When to Use microfiber towel manufacturers？

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How is Microfiber Made and Rated?

One thing all detailers can agree &#; using paper towels is simply no longer an option. Using microfiber cloths and materials is the ONLY way to go. But what exactly is microfiber and why is it different than regular towels and cloths?

Microfiber itself is a continuous filament fiber, which essentially means it is comprised of two different materials &#; polyamide and polyester. Polyamide is a byproduct of nylon and is the material within microfiber towels that helps with the absorption of liquids. Polyester fibers improve the softness and the anti-scratch properties these towels are known to produce. It&#;s just much softer than a traditional cleaning cloth.

At the factory, microfiber manufacturers use specialized equipment and specific grades of raw materials to assemble and end use product. However, when you break it down simply, there are two important criteria that will determine the applications for using microfiber towels in the detailing process.

What is a Microfiber Split?

By definition, a split is a combination of multiple individual elements. With microfiber, the split refers to the pattern in which the microfiber materials are sewn or assembled for lack of a better term. Polyamide and polyester are combined and stitched in a pie shaped pattern, which is commonly known as the microfiber split. The size of each pattern or specifically the depth of material will impact the product pile, strength, and weight.

The microfiber split is important due to the differences in surface tension of the two materials. When the split is created, it establishes multiple grooves within the fabric that helps to reduce scratching while it is collecting materials on a surface. it is this quality that determines the softness or application of a microfiber cloth.

For example, a microfiber towel with an aggressive split is best used for sensitive materials that are prone to scratch. Microfiber with a split that is less aggressive is optimal for picking up liquid&#;s or absorption.

What is the Microfiber Ratio?

Arguably the most important element with regards to rating the quality of microfiber is the ratio of materials. We mentioned it earlier, but it is important to drive this message home &#; microfiber towels in cloths are comprised of polyester and polyimide. Some microfiber towels will include a velvet or silk liner installed on the edges to help reduce scratching &#; at least that is the theory anyways.

The ratio of the two materials tends to impact the strength and absorption of the towel. Two general ratios exist for most microfiber towels used in detailing &#; 80/20 and 70/30 &#; with the larger number represented by the percentage of polyester &#; and the smaller being polyamide.

It was assumed by many so-called detailing experts that the higher percentage of polyamide (or a 70/30 ratio) had a direct correlation to the softness or overall quality of the towel. However, as manufacturing technologies and techniques have improved, and the overall quality of each raw ingredient has likewise been enhanced &#; the gap of quality between the two ratios has narrowed.

What Impact Does Country of Origin Have on Microfiber Towels?

Another outdated myth about microfiber towels has to do with the country of origin &#; specifically where are they made and where are the raw materials sourced? With microfiber, there are two main combatants in the manufacturing world &#; China and South Korea.

Korean microfiber tends to be more consistent, softer, and more absorbent. It is common for many Korean microfiber blends to have a ratio of 70/30 with higher GSM or grams per square meter ratings (we will explain that below).

Initially the difference in product quality mainly had to do with the integrity of the raw materials and precision tolerances or quality controls with South Korean manufacturers. In the past five years, several Chinese manufacturers a microfiber towels have stepped up their quality standards and, in many cases, are using superior quality raw ingredients.

So &#; as of , the country of origin is not as big of a deal with automotive detailing microfiber than in years past. But you will notice a higher cost of goods with many Korean manufacturers versus Chinese microfiber providers &#; but the gap in price is likewise narrowing.

What is GSM with Microfiber Towels?

There are some professional detailers or certified YouTube experts who swear by GSM to determine the quality of microfiber. GSM stands for grams per square meter or the weight of the filaments within the microfiber towel.

This number is calculated based on weighing a -meter-long strand of the combined microfiber blend. But here is something that most people have no clue about &#; a single strand or filament of microfiber is 1% as thick as human hair. It takes 200,000 microfiber filaments to complete one square inch of finished microfiber material.

The grams per square meter of weight is based off something microscopic that you cannot see well with the human eye. However, the GSM is important when it comes to determining the quality or longevity of microfiber. Higher GSM towels tend to hold up longer when washing microfiber.

For example, if you were going to compare two identical microfiber towels, with the same split, ratio, and country of origin or manufacturer &#; the one with the higher GSM rating should hold up longer than the lower rated item.

It is important to understand that GSM should never be the only criteria you use to determine whether a microfiber towel is the right one to use for a specific detailing job.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of microfiber towel manufacturers. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

What are the Types of Microfiber Towels?

Now that we have broken down the basics above, let us explore what type of towels are used commonly in automotive detailing.

All-Purpose Microfiber Towels

Every detailer knows the value of having a large inventory of clean multiple purpose microfiber towels in their shop. This towel is essentially the workhorse that does all the dirty work, such as cleaning wheels, suspension parts, door jams, and under the hood. most of these towels feature an 80/20 blend of polyester and polyamide, a GSM rating around 300, and measure 16 x 16-inches generally.

All-purpose MF towels have a &#;hooked&#; design &#; meaning it is designed to allow the towel to spread liquids evenly. This makes them great for degreasers, spray wax, waterless washing, or even boost sprays. It is not great for drying &#; but you can use it on less detailed surfaces like those mentioned above.

Glass Microfiber Towel

The glass microfiber towel is like all-purpose with a major difference &#; lint free and a different weave or split. When you use microfiber towels for cleaning glass, it is important to have one that is going to spread the glass cleaner evenly and have absorption qualities that were reduced streaking.

A glass microfiber is going to have a smaller and tighter weave and a nap (which is the depth of the weave). You will notice that a glass microfiber towel simply looks smoother or has a less aggressive surface than the average all-purpose towel.

The GSM and construction percentage or ratio is typically the same as all-purpose towels, so it is important to visually inspect the glass microfiber.

Buffing Microfiber Towels

Another important task with automotive detailing is buffing, specifically removing the residue of liquids that have been applied without scratching the delicate surface. This is done by using an incredibly soft buffing towel. The best ones usually feature a 70/30 ratio, have a high GSM, and physically look very &#;fluffy&#;.

In fact, if you look at our pink buffing towels offered through Ceramicpro.com you will see a perfect example of an exceptional microfiber for removing multiple materials including ceramic coatings, boost sprays, and quick detail sprays.

There are two general types of buffing towels &#; those with a tight and short weave (which are good for waxes) and the plush and soft construction type &#; which is best for liquid sprays. The key is to find a buffing towel that helps you removed flashed liquids &#; and can remove all residue &#; leaving a perfectly clean surface.

Spunlace wiping cloths provide no cross contamination, more absorbency and cost less.

Microfiber cloths (made from 100% polyester or polyester/nylon fibers) are popular now for cleaning inside and outside the house and while they do a good job in some applications, there are other applications where a spunlace, 55% woodpulp/45% polyester, wiping cloth works better and costs less. In this article we are only discussing spunlace wiping cloths that are 55% woodpulp/45% polyester (55/45).

There are many things to consider in choosing a wiping cloth.  Let&#;s first look at the performance of microfiber wiping cloths for specific applications.  Microfiber cloths were originally designed for cleaning surfaces that are dry. For example, microfiber makes a great dust cloth. A microfiber cloth can also be used dry for removing oils and grease from a delicate surface.  They are used to wipe stainless steel on cooktops and stoves and for removing fingerprints from eye glasses.  Microfiber cloths are soft and remove dust and oils easily for low soil uses, but what about the really dirty cleaning jobs? 

Spunlace Wiping Cloths

Spunlace wiping cloths are superior to microfiber if you need to tackle a greasy, dirty, sticky, tough cleaning job that requires your wiping cloth to be used wet (especially with a solvent or cleaning agent) or dry. They work well as a substitute for paper blue stop towels. Spunlace wiping cloths maintain strength when combined with a solvent, any cleaning solution or when used with water. Since the spunlace wiping cloth is 45% polyester, it combines the benefits of the polyester used in microfiber cloths with the absorbency of woodpulp fibers to clean tough jobs easily. The polyester makes the spunlace wiping cloth soft, strong, able to remove grease, dust, and dirt easily. The woodpulp adds absorbency so that liquids will be absorbed into the cell structure vs &#;riding along on the surface of the polyester fiber&#;. Microfiber cloths hold some liquids but do not actually absorb them.  Therefore, they move liquids around over a surface and you may need a drying cloth to actually remove the liquid and dry your cleaning surface. This is not ideal for cleaning heavy dirt, dust or greasy surfaces. Because of the unique woodpulp/polyester combination, spunlace wiping cloths allow you to deep clean all surfaces with a liquid agent or you can use it dry to absorb spills.

Microfiber cloths

Microfiber cloths are also known for their softness but do have some lint. Spunlace wiping cloths are soft as well (especially when wet) and additionally are essentially lint free.  Another popular use for spunlace wiping cloths is when you need a streak-free surface. The woodpulp absorbs the cleaning spray or solvent and uses it to clean the surface, but also removes it from the cleaning surface so it doesn&#;t streak or leave traces of the chemical behind. For this reason, spunlace wiping cloths are used in a myriad of industries ranging from automotive and aircraft manufacturers to even stone countertop fabricators as they cut, clean, install, seal and shine cut stone before it is installed in your home. Using your favorite granite or quartz cleaning spray, spunlace wiping cloths are the better cloth to clean your stone surfaces at home. Many glass and mirror manufacturers use spunlace wipes to achieve a streak-free shine on their finished products before they are installed. You can use what the manufacturers use to clean glass and stone for a streak and lint free finish.

Now that we have discussed the specific tasks and performance of spunlace woodpulp/polyester wiping cloths verses microfiber wiping cloths, let&#;s look at cost and disposability. If you plan to wash your wiping cloth (low soil dusting and wiping uses), then a microfiber cloth is the best choice, but what if the cloth has grease, oils and is heavily soiled. If you wash a heavily soiled cloth, there will be some residual dirt and grease that may not wash out completely, leaving the possibility that when you use the cloth again, there is a chance of cross contamination. Previous dirt and oils that are still lodged in the microfiber cloth may be deposited on your cleaning surface when you reuse the cloth. This is especially a concern when painting or detailing cars, wiping down countertops, washing windows or dealing with delicate surfaces. Spunlace wiping cloths are cost efficient enough that you can use a few to complete your cleaning job and then simply throw them away.  You also throw away the grease, dirt, pet mess, paint, solvent, etc. that is contained in your dirty wiping cloth. You will use a new spunlace wiping cloth each time you begin your cleaning job. Each new spunlace wiping cloth is clean and free of any contamination. Spunlace wiping cloths are easy to rinse and reuse within a working or cleaning day if you want to reuse it, or you can choose to throw it away and use a new one. Spunlace wiping cloths start at less than $.10 each whereas good microfiber cloths cost $.50 to $1 or more depending on the quality of the cloth. 

Spunlace wiping cloths allow you to tackle the dirtiest most delicate surfaces. They give you the choice to dispose of rather than wash a dirty wiping cloth and you will not be putting the dirt, grease, and grime through the same washing machine where you wash your clothes. Use microfiber cloths where they perform best and use spunlace wiping cloths where they perform best!

**We recommend purchasing spunlace wiping products that are made in the USA using no glues or binders. Some spunlace products sourced from Asia do contain binders and glues to try to match the strength of USA manufactured spunlace. Telesto Products only sells spunlace wiping cloths that DO NOT contain binders and glues.

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