What Microfiber Towel Do I Need for Car Detailing?

Grab the right cloth for the job, and get perfect results every time!

We say "microfiber towel" all the time in detailing—but microfiber actually means each tiny fiber, not the whole cloth! By definition, it’s finer than 1 denier (think a single silk strand), and auto-grade ones are 0.1–0.3 denier—200x thinner than a human hair!

Made from a polyester-polyamide (nylon) blend: polyester builds durability, nylon boosts absorption & density (70:30 or 80:20 blends are standard).

These fibers get split ultra-fine during making, then woven into different designs (closed loop, waffle, twisted loop, short/deep pile)—each style is made for a specific detailing job.

What Is Microfiber?

In car detailing, we often call the whole towel "microfiber", but technically, the term refers to each individual fiber. By definition, a microfiber must be finer than 1 denier—about the thickness of a single silk strand. Most auto detailing cloths use 0.1–0.3 denier microfibers, up to 200x finer than a human hair!

They’re made from a synthetic blend, mostly polyester (for structural durability) plus polyamide (nylon) for boosted absorption and density. The most common blends are 70:30 or 80:20 (polyester to polyamide).

During production, these fibers are split to ultra-fine levels, then woven into different styles—closed loop, waffle, twisted loop, short pile and deep pile. Each weave has unique perks, perfect for specific detailing tasks.

How Do Microfiber Cloths Clean & Dry a Car?

Microfiber cloths don’t just pair with detailing products—they have their own cleaning/drying superpowers, thanks to split fibers, weight and weave!

Run a short-pile closed-loop microfiber over your hand, and it feels “grabby"? That’s not about softness (it won’t scratch paint!)—those fine fibers act like tiny hooks, locking into small gaps. On your car, they pick up dirt and moisture instead of pushing it around.

Split microfibers have an asterisk-shaped cross-section, which means way more surface area to trap fine particles and water inside the fiber. Cotton can’t do this (round fibers only catch dirt between strands, moving it around), so microfiber is way better for dry dusting.

Bonus science hack: splitting the fibers gives them a positive static charge, which pulls in and holds negatively charged dust like a magnet!

What Does GSM Mean?

GSM = Grams Per Square Meter—basically the density (dry weight) of your microfiber cloth! Weave/pile length doesn’t change the number, and the rule is simple: higher GSM = softer + more absorbent.

Need to dry your car? Grab 1200GSM XL Towel—it soaks up tons of water! For sensitive paint, buffing, or residue cleanup, 800GSM Ultra Plush Microfiber is perfect (thick + soft).

Lower GSM = less absorbent, better for heavy cleaning. But for cars? Don’t go below 250GSM! Our 300GSM Work Cloths are soft, tough, and work for most detailing tasks.

Durability hack: Higher GSM = more washes, but all good microfibers last years with proper care—no big difference!

What Difference Does The Pattern Make?

Weave pattern = game-changer for picking the right detailing cloth—here’s the quick breakdown!

• Short-pile closed-loop: Deep clean, remove debris, wipe polish/wax/coating residues, pair with liquid cleaners
• Dense deep-pile: Softer + more absorbent, perfect for quick detailers, sensitive surface dusting, final buffing and drying
• Twisted loop: Ultra-deep fibers twisted into bundles, max surface area = max absorption (our Silk Drying Towel is a star here!)
• Waffle weave (our Superior/Glass Waffle): Big surface area for spray products, plus built-in pockets to lock away large debris—safer cleaning every time!