Best Microfiber Towels

Motor1 Reviews Team Take:

• The best microfiber towels of 2024 are 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 based on absorbancy, undetectability, and durability.
• With an average cost of $15 – $20, a pack of microfiber towels is a cost-effective solution to cleaning all surfaces of your vehicle.
• Absorbancy and durability are features to look out for when considering the best microfiber towels so you can get the best value.

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.

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Microfiber Towel Reviews

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.

What Is The Best Microfiber Towel?

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.

*Because cost data fluctuates, the prices in the table above are approximate values that our team regularly updates.

Microfiber Towel Ratings: Our Testing Process

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.

1. Chemical Guys Professional-Grade Microfiber Towels: Best Microfiber Towel

• Cost: About $15 per pack ($5 per towel)
• Amazon rating: 4.7 out of 5.0 (approx. 6,700 reviews)
• Towel size: 16.0 by 16.0 inches
• Towels per pack: 3, 6, or 12
• Edging: Banded silk
• Also sold in 24.0- by 16.0-in. size
• 380.0 grams per square meter (GSM)
• Dual-sided pile
• Machine-washable

Chemical Guys Professional-Grade Microfiber Towels Review

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:

Chemical Guys Professional-Grade Microfiber Towels: Pros And Cons

Below are the pros and cons of the Chemical Guys Professional-Grade Microfiber Towels:

Chemical Guys Professional-Grade Microfiber Towels: Our Experience

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.

Chemical Guys Professional-Grade Microfiber Towels: What Customers Are Saying

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.

2. Seal Skin Microfiber Cloth: Most Undetectable

• Cost: About $20 per pack ($6.66 per towel)
• Amazon rating: n/a
• Towel size: 12.0 by 12.0 in.
• Towels per pack: Three
• Edging: Banded
• Machine-washable

Seal Skin Microfiber Cloth Review

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:

Seal Skin Microfiber Cloth: Pros And Cons

Below are the pros and cons of the Seal Skin Microfiber Cloth:

Seal Skin Microfiber Cloth: Our Experience

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: What Customers Are Saying

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.

3. Mr. Siga Microfiber Cleaning Cloth: Best Value

• Cost: About $16 per pack ($1.33 per towel)
• Amazon rating: 4.7 out of 5.0 (approx. 77,500 reviews)
• Towel size: 12.6 by 12.6 in.
• Towels per pack: 12
• Edging: Overlock stitch
• 85.0% polyester, 15.0% nylon
• Machine-washable

Mr. Siga Microfiber Cleaning Cloth Review

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:

Mr. Siga Microfiber Cleaning Cloth: Pros And Cons

Below are the pros and cons of the Mr. Siga Microfiber Cleaning Cloth:

Mr. Siga Microfiber Cleaning Cloth: Our Experience

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

Mr. Siga Microfiber Cleaning Cloth: What Customers Are Saying

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.

4. Chemical Guys Gray Woolly Mammoth: Best Feel

• Cost: About $30 per pack ($30 per towel)
• Amazon rating: 4.7 out of 5.0 (approx. 7.800 reviews)
• Towel size: 36.0 by 25.0 in.
• Towels per pack: One
• Edging: Banded silk
• Machine-washable
• Available in gray or blue

Chemical Guys Gray Woolly Mammoth Review

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:

Chemical Guys Gray Woolly Mammoth: Pros And Cons

Below are the pros and cons of the Chemical Guys Gray Woolly Mammoth:

Chemical Guys Gray Woolly Mammoth: Our Experience

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.

Chemical Guys Gray Woolly Mammoth: What Customers Are Saying

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.

5. Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloth: Best Bulk Order Options

• Cost: About $13 per pack ($1.85 per towel)
• Amazon rating: 4.7 out of 5.0 (approx. 72,400 reviews)
• Towel size: 16.0 by 12.0 in.
• Towels per pack: 24, 36, 48, or 144
• Edging: Overlock stitch
• 90.0% polyester, 10.0% nylon
• Machine-washable

Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloth Review

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:

Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloth: Pros And Cons

Below are the pros and cons of the Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloth:

Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloth: Our Experience

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.

Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloth: What Customers Are Saying

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.

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Microfiber Towels Buying Guide

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.

Microfiber Towels: Compare And Contrast

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.

Microfiber 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:

Size

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.

Types of Microfiber

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:

• General use: This towel is 80/20 and 220.0 GSM. It’s best used for all-purpose cleaning.
• Safe: This towel is 75/25 and 360.0 GSM. It’s best for applying wax, buffing, and polishing, making them great automotive detailing towels.
• Delicate: This towel is 75/25 and 600.0 GSM. It’s best for more delicate surfaces.
• Safer: This towel is 75/25 and 400.0 GSM. These washcloths are fine for use on most surfaces.
• Safest: This towel is 70/30 and 600.0 GSM. These multi-purpose wash towels are safe to use on all surfaces and work for car care.
• Glass: This towel is 80/20 and 350.0 GSM. It’s best used for drying and glass cleaning.

Towel Edges

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.

Towel Management

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.”

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Best Microfiber Towels: Bottom Line

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:

1. Best Microfiber Towel: Chemical Guys Professional Grade
2. Most Undetectable: Seal Skin Microfiber Cloth
3. Best Value: Mr. Siga Microfiber Cleaning Cloth
4. Best Feel: Chemical Guys Gray Woolly Mammoth
5. Best Bulk Ordering Options: Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloth

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Microfiber Towels: FAQ

Below are some common frequently asked questions about microfiber towels: 

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Full Microfiber Towel Testing Methodology

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.

• 5.0 Stars: A 5.0-star rating in this review means that the microfiber towel, at least in one of the testing criteria, performed well above average. For example, if a microfiber towel holds up well and can be cleaned easily after our cleaning process, you’ll see a high score for durability.
• 4.0 Stars: A 4.0-star rating means that the microfiber towels scored above average in at least one criterion during our testing process. If a microfiber towel had fair absorbency but did not compare to a 5.0-star rating, you will see a 4.0-star score.
• 3.0 Stars: A 3.0-star rating is an average score for microfiber towels when compared to different microfiber towels on the market. If we noticed slight streaking on our car’s exterior after drying, we gave undetectability an average score.
• 2.0 Stars: A 2.0-star rating is a below-average score when compared to other microfiber towels we tested and researched. For example, if there was lint, scratch, and streak residue after cleaning our exterior, a below-average score would be expected.
• 1.0 Star: While rarely seen in our reviews of the best products, a 1.0-star rating is far below average and performed poorly in all testing criteria when compared to the top products in our review. If the material is poor and there’s little difference in cleanliness after our testing process, we would score the product with a 1.0-star rating.

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.

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