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How do I Choose the Best Car Towel?

By Misty Amber Brighton
Updated May 17, 2024
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One of the things you should think about when choosing a car towel is what you are going to use it for. You might also want to consider the size of your vehicle, in relation to this item. The absorbency level of the cloth and whether or not it can easily be laundered are also factors to ponder.

The type of car maintenance you plan to do will often determine the type of towel you choose. If you only want a product to dry your automobile off, a chamois towel might be just the thing for you. If you are waxing a vehicle, however, you may decide on a micro-fiber towel to help you buff the surface better.

A disposable car towel might be ideal for heavy cleaning situations. This could be when you need to wash the vehicle's wheel coverings or remove bugs and tar from a bumper. Waffle weave rags that are similar to paper towels might also be selected for cleaning glass and mirrors.

The bigger your vehicle is, the larger car towel you might need to purchase. Some people prefer to use over-sized bath towels for drying large trucks or motor homes. Such auto cloths generally range in size from 12 inches (30.48 cm) long and wide to those that are 24 inches (60.96 cm) wide and 48 inches (121.92 cm) long.

Chamois is a common fabric used in making car towels. This is because it is normally very absorbent yet lightweight. Other materials that are used for making these rags include terrycloth and cotton. Think about how much water you may need to soak up, and choose a cloth that is able to handle that amount of liquid without becoming excessively wet and soggy.

If you plan to use your car towel multiple times, you should think about whether or not it can be laundered in a washing machine. Cloths that are very large or heavy could be hard to wash at home, and might also be difficult to dry. Also, you may want to try to determine whether or not the fabric sheds, so you can know if it might leave lint behind that could clog up the plumbing in a washer or dryer.

Performing car maintenance is an essential part of automobile ownership. Having the right car towel to do the job with can be equally important. Choosing the right product can help you accomplish this somewhat tedious job faster and easier, and can also help protect the finish of your vehicle.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Discussion Comments

By literally45 — On Jul 26, 2013

I'm still looking for the perfect car towel. The microfiber ones are nice but I end up using four or five to dry my car. So I don't think that they're very efficient. They can be washed but they turn out weird afterward and don't absorb as much water as before.

For now, I'm just using an old 100% cotton bath towel. I can't do this forever, I will buy a proper car towel when I find a good one.

By fify — On Jul 25, 2013

@ysmina-- Microfiber car drying towels are good, that's what I'm using. Mine has a waffle weave. I'm not sure what that means really, but it's soft and absorbs moisture very quickly.

What type of car do you have? If you are going to be drying very large surfaces, make sure to check the dimensions of the towel because they come in different sizes. The first microfiber towel I bought was small (I didn't pay attention to the dimensions when buying) and it was taking me forever with that. Then I bought a larger one and it definitely made a difference.

By ysmina — On Jul 25, 2013

Has anyone used a microfiber towel for drying their car? Does it work well?

I'm looking for something that will absorb moisture fast and without leaving streaks behind. Any recommendations?

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