Microfiber Towel Question

[11Silverado]

Hey guys, I hear most people say they have different microfiber towels for different tasks. I understand the importance of this, but to a point I'm a bit confused. Now when one is polishing, do you have a different microfiber towel for each compound or polish you use? Same goes with waxes and sealants, do you use a different microfiber towel for each wax or sealant you buy? I ask because that gets expensive and wonder if it is completely necessary. Also how do you choose which microfiber towel you use for each task? Thanks!

[fly07sti]

What Is most important to you. Cost? Quality of MF? Will you only be using on your car/cars?

[OCD Detailing]

Hey guys, I hear most people say they have different microfiber towels for different tasks. I understand the importance of this, but to a point I'm a bit confused. Now when one is polishing, do you have a different microfiber towel for each compound or polish you use? Same goes with waxes and sealants, do you use a different microfiber towel for each wax or sealant you buy? I ask because that gets expensive and wonder if it is completely necessary. Also how do you choose which microfiber towel you use for each task? Thanks!

We have 3 laundry bags full of MF towels but we don't really break it down by wax/compound. We have towels that can touch the paint and those that can't. For those that can't we really only separate by color not quality. The only major separation we do is black for wheels and nothing else.

As far as body towels, they are all high enough quality to touch the paint so really we could use them for anything from waterless to wax but we kind of have favorites just based on how we "feel" they work for each step.

Even though we are only 4 months into our detailing business, towels are one of the areas I don't think should be a cost cutting area, at least for the ones that touch the cars paint.

Usually if you buy in bulk you get a better price. We just buy them every once in awhile and it's amazing how fast the collection grows. Even though we just started I can't for the life of me remember how we got so many towels. LOL I don't recall buying this many, but I did. When I say 3 laundry bags, they are the huge laundry bags that Target sells. :buffing:

[VISITOR]

if you want to keep it simple order a couple dozen microfiber towels in the 350-360gm range (like the cobra plush jr's) for the paint and other important (scratch sensitive) areas of the car. also buy two packs of the yellow kirkland costco microfiber towels for the wheels, engine, and other non paint related tasks where you don't want to ruin your good microfiber towels. wash and dry those two types of microfiber towels seperate from each other and make sure to use a quality detergent because that's important in keeping them fluffy, plush, soft, and long lasting...

[11Silverado]

These towels are only going to be used on my personal vehicles. I don't mind spending the money on quality microfiber towels. I just wanted to clarify some things and you guys were able to do that so thank you!

[ResQRy]

if you want to keep it simple order a couple dozen microfiber towels in the 350-360gm range (like the cobra plush jr's) for the paint and other important (scratch sensitive) areas of the car. also buy two packs of the yellow kirkland costco microfiber towels for the wheels, engine, and other non paint related tasks where you don't want to ruin your good microfiber towels. wash and dry those two types of microfiber towels seperate from each other and make sure to use a quality detergent because that's important in keeping them fluffy, plush, soft, and long lasting...

Exactly what I do.

[Paul A.]

Exactly what I do.

Me too. I have 3 different, color coded MF towel sets. One for compounds/polishes, one for sealants and one for carnauba based products. I do 2 seperate washes. One for all towels used for compounds/polishes and carnauba towels and a seperate wash for my sealant towels. My sealant towels and pads are always kept seperate from anything containing something other than a sealant. Never had any problems.

The simple color coded system has worked very well for me over the years.

[OCD Detailing]

if you want to keep it simple order a couple dozen microfiber towels in the 350-360gm range (like the cobra plush jr's) for the paint and other important (scratch sensitive) areas of the car. also buy two packs of the yellow kirkland costco microfiber towels for the wheels, engine, and other non paint related tasks where you don't want to ruin your good microfiber towels. wash and dry those two types of microfiber towels seperate from each other and make sure to use a quality detergent because that's important in keeping them fluffy, plush, soft, and long lasting...

This probably isn't an issue for the OP since he is looking for personal use but my theory on wheel towels being black is that they get so dirty I figured it gave a better appearance to any customer that happened to be watching that I wasn't wiping their wheels with a filthy looking towel even though the black towel gets just as dirty as the yellow, it can't be seen.

Am I over thinking it with that theory? If so I could free up more towels for wheels.

BTW, I really like the Chemical Guys Green Towels. Got about 30 of them when we bought the Pod. Planned on just using them when we used the pod but they worked so well I find myself using them for other things. I originally bought a bunch of those thick nap gray towels with the black border but they seem to just smear the water around and after a few months they seem to be linting everywhere. I wash my MF by the book so not sure what is going on with them.

[Paul A.]

I think your black towel for wheels is a good idea. Like you say, should a customer who is paying good money for your services sees a dirty light colored towel being used...even though you know it is clean and safe to use...gives the perception of "eh, not sure about this guy".

[ResQRy]

I have black towels for the wheels. I actually just got them and haven't broken them out yet. Smart idea. Image is important with a client!

[spitshine1]

Hi there,
I don't have a detailing business, but I enjoy driving a very clean car.
I have about 20 MF towels. I use older towels for my rims and wheels.
I have separate towels for my windows, you don't want wax on your windows! Newest MF towels are used for polishing and waxing.
Separate washes are the best so you don't cross contaminate.
Ie. wheel rags with wheel rags, waxing rags with waxing rags, ect.
the less pile on the towel the better for waxing and polishing.

[07gtcs]

I only take care of my own fleet of four cars. I do 3 loads of towels, one of the wheel, tire, engine misc grime towels, one load of all other MF towels and then a load of Glass and drying towels.

[OCD Detailing]

I have black towels for the wheels. I actually just got them and haven't broken them out yet. Smart idea. Image is important with a client!

Not every client watches but we do have one that knows just enough about detailing to be dangerous. LOL He actually contacted us because the Land Rover we pull the trailer with was so clean. He has a BIG lifted black Chevy truck. The one with 4 doors and leather interior.. He was looking to leave his last detailer because he saw him drying the car without the towel folded in 4's. LOL Once I told him how we have color coded towels for every different part of the truck, he was sold. He doesn't fully understand the detailing process but he knows more than the average client. He has the worst car to be anal about. HUGE and BLACK. So we are very careful about how we wash it. We always do things right anyways, but for him we have to also give the appearance of doing it right. I even bought a Master Blaster for his truck along with disposable booties so when I have to climb into the trunk bed to spray it out.

I think appearance and image can be huge, especially when marketing to a certain segment of society. It's the reason why I detail the Land Rover more than I do my daily driver.


I only take care of my own fleet of four cars. I do 3 loads of towels, one of the wheel, tire, engine misc grime towels, one load of all other MF towels and then a load of Glass and drying towels.

I actually do body and glass towels in one load and everything else in another. I probably should do wheel towels separate but I am already doing so much laundry anyways. Plus we do get the wheels pretty clean prior to drying them. Actually lately I have been using the Master Blaster to dry the wheels, then "buffing" them out if needed with the black towels.

[sayroger]

Me too. I have 3 different, color coded MF towel sets. One for compounds/polishes, one for sealants and one for carnauba based products. I do 2 seperate washes. One for all towels used for compounds/polishes and carnauba towels and a seperate wash for my sealant towels. My sealant towels and pads are always kept seperate from anything containing something other than a sealant. Never had any problems.

The simple color coded system has worked very well for me over the years.

This sounds like a very good plan. I will work on my microfibers to implement this on my detail shop. Thanks