are available in different sizes and weights. For example, if you want a thicker edgeless cloth, try MaxShine Crazy Fluffy Edgeless Towel. Its fabric weight is 500 GSM, which gives it an ultra-plush feel. Therefore, it is ideal for polishing and drying.

If you want to add a lighter cloth to your cleaning kit, try the Edgeless 245 GSM. This type is a popular choice for stain removal due to its absorbency and cleaning power. For more tips, see how to remove stains from car seats.

Factors to Consider

Getting to know the types of microfiber car cloths makes choosing the correct one for a particular detailing task easier. Here are some other factors to consider:

How to Care for Microfiber Car Cloths

Knowing how to clean microfiber cloths helps them last longer. When washing microfiber products there are key points to consider:

• Separate Loads: First thing to remember is to wash microfiber cloths separately from cotton or other lint-producing fabrics to prevent lint and fuzz from sticking to the microfiber. Also, wash dark and light colors separately.
• Wash in warm or cold water: High temperatures can damage the microfiber and reduce its effectiveness. You can machine wash most cloths in warm or cold water with a mild detergent. To be on the safe side, follow the wash instructions.
• Steer clear of fabric softeners: Fabric softeners leave a residue that clogs the microfiber’s fibers and reduces its ability to pick up dirt and absorb liquids.
• Don’t use bleach: Bleach breaks down the cloth fibers, i.e., it reduces the electrical charge of microfiber, which takes away its dirt-collecting powers.
• Air dry: The best way to dry microfiber car cloths is hang them on a line. If you choose to use a dryer, use a low heat setting. Avoid using high heat, as it can damage the microfiber fibers.
• No Ironing: Finally, don’t iron your cloths because excessive heat can harm the fibers.

Thickness of Fabric

Buying a variety of thick and thin cloths ensures you have suitable ones for all your interior detailing tasks. As a guide to thickness, look for the “GSM”, which stands for “Grams per Square Meter.” It is a measurement of the weight or thickness of the fabric and gives you a good idea of the quality and absorbency of microfiber cloths.

For example, a higher GSM value indicates a thicker and denser cloth. Generally, it means it can absorb more liquid and is more durable. Microfiber cloths with higher GSM values are ideal for cleaning car seats and polishing surfaces.

In contrast, lower GSM microfiber cloths are lighter and are good for cleaning glass, mirrors, or electronics screens.

Color-Coded Cloths

Car detailers often use color-coding to prevent cross-contamination. Each color represents a specific use or cleaning task. For example, use blue for glass, yellow when you steam clean car interior, and green for exterior surfaces.

Steps and Techniques

Finally, clean like a pro to get the best out of your cloths. For example, here are a few things to do before using your cloths:

• Use your car vacuum to thoroughly clean seats and surfaces before wiping clean with a cloth.
• For tough stains, pre-treat the affected area with an appropriate stain remover. Then, use a car wash brush to agitate the stain.
• The best way to detail a car interior involves steam. After directing steam at car interior surfaces, use your microfiber cloth to remove excess moisture.

Conclusion

To sum up, the different types of microfiber car cloths let you effectively clean various surfaces and materials inside your car. For example, some have higher absorbency to lift stains and soapy residue from car seats. Other types of cloth are more suitable for polishing interior surfaces, like glass or electronic displays.

By all means, if you need help restoring the shine to your vehicle, use our car interior detailing service. Our mobile detailers come to you. Time-saving and convenient!

Download our Eco Wash Benefit Guide to find out how we guarantee a greener clean without wasting water: