Microfiber cloths have incredible cleaning and water-absorbing properties, with synthetic polyester and polyamide fibers that can pick up and absorb dirt like a magnet. These microscopic fibers are both positively and negatively charged, making them act like little hands that grab dirt or absorb more water than any other textile.
However, their efficiency and effectiveness are not without drawbacks. For starters, they’re more expensive than regular terry cloth, and thanks to their superior dirt-absorbing properties, you’ll want to grab a new one if you drop it on the floor while drying or polishing your car’s paint, as the chance of scratching the paint increases dramatically as the towel absorbs dirt from the floor.
It’s the nature of microfiber cloths that makes them ideal for waxing, polishing or ceramic coating, but you need to be wary of the latter: it’s unwise to reuse microfibers after you’ve used them to apply or wipe ceramic coating from your car’s paint. There are many types of microfiber cloths, but all can suffer from hardening of the fibers by the polymers in ceramic coatings.
If you’re into auto detailing and paint correction, you probably know that ceramic coatings begin to crystallize as the product cures, and those crystals continue to harden and settle deep into the fibers of the towel. When the fibers stiffen, the microfiber loses its softness and the remaining crystals can scratch or leave curl marks on the finish the next time you wipe them over paint.
But don’t throw them away!
But wouldn’t washing be enough to remove the ceramic residue from the towel? It may be fine if you immediately soak the towel in soapy water after wiping it, but it’s a different story if you wait for the towel (and the ceramic layer crystals embedded in the towel) to dry before washing it. And besides, it is very impractical to wash towels while treating a car, and the solvent-based formulas of ceramic coatings do not easily dissolve or wash away in soapy water.
Ceramic coatings are like an extra layer of clear coat over the finish, and their liquid polymer formulas are generally harder and more resistant to weathering and fading than wax. When properly applied, they can last two to five years or more with proper care. However, they are somewhat harsh on microfiber towels, so avoid reusing towels previously used for ceramic coats to reduce the chance of damaging or scratching an otherwise pristine, glossy finish.
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