Kitchen: Countertops, tabletops, appliances, cupboards, cabinet fronts, dusting, sinks, stainless steel, stovetops, window sills, and tracks.
For more information, please visit wholesale microfiber cloth.
Bathroom: Countertops, cupboards, drawers, and cabinet fronts, dusting, floors, sinks, tub & tiles, fixtures.
Living Area: Dusting, window sills and tracks, baseboards, walls, and floors.
Cars/RVs/Boats: Interior dusting and cleaning, polishing tires, drying exterior surfaces.
Avoid using on: Glass, electronics and lacquered finishes (we have another cloth for this!)
NOTE: Use with vinegar, water, soap or other cleaning products that do NOT contain bleach, wax, polish, oil or silicone.
Check out our picks for the best microfiber towels for drying, cleaning, polishing, and everything in between.
Written and Tested By:
Aidan Pounder Aidan PounderAidan Pounder is a Motor1 product tester who has written reviews spanning from tonneau covers to rooftop cargo boxes. If he’s not burning through the clutch on his 2003 Ford Focus Zx3, you’ll find him keeping up with the latest happenings in the world of European football.
Reviewed By:
Charles NoyesMotor1 Reviews Team Take:
There’s nothing worse than finding streaks, scratches, or water spots on your vehicle after a car wash or detailing. To avoid this, it’s smart to have one of the best microfiber towels available.
The best car drying towels are typically made from microfiber due to its absorbent properties and gentleness on car paint. We tested towels with soft microfiber by conducting a car wash and then drying various panels of the car with each of our top picks for microfiber towels. See what we found and our recommendations below.
The microfiber towels in this article went through two rounds of reviews. We started by searching Amazon for top products, looking at factors like Prime shipping eligibility, customer ratings, Amazon superlatives, and prices.
Our product testing team ordered the microfiber towels that best met these standards. We chose to test towels with different price points, sizes, and designs.
We named the Chemical Guys Professional-Grade Microfiber Towels, Seal Skin Microfiber Cloth, Mr. Siga Microfiber Cleaning Cloth, Chemical Guys Gray Woolly Mammoth, and the Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloth as the best-rated microfiber towels on the market in 2024.
Brand/ModelCost Per*Because cost data fluctuates, the prices in the table above are approximate values that our team regularly updates.
A team member tested each product on a car, taking note of how well the microfiber towel absorbed water, if it left any lint or scratches, and its durability after being machine washed. Each microfiber towel was given a rating out of 5.0 stars based on these criteria.
Learn more about how we tested microfiber towels here.
The Chemical Guys Professional-Grade Microfiber Towels feature a 70/30 blend, the first number representing the ratio of polyester and the second noting the ratio of polyamide.
The product description notes that this towel is great for buffing sealants or dried car wax and wiping away moisture. This car drying towel also features silk edges to further reduce scratches. The towel’s density, measured in grams per square meter (GSM), is 380.0. This microfiber towel is dual-sided, allowing you the ability to choose how much pile you need.
You can see how the Chemical Guys Professional-Grade Microfiber Towels performed in each of our testing categories below:
Review CategoryScore (Out of 5.0 Stars)Absorbency5.0Undetectability4.5Durability4.5Overall Rating4.7Below are the pros and cons of the Chemical Guys Professional-Grade Microfiber Towels:
Silk edges
Dual-sided
Very absorbent
Some swirl marks left behind
Color fading after washing
There’s a lot to appreciate about the Chemical Guys towel, especially its size. This towel was perfectly sized to allow for wiping while still being large enough to make the task of drying a car easier.
Absorbency: The microfiber towel was more absorbent than the vast majority of towels that our team tested. Its size made drying a car very easy.
Undetectability: This towel was almost completely undetectable after use. It left behind no lint, and most importantly, it didn’t leave behind any scratches on the car’s paint. There was one nearly unnoticeable swirl mark.
Durability: This towel emerged from the washing machine almost looking brand new. There weren’t any loose strands of material, and there wasn’t any loss of absorbency. However, its color did appear to fade in the washing machine.
Reviews note the excellent absorbency of the microfiber towel on its long pile side, as well as its car cleaning and buffing functionality. Many reviewers believe this product is a professional-grade premium microfiber towel.
Negative reviews forewarn that you need to shake and wring out these towels before using them to get rid of any loose lint in the packaging.
The Seal Skin Microfiber towels are similar in appearance and function to the Chemical Guys Professional-Grade towels. The main difference is the size of the towels, with the Seal Skin towels being a little smaller. These are also a bit more expensive per towel, though left fewer streaks and lint during our testing (virtually undetectable).
You can see how the Seal Skin microfiber towels performed in each of our testing categories below:
Review CategoryScore (Out of 5.0 Stars)Absorbency5.0Undetectability5.0Durability4.0Overall Rating4.7Below are the pros and cons of the Seal Skin Microfiber Cloth:
Banded edges
No lint or streaking
High Absorbency
Relatively expensive
The CarCovers.com Microfiber Car Towels came across as quite capable through our testing process.
Absorbency: These towels are highly absorbent, matching the Chemical Guys Professional-Grade towels in this category. Though not as large, these thick towels had no problem drying our test vehicle.
Undetectability: Designed for automotive use, the Seal Skin microfiber towels were virtually undetectable in our tests. We noticed no lint or streaking.
Durability: After going through a few wash cycles, these towels do fade slightly, but did not fray or tear. The banded edges and thick, quality cloth means these towels should last as long as most other options out there.
Seal Skin Microfiber cloth is not offered on Amazon, and there are not any online customer reviews for this particular product. However, the Seal Skin brand does offer other automotive accessories and car covers through Amazon, all of which are highly rated.
The brand more generally gets praise for quality customer service and well-made items using the best materials. Seal Skin products are generally a step above mass-produced items from brands sold exclusively on Amazon.
The Mr. Siga Microfiber Cleaning Cloth is a microfiber towel consisting of 85 percent polyester and 15 percent nylon, making it non-abrasive and extremely absorbent. Featuring high-quality stitching with reinforced edges, these microfiber towels won’t unravel and should last through hundreds of washings.
These microfiber towels are lightweight, which means they dry quickly. The soft microfiber won’t scrape paint off of your car’s paint job and won’t leave streaks behind. In terms of use and care, the manufacturer recommends hand or machine washing the towels separately with water colder than 104.0 degrees Fahrenheit.
You can see how the Mr. Siga Microfiber Cleaning Cloth performed in each of our testing categories below:
Review CategoryScore (Out of 5.0 Stars)Absorbency4.5Undetectability4.5Durability3.5Overall Rating4.2Below are the pros and cons of the Mr. Siga Microfiber Cleaning Cloth:
Lightweight
Lint- and streak-free
Reinforced edges
Multiple washes can make the towels less absorbent
Not only is this towel extremely absorbent, but it also doesn’t leave a trace behind after use and came out of the washing machine looking brand new.
Absorbency: Compared to the other microfiber towels we tested, the Mr. Siga towel offers remarkable absorptive abilities. Without needing to wipe over and over again, this car drying towel easily absorbed all of the water and moisture left on a car’s body after a car wash. The thinner design makes it less absorbent than some thicker alternatives like the Chemical Guys and Seal Skin towels.
Undetectability: After careful examination by multiple members of our product testing team, we found little lint and no scratching. Additionally, there were no streak marks left on the car’s exterior.
Durability: Upon removing this microfiber towel from the washing machine, it looked new. There were no loose bits of lint left behind in the washing machine or on the towel, and there weren’t any unraveling strands of fiber. However, the overlock stitch edges are not likely to hold up as long as microfiber towels with banded edges
Reviews speak to the microfiber towel’s ability to clean up grime and its functionality on delicate surfaces. Many reviewers also mention how lint-free it is when wiping down surfaces. A number of reviewers warn that although you can reuse these towels, you shouldn’t use dryer sheets or fabric softener when you throw them in the washing machine, as the cloth may become less absorbent.
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The Chemical Guys Gray Woolly Mammoth is enormous, just like the extinct animal it’s named after. This dual-sided microfiber towel has a 1.0-in. thick microfiber pile and is 36.0 by 25.0 in. To avoid leaving any scratches behind, this towel has silk-banded edges so 100 percent of your towel is used in the car drying process.
The edges of this towel are not only silk-banded but also microfiber-stitched. The product description asserts that this car drying towel can hold over a gallon of water and dry an entire car in just one pass. This microfiber towel consists of a 70/30 polyester to polyamide ratio.
You can see how the Chemical Guys Gray Woolly Mammoth performed in each of our testing categories below:
Review CategoryScore (Out of 5.0 Stars)Absorbency5.0Undetectability3.5Durability4.5Overall Rating4.3Below are the pros and cons of the Chemical Guys Gray Woolly Mammoth:
Large size
Silk edges
Higher cost
One-pack towel
The Chemical Guys Gray Woolly Mammoth is a massive microfiber towel. While size wasn’t considered a testing criterion, the size of this towel is its biggest plus and largest takeaway. Its size means it easily absorbs moisture but makes actually using the towel a bit overwhelming.
Absorbency: This towel is unequivocally the most absorptive microfiber towel that we researched or tested. The sheer size alone makes drying a car much easier and its material makeup only further improves the absorbency of this towel.
Undetectability: The Gray Woolly Mammoth, true to its name, does include an immense number of fibers and is very shaggy. While this worked well in our absorbency test category, it meant that bits of lint and strands of fiber were left all over the car’s exterior.
Durability: Upon pulling this towel out of the washing machine, it looked fairly good. While some lint and balls of microfiber were left on the inside of the washing machine after the first wash, this diminished with successive washing. The banded edges and quality fabric mean this towel will hold up longer over time compared to thinner alternatives.
Reviews mention the microfiber cleaning towel’s thickness and softness, alongside its moisture absorption properties. Many reviewers speak to the sheer size of the Chemical Guys Gray Woolly Mammoth compared to paper towels or other microfiber towels for cars. Negative reviews mention this product’s tendency to leave lint behind.
The Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths come in a pack of 24 for the same price that most competitors charge for one to three cloths. This microfiber towel is a 90/10 blend consisting of 90 percent polyester and 10 percent polyamide.
These towels are extremely soft and durable, with the manufacturer claiming the towels can be washed “hundreds of times.” This is not the only claim made by the manufacturer in the product description, as this car drying towel should be able to absorb eight times its own weight. Additionally, the product is lint-free and streak-free with 186.0 GSM.
You can see how the Amazon Basics performed in each of our testing categories below:
Review CategoryScore (Out of 5.0 Stars)Absorbency4.0Undetectability4.5Durability3.5Overall Rating4.0Below are the pros and cons of the Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloth:
Absorbs eight times its weight
Lint- and scratch-free
Available in bulk sizes, up to 144-pack
Smaller size
Loose strands after washing
The first thing our team noticed about the Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloth is its value. Although value and cost aren’t criteria categories for our testing, it’s hard to ignore the sheer number of towels you receive for such an affordable price.
Absorbency: Though the Amazon Basics microfiber towels are lightweight and relatively small in size, they’re surprisingly absorbent. Our team found that even if you’ve used up all of the absorbent properties of one towel, it’s nice to know you have 23 more to go through.
Undetectability: After rinsing off a car following a car wash and drying it with the Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloth, there were no signs anyone used a car drying towel at all. These towels were 100 percent lint-free and didn’t scratch the paint. Additionally, there were no swirl marks or streak marks left on the vehicle’s exterior.
Durability: We pulled this towel out of the washing machine and were surprised at how well it held up. Despite being thin and lightweight, there were only a few loose strands of material that unraveled in the wash.
Reviews speak to the cleaning cloth being excellent for car detailing and its durability even after being put through a washing machine several times over. Many reviewers mention the incredible value of the Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloth.
What’s most important in a microfiber towel for cleaning your vehicle is that it won’t damage the paint. Beyond that, you may want to consider cost and towel size, as well as edges.
We recommend microfiber towels from Chemical Guys, Seal Skin, Mr. Siga, and Amazon. Chemical Guys and Seal Skin offer more durable, premium options, while Mr. Siga and Amazon offer microfiber towels at a lower cost.
Based on our testing, Mr. Siga and Amazon towels are still safe bets for your vehicle, though are not quite as absorbent or durable as premium options.
Brand/ModelTowelsMicrofiber towels are simple by design, as they are only meant to dry things off and clean up messes. However, that doesn’t mean that all microfiber towels are created equal. Generally, you’ll want to consider the following before you buy:
The size of the microfiber towel you purchase is a personal choice, but it should line up with your intended use. If you’re looking for a towel that can get into all the nooks and crannies, then you might want a smaller towel. If you want a towel that can dry your car as quickly as possible, then you may opt for a larger or extra-large towel. However, it should be noted that the larger the towel you buy the more difficult it may become to wield and use.
Microfiber by definition is 100 times finer than a single human hair. That doesn’t mean that every microfiber towel features the same fibers or even the same blend of materials. It should be noted that not all microfiber towels are meant to be used on your car. Below, is a list of common types of microfiber towels you may encounter:
It may seem nitpicky, but after the edges of a microfiber towel blemish your car’s paint, you’ll be kicking yourself for not considering your towel edge. Towel edges are often the most overlooked part of a towel, but they can oftentimes cause the most damage. While the towel itself may be made from soft microfiber, the edges of these towels may not.
Microfiber towels commonly have banded edges or overlock stitch edges. Banded edges are generally softer and will help the towel hold up longer over time. Overlock-stitched edges are not quite as durable.
Some banded edges use silk material, which is extremely gentle and won’t leave behind any scratches.
We asked Mike Pennington, the Director of Global Training, Event Marketing, and Consumer Relations at Meguiar’s, about selecting the best car drying towel. Pennington recommended that detailers seek out premium brands with high fiber counts, but also stressed the importance of good towel management.
“[You should] have a variety of towels. For example, your glass towels – keep those as glass towels and wash them separately. Have your paint towels, keep those separately and wash them separately. Have your cotton towels for your leather, your interior, your wheels, your engine bay. Manage those separately.”
Your cleanest towels might be used for exterior paint, and then used for interior cleaning as they age. Once a detailing towel is too grimy for the interior, it might be used as a wheel towel, and finally a floor rag until it needs to be thrown away.
Towel management can be as crucial as towel selection and even the best microfiber towel will at some point become greasy and unusable. As Pennington puts it, “[Proper towel management] will yield far better results as a consumer – or a pro for that matter.”
In this article, along with sharing helpful purchasing tips for those interested in purchasing a new set of microfiber towels, we reviewed the top microfiber towels in 2024:
Below are some common frequently asked questions about microfiber towels:
The best microfiber towels can be worth it due to their large surface area in which to absorb moisture. This doesn’t mean that the towel itself is larger than other types of towels, as it is sheerly the number of fibers that increases a microfiber towel’s ability to absorb moisture.
GSM stands for grams per square meter. GSM measures the density of a towel, which then gives you an idea of how thick, how absorbent, and the pile length of the towel.
You can tell if microfiber is good quality based on its denier. By definition, microfiber towels must be lower than 1.0 denier. Good quality microfiber towels typically have below a 0.5 denier.
Depending on the grade of microfiber, microfiber drying towels can be used for a variety of purposes. They range from cleaning tools and polishing cloths, and can also be used as standard bath towels.
Because of their excellent absorption tendencies, they also make great shop towels for auto garages and car washes.
From a durability and absorption standpoint, microfiber towels often outperform cotton textiles. The downside is tiny microfibers are released into the environment every time we use and wash microfiber towels, and they have stricter laundry needs when using a washing machine.
Our pick for the best microfiber towel for cars is the Chemical Guys Professional Grade. We like the fabric blend, overall performance, and quality of this towel.
Generally, microfiber towels aren’t harsh enough to scratch a car’s clearcoat, but if the vehicle is older and the coat is worn a rougher towel may scratch car paint.
To determine the best microfiber towels on the market, we considered absorbency, undetectability, and durability throughout our testing process.
Absorbency
Arguably the most important characteristic of a microfiber towel is its ability to absorb moisture. Our product testing team used each microfiber towel to dry a panel of a car after a car wash to test its absorbent properties.
Undetectability
This testing criterion combines three separate testing categories: whether a microfiber towel is lint-free, whether it leaves behind streaks, and whether it is scratch-resistant. Our team carefully examined each panel of the car to check for lint, streaks, and scratches left on the car’s exterior after drying.
Durability
To get the most out of a microfiber towel, it should be reusable. Keeping this in mind, a member of our product testing team took home the used microfiber towels to machine wash them. Following the towels being washed, we checked each towel to see if it lost any absorbency or unraveled in the washing machine.
How We Score Products
Star ratings help us differentiate how one product performs in comparison to each product in our review. We calculated an average of 4.2 out of 5.0 stars at the end of our testing process for the best microfiber towels.
Why Trust Motor1.com
Each year, we test over 350 auto products on vehicles and in our testing lab. Our team of product testers thoroughly researches top products, unboxes and puts our hands on each component, and tests the items on real vehicles before making recommendations to readers.
We publish hundreds of product and service reviews to bring car enthusiasts detailed guides on automotive tools, detailing kits, car seats, pet products, and much more. For more information on our testing methodology and how we evaluate every product, check out our methodology page here.
*Data accurate at time of publication. Products subject to availability.
Aidan PounderAidan Pounder is a Motor1 product tester who has written reviews spanning from tonneau covers to rooftop cargo boxes. If he’s not burning through the clutch on his 2003 Ford Focus Zx3, you’ll find him keeping up with the latest happenings in the world of European football.
Charles NoyesAs a member of both the APA and IMPA, Charles Noyes has devoted himself to creating and refining quality content covering automotive products and accessories, motorcycle products, RV products, and more. As the lead editor serving the product review team, he has personally reviewed, critiqued, and fact-checked over 200 product reviews.
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