Washing microfiber towels for cars correctly: temperature, detergent and care

Wash your car’s microfiber towels separately according to their use, with a suitable liquid detergent and without fabric softener. Wash our 1600 GSM drying towel, the 300 GSM all-purpose towel and our car wash mitt at a maximum of 40 °C / 104 °F. Then let them dry completely and store them clean. This removes residues and keeps the fibers in good condition for the next use.

The right care helps especially when a drying towel only spreads water around, a towel leaves streaks or a wash mitt holds on to dirt. Here you’ll get a clear wash routine and learn when a towel no longer belongs on sensitive paint.

At what temperature and with which detergent?

Preferably use a liquid detergent formulated for microfiber. Alternatively, use a liquid detergent explicitly suitable for the textiles, without fabric softener or conditioning additives. Dose according to the detergent instructions, water hardness and soiling. Too much detergent can leave residues; car shampoo is not a substitute for textile detergent.

Avoid fabric softener, scent beads and dryer sheets. Such additives can impair absorbency. For a reliable starting point, also check the detergent drawer for old fabric softener residue.

Which microfiber towels should I wash separately?

Sort based on what’s in the towel – not just by color. This reduces the transfer of dirt and care products onto textiles with a different task.

• Drying towels and paint wash mitts: Care for them separately from heavily soiled towels whenever possible. They should absorb water and glide over the paint without hard particles.
• Glass and interior towels: Keep them separate from towels contaminated with oils, waxes or polish. Otherwise transferred residues can later cause streaks.
• Polishing and waxing towels: Collect and wash them separately according to the product used and the level of soiling.
• Wheel, tire and heavily soiled towels: Do not wash together with high-quality paint-drying towels and keep them separate in use afterwards as well.
• Towels used with ceramic coating: Treat separately. Cured residue can become hard; a wash cycle does not automatically make such towels safe for paint again.

Wash microfibers preferably without cotton towels or other heavily linting laundry. Wash new colored towels separately at first. Our 300 GSM all-round towel is available in grey and yellow; colors can help you assign tasks. Consistent separation in everyday use remains crucial.

Washing microfibre towels correctly in 6 steps

1. Inspect after use. Check towels for sand, splinters, hard product residues and damaged edges. Towels heavily contaminated with solvent-based or hazardous products should only be handled in line with those products’ safety and disposal instructions.
2. Remove loose dirt first. Rinse wash mitts thoroughly. Pre-clean towels according to the level of soiling; soak them as per the detergent instructions if necessary. Do not use hot water above the recommended care temperature.
3. Sort appropriately and load the machine loosely. Towels need movement and plenty of rinse water. Separate the usage areas mentioned above and do not pack the drum tightly full.
4. Wash at the permitted temperature. For our drying towel, all-round towel and wash mitt, set a maximum of 40 °C. Choose a suitable easy-care or delicates cycle, unless the care label specifies otherwise. Measure out the detergent and do not use fabric softener.
5. Rinse thoroughly and dry. If you can still see detergent residues, an extra rinse cycle can help. Allow drying towels and wash mitts to air-dry according to our care instructions. Do not place them on hot radiators and do not fold them up while damp. Only use a tumble dryer if the specific textile is explicitly approved for it.
6. Check before the next use. Unfold the towel, inspect fibres and edges and store it only once it is completely dry and protected from dust. For paintwork, use only soft, clean and particle-free towels.

In the wash process, textile care already starts at the vehicle: regularly rinse the mitt in a separate rinse bucket. Our article on the two-bucket method with wash bucket and grit guard shows you the order of steps.

The towel no longer works properly: what helps?

My drying towel hardly absorbs any water anymore

Wash it separately with a suitable microfiber detergent and rinse it thoroughly. Fabric softener or care product residues can be one cause. Test it again afterwards when clean and dry. If absorption is still poor or fibers are damaged, replace it for paint drying. Correct use is explained in Drying a car without water spots.

The microfiber cloth leaves streaks

First switch to a fresh towel that matches the task. Then check whether there is too much product on the surface or whether the first towel is loaded with wax, polish or detergent. Wash it separately. An additional dry towel only helps with finishing if the surface itself is clean.

The towel is stiff or has hard spots

Pay particular attention to towels used to wipe off ceramic coating. Hard or non-removable residues do not belong on paint. Even new microfibers can become unsuitable once they have picked up particles. Sort out such towels instead of working the area with more pressure.

The wash mitt has fallen to the ground

Use a clean replacement. Rinse the dropped mitt thoroughly, wash it and inspect it before using it on paint again. Briefly dipping it in the bucket will not reliably remove every grain of sand.

You’ll find the complete order from pre-wash to drying in the main article How to wash your car properly. If you’re short on clean spare towels, choose an all-round towel or an additional drying towel suitable for the task.

Q&A: Washing microfiber towels for your car