Choosing the Right Towel for Your Detailing Center

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People rely on professional detailers to keep their vehicle looking fresh and clean — as if they rolled out of the car dealer that same day. As a detailer, your focus is to maintain the look of your client’s truck, car, SUV, bus, van or recreational vehicle. And to do so, you will need the proper tools that help create a beautifully finished look.

Auto detailing towels can cover every job, from waxing, polishing and interior cleaning to painting care and wheel glossing. We’ve developed a guide to help you figure out which cloth is the best option for your detailing shop and why it matters.

How to Choose the Right Towel for Car Detailing

Car washing is a massive industry that the average driver relies on for a variety of services. To ensure your business provides the best service, you should work with top-quality detailing towels to guarantee an immaculate finish.

Using one type of cloth isn’t ideal when you’re working on the interior and exterior of a Ford, Audi or Mercedes. The various applications you perform will call for different types of towels. Finding the right set of fabric for your detailing projects can help save time and money as well as aid in the overall satisfaction of your customers. When you find the right detailing cloth, you can consider other aspects like thickness, quality, size, and color.

The purpose of a detailing towel is to wipe off dirt, debris, dust and other particles from car surfaces or to help wash and wax. The most crucial component of working with other peoples’ cars is not to damage the vehicle’s paint. The worst thing you can do is work with abrasive towels that scratch the surface, like polyester. It’s also a good idea to skip any other tools that could affect the paint job.

Other components like softness, durability, size, weight, and color affect the detailing process

1.Softness Level of a Towel

The suppleness of the towel will ensure you don’t damage any interior or exterior finishes. You should also use a towel that remains soft after each use and wash. When it becomes worn, switch it for a new one.

One-hundred percent cotton or microfiber towels are best. Cotton becomes softer with each use, and microfiber has a unique wave of material that makes it soft to the touch. Both are also very absorbent.

2.The Durability of the Fabric

Detailing experts want towels that last after several uses and wash cycles. Does the fabric soften with each wash, maintain its structure and uphold absorbency? When you invest in a bulk set of towels that last long-term, you won’t have to spend money once a week on new sets.

3.Size of the Product

Detailing can include a range of jobs like washing, waxing, interior cleaning and scrubbing. With each new task, you may find that you need different sized cloths for different jobs.

For example, hand towels are often 15 x 25 inches or 16 x 27 inches. Both are standard for the detailing industry. They fit your hand and can accomplish a series of tasks that involve smaller, hard-to-reach areas, like dashboards and door jams. Larger towels are ideal for car bodies to cover more surface area at a time.

4.Weight of a Detailing Cloth

The thicker the towel, the more liquid it can absorb. However, lighter and thinner options don’t soak up as much, but can dry quicker. Your shop should have a mix of both to accommodate your needs.

5.Color Availability

While color may not be at the forefront of your concerns, it can help maintain an aesthetic flow for your company’s branding. You can color-code towels for different detailing tasks, like waxing and washing. White ones have a classic look and can give you an indication of when they need cleaning.

Towels may seem like a mundane component, but they can serve multiple purposes and help the final detailing process.

you can color code towels for different detailing tasks

Different Types of Detailing Towels: Microfiber and Terry

When it comes to towels, there are several varieties to choose from. However, some are better than others for different jobs. To know which one to use, you need to understand the differences between each one.

1.Microfiber

A microfiber towel is made from polyester and polyamide or nylon. With its incredibly small microfiber material, the fabric can lift and trap dirt, as well as pick up tiny particles. Microfiber is the most popular towel in the detailing auto industry for its versatility, softness, durability, lint-free and absorbent properties.

They also come in a range of sizes, with the most popular sizes being 12 x 12 inches and 16 x 27 inches. From a washcloth to a hand towel, size matters when it comes to perfecting the image of any vehicle. Smaller versions are great for cleaning surfaces like windows, interiors and mirrors to help you get into tight spaces. They are also lightweight and can reach into tough corners. Larger options are about 16 x 24 inches, which are useful for wiping down bigger surfaces, like the body of the car.

The density of a microfiber towel is another essential element to consider. A lightweight density is about 200 grams per square meter (GSM). As GSM density increases, so too does the cleaning ability of the cloth. A high ratio of GSM means the fibers can absorb more soap and water for washing purposes, while a smaller density level is ideal for waxing, buffing and polishing. Car detailers often use a medium thickness to work on a variety of automobile surfaces. Both low and high-density towels are great for detailing.

The higher the quality you get, the longer it will last when working on cars. The value of a detailing towel depends on its construction and the finishing of the stitches. An excellent microfiber should stick to your fingers and hands.

While terry-style microfiber towels are one of the more popular varieties, other microfiber styles include glass and waffle. Terry-style microfiber is a pile fabric, meaning the cloth has a raised surface of loops. Glass and waffle style microfibers are smooth and feel like satin. The type you choose comes down to personal preference and what fits your business’s needs.

Proper washing of microfiber can affect how long the material lasts and how effective the fibers are. There are 90,000 wedge-shaped fibers in every inch of a microfiber towel, allowing it to hold seven times its weight. But, if you dry it in high heat or wash it in hot temperatures of more than 105 degrees Fahrenheit, the fibers can ruin and split, rendering the towel useless. You should also avoid using fabric softeners and washing microfibers with other towels.

The benefits of working with microfiber towels are that they:

  • Attract dust particles and dirt
  • Create less streaking
  • Dry quickly
  • Have a high absorbency
  • Have hygienic properties
  • Last long-term
  • Clean easily
  • Stay soft and lint-free

Microfiber material is categorized by the blend ratio and density of its two sources. The blend will illustrate how much polyester and polyamide was used. The two proportions are 80/20 and 70/30.

A 70/30 towel means it has 70% polyester and 30% polyamide. The towel will increase in softness as the amount of polyamide rises, allowing the product to absorb more liquid. The 80/20 won’t be as soft and will absorb less. However, different ratios are idyllic for various detailing jobs.

2.Terry

Terry towels are your second possibility when determining the best solutions for your detailing business. Perfect for the carwash and detailing industries, terry cloths are absorbent, durable and multipurpose. Soft terry solutions are ideal for car bodies, while less soft, lower-quality options are great for upholstery, cleaning wheels, carpet spotting and more.

terry towels for wax removal and drying cars

The different terry towel variances can affect the performance of the product. For example, if you’re conducting wax removal and drying car bodies, a hand towel measuring 16 x 27 inches is the most appropriate. Weights of terry can range between 2.5 and 5 pounds per dozen. Standard weights are between 3, 4 and 5 pounds per dozen, so determine the feel and thickness that match your preferences.

Smaller 16 x 19-inch towels are lighter and great for dirty jobs like wiping door jambs and wheel wells. In comparison, large fabrics at 20 x 40 inches are perfect for detailing shops to use on exterior surfaces.

If you invest in terry cloth with low-quality, it can feel scratchy and fall apart after washing. Turn your money toward higher quality towels, and they will feel soft and withstand several washes. What level of quality works best for your application? Terry solutions are a bit bulkier than microfiber towels and aren’t lint-free, but you can get versions with less lint. They do well in absorbing water and soap, as well as picking up unwanted dirt and dust.

  

Advantages of Using Auto Detailing Towels

advantages of using auto detailing towels

As convenient as it may be to use old rags or bath towels to detail a vehicle, you need premium fabrics to freshen up cars, trucks and SUVs. The plus sides of detailing-specific cloths include:

  • Adaptability: Detailing towels allow you and your workers to conduct every detailing task in the auto center like drying, polishing, waxing, buffing and wiping.
  • Aesthetics: Because the car paint can score, you need to take precautions to avoid damage, scratches and swirling patterns. Using the right products is key, so find a towel that’s gentle on paint but can wax well and absorb water.
  • Efficiency: Microfiber, terry and huck fibers are specific for cleaning glossy surfaces and polishing paint. When you select the right size and material, it will help the detailing process go smoother and faster, compared to a low-quality towel with the wrong material.
  • Resilience: Proper auto towels can tolerate daily use as well as continuous washing and drying. The durability of the product you pick depends on the quality of its construction and material. Higher density fibers can maintain their shape and texture over time and be more absorbent.
  • Value: If you’re looking to save money, like any profitable company, you can do so by investing in the right detailing merchandise. Towels serve many purposes, but detailing cloths are specific to the auto industry, saving you from replacing them frequently.

Towel Super Center stocks an array of towels at different sizes, densities, fabrics, weights, colors and softness. Not only do auto detailing towels support your car routine, but they also help you save money in the long run.

Shop Towels for Your Detailing Industry

Shop online to buy unmatched detailing towels for your business. Towel Super Center offers wholesale orders to help you save money and reduce the hassle of re-purchasing every month. With an entire guideline on which detailing towels accommodate your requirements, you can feel confident in knowing our products will withstand your different routines.

shop towels for your detailing industry

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