Why You Should Use Microfiber Towels for Buffing

"I always keep a couple of old undershirts around for cleaning the car..."

For years, people have grabbed their old undershirts or an old baby's diaper and used them for washing and drying their cars and for removing wax and buffing. While there's really nothing wrong with using an old (but clean) cotton rag for waxing and detailing, there is a much superior alternative that in the short run can give better results and in the long run can even save you money - Microfiber Towels.

Microfiber towels really haven't been on the market that long. At least not long enough for some of the older folks who are diehards at using the same products and methods. These are the folks who say, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." But what they don't realize is that in their stubbornness to change, they may actually be hurting their car's finish. Microfiber towels (especially with the tags removed) are much softer than cotton and will never scratch a car's paint unless they are dirty with gritty material. 

        Microfiber (top) versus Cotton (bottom)

Microfiber is a combination of polyester and nylon that is superior to cotton in other ways in terms of buffing. It is an excellent absorber of oil and wax. Thus, it takes much less effort to remove wax and to buff. Microfiber towels are also lint free and even slightly electrostatic. This means they actually attract dust and free dirt to them - a quality that cotton does not have. Microfiber has been specially engineered to absorb material on a microscopic level. Cotton on the other hand can be relatively absorbent, but tends to push material around more. 

Microfiber towels are pretty affordable, too. You can pick up a 12-pack of them almost anywhere for under $10. That's enough to last almost anyone who does an average amount of car waxing a very long time. This is especially true since they are totally washable and reusable. Simply wash with regular washing machine detergent. Don't use detergent with fabric softener because the chemicals in that will clog the fibers of the microfiber towels and cause them to lose absorbency. Also, avoid putting them into the washer and dryer with other cloth, especially cotton. They tend to pick up a large amount of lint this way. The best way to dry is to hang them up and let them air dry.


If you aren't currently using microfiber towels on your car, do yourself a favor and give them a try.