r/AutoDetailing • u/CactiRush • 5d ago

Product/Consumable Why do my microfiber cloths just push around water or cleaner instead of absorbing?

EDIT: I don’t use fabric softener or dryer sheets ever. I have used this towel for wiping off ceramic spray wax. The towel has been through the washer and dryer. This towel doesn’t seem like a high quality towel. I did not make the towel damp before trying to dry, apparently that may help.

Based on the comments, I’m going to buy higher quality towels that are an 80/20 or 70/30 blend of polyester and polyamide. The 100% polyester towels are hydrophobic on their own, and even more so when used previously to wipe off ceramic wax.. duh, I should’ve known that. So from now on I’m going to have specific towels for drying and specific towels for removing wax.

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405

u/Less_Illustrator_291 4d ago

It also depends on what material your towel is made out of. Cheap microfiber towels are made of almost 100% polyester because it's cheap and makes for tough towels, but it's hydrophobic so doesn't want to absorb water. Better ones use part polyamide (nylon), which is hydrophyllic so will help in absorbing water. The best towels will have a 70/30 mix of polyester/polyamide but those are hard to find (especially since a lot of manufacturers don't really want to tell you the composition), 80/20 ones are also fine but the cheap generic ones I can find in stores around me are all 88/12 or just straight up 100% polyester. Those have the same issues as you have. The only way I can get them to absorb anything at all is to make sure they're damp beforehand to help overcome the hydrophobic properties a bit and let surface tension do some of the work.

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u/cinedavid 4d ago

Making towels out of material that repels water is absolutely bonkers.

That can’t be true. Can it? I get that it’s cheaper to make but I just find hard to believe.

“We sell towels that don’t absorb water. They don’t do the one thing you need a towel for. Good luck.”

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u/BRICH999 4d ago

They are good for some things like removing wax.  But good microfiber are a game changer, I bought some from the rag company and put aside my entire collection of microfibers

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u/Prime_19 4d ago

I've been using The Rag Company out of Boise since the early 2000's. Met them at SEMA. They told me they use high-grade South Korean microfibers which make the difference. Adhere to their washing machine instructions and they'll perform for a very long time.

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u/FLOHTX 4d ago

You should contact them for some commission, I just spent $30 because of your comment.

7

u/Prime_19 4d ago

I've never been disappointed with any of their microfiber products. You get what you pay for in most things in life. The Dollar Store microfibers have their place, just not wiping water off vehicle paint that you care about.

7

u/MistaSticky 4d ago

i just went to their website and looked around very interested in a purchase because of your comment

10

u/BRICH999 4d ago

Dang ive apparently evolved into a rag influencer.  But they are very good, no schill, just impressed as someone with about 1000 microfibers in the collection before I found this company

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u/DontEvenWithMe1 4d ago

The Rag Company is legit. I worked for one of the ceramic coating brands they sell and got to know them that way. Good people and great products. Get some of the P&S Rags to Riches towel cleaner and follow the instructions and your towels will last a long time. Their towels are testament to the “you get what you pay for” adage.

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u/CAJMusic 4d ago

You sold out. I remember when you were underground and cool.

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u/2SSLOWW 4d ago

Any specific ones from them? I’m tired of my auto zone MF towels. They suck

1

u/Far_Bid9833 3d ago

Liqui8er and Gauntlet for drying.

Eagles for interior.

FTW (For the Window) or Diamond Weave for glass.

Those are my go-to from TRC (The Rag Company).

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u/F1jez1980 1d ago

Its friday night and I’m shopping for microfibers

2

u/Far_Bid9833 1d ago

Totally responsible decision 😂 Detailed Image had microfibers 35% off like 2 weeks ago. I stockpiled a little bit.

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u/Beazt11123 4d ago

What company?

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u/BRICH999 4d ago

Its literally called "the rag company" and their towels are fantastic, though not cheap.  Making this comment reminded me to order more

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u/Beazt11123 4d ago

Oh, word. Thanks!

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u/stonedboss 4d ago

They do decent sales, I'm waiting for black Friday to order more

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u/BlackholeZ32 4d ago

Yeah TRC is king.

4

u/ExplanationDull5984 4d ago

It isn't the material itself that absorbs water but the woven mesh that traps water between the material.

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u/TypicalHornyMan 4d ago

Its true. Never underestimate cheaper to make.

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u/kingzog 3d ago

The last shower curtains I brought from the UK's largest DIY chain leaked water through them when they were touched. Actual porous shower curtains. So yeah, it absolutely can be true that stores sell cheap crap that they know isn't up to the job.

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u/cinedavid 3d ago

You can say the name of the store. No need to protect them.

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u/kingzog 3d ago

Think of the crappiest, biggest DIY chain in the U.K. If you’re thinking of B & Q we’re in agreement :) I just didn’t include it originally as I suspected the name would mean nothing to anyone outside these shores

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u/Xeon8 4d ago

My mother-in-law shops way too frequently at the dollar store and the towels she gets from there a trash and don’t absorb anything. I tell my wife to just donate them every time we are given them as a gift. And my MIL wonders why half the shit we donate is crap that was my wife’s from before we were married. I actually spend my money on quality products.

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u/_Shitass_ 4d ago

Yeah sadly it’s definitely true, most blankets are made of %100 polyester now instead of hemp, basically no benefits besides cost less but many negatives. A lot streamlined/name brand products are like this in the sense of quality control.

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u/swiftb3 4d ago

I can tell you they make some kitchen towels that way, too, and they are absolutely useless.

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u/BlackholeZ32 4d ago

They don't care. They sell them cheap af and laugh all the way to the bank. There are enough suckers out there that they keep selling them. If their cash cow ever dries up they'll shrug and move onto the next scam.

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u/OstensVrede 1d ago

They're made for dust not water.

There is a distinction between absorbent microfiber cloths and ones that are for dust or other dry particles. The issue is just that people arent aware of this and more often than not they are all marketed as microfiber cloths instead of being distinct from eachother.

Think of it like a broom vs a mop.

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u/Slight-Difference677 1d ago

Yeah just try a twisted loop towel and you'll never go back, especially for things like drying a car, it leaves it dry to the touch after one swipe.

Don't know about material composition but I got a German brand for 20€ and it was the best towel I ever used.

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u/blutigetranen 4d ago

Sounds like capitalism to me

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u/CactiRush 4d ago

That makes total sense

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u/Minimum_Hope_5205 4d ago

Spraying some type of lubricant, quick detailer is my favorite, as well as pre dampening the towel will greatly increase its absorbency.

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u/Meaty_Wizard 4d ago

This, get it wet, wring it out, then try.

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u/Sied45 4d ago

This guy microfibers

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u/PlayfulExtension8246 4d ago

Which microfiber do you suggest ?

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u/Less_Illustrator_291 4d ago

Anything that's a 70/30 mix if you can find it. I got mine from AliExpress, it's a bit difficult to find ones that actually state the composition and 70/30 ones are very tricky to find (and more expensive when you do) so I have a large drying towel (twist loop, 1100g/m2) and two 'regular' ones (fleece 500g/m2) that are 70/30 and then a couple regular ones (fleece, 500g/m2) in 80/20. I can send you links if you want to save time on looking for them but I generally don't like Reddit being spammed with people trying to sell you stuff.

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u/maydaymaster 4d ago

Wanna share links my way?

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u/Less_Illustrator_291 4d ago

Let's see if this stays up or if it's automatically removed. I added what I paid for them, try to mess around with coupon codes to get the best price. And btw these are not affiliate links.

Drying towel 1100 70/30

Regular towel 500 70/30 I paid around €22 for one drying towel and two regular ones

Regular towel 500 80/20 €3 for three at the time

Regular towel 1200 80/20 About €4 for 40x60cm

1

u/Critical-Magician421 4d ago

Spta is also on Amazon.

The drying towel is 27.99.

It's their version of the liquidator

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u/Less_Illustrator_291 4d ago

Ah cool, i guess they've become a bit more mainstream. A bit sad what AliExpress has become recently, with Amazon now being cheaper if you don't want to spend a lot of time on collecting discounts and coupons.

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u/iTzCodes 4d ago

Nvm just seen this comment. Time to research lol

2

u/jmblur 4d ago

Costco for general purpose 80/20 towels. Rag company towels are great if you wait for a sale. Eagle edgeless is my go to. 70/30 Korean microfiber. Griots PFM for drying is amazing but not cheap, I'm sure there are cheaper alternatives these days.

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u/ProfessionCurrent198 4d ago

House of Rags and The Rag Company have large selections of genuine 70/30 towels in all sizes and
G/sm

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u/Healthy-Mind4995 4d ago

Walmart has great ones, yellow and not very expensive

0

u/ThisOldGuy1976 4d ago

The ones he just described.

1

u/iTzCodes 4d ago

Is that why I see fuzzies all over my inside of my window after I clean it? I use 2 1 for wiping the spray and 1 dry to clean up the residue. What would be the best one to tackle cleaning the windshield?

And can I get it at oriley. lol I live near one.

1

u/therealrayy 4d ago

this guy fibers

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u/stoutlikethebeer 4d ago

You seem to be the expert. That is really helpful info.

Do you have advice on saving microfiber towels that accidentally get dropped? Im clumsy, and feel like I accidentally drop a nice towel and its is impossible to get the stuff out. I repurpose as a trashy towel so I dont scratch the clearcoat. Ive wasted a lot.

1

u/Less_Illustrator_291 4d ago

Thanks, it got more interest than I expected for something so niche XD

Sadly (or I guess luckily) I don't have much experience in cleaning microfiber yet. Mine have always come out of the laundry just fine, but I haven't really gotten them filthy yet.

When i do get them dirty i always rinse them by hand first, just repeatedly letting them soak through and squeezing them out untill the water runs mostly clear. For dirt and sand it usually helps to hold one edge, let the towel hang down and let water flow down along the surface. That way the water can pull the dirt down with it.

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u/spamcandriver 4d ago

Well now I truly learned something today. Thanks!

1

u/Interesting_Car2187 3d ago

I was coming to say the same thing about using them damp. Just because my local car wash that supplies towels and glass cleaner keeps them damp.

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u/Elementary2 3d ago

^ this. Correct me if I'm wrong. They sell "poly rags" and they're used for stuff like oil spill cleanup. But you can use them for cleaning windows, too.