Do microfiber towels scratch?

termigator

termigator

New member
I just detailed my mom's car with two coats of NXT topped off with a coat of 3M paste wax. Let me first say the car, a mint condition 1995 Mercedes Benz E320, looked awesome. The car seemed to look deeper after I applied the 3M.

Anyways, back to the subject. When I look at the car at different angles, I seem to notice scratches I don't recall being there and I already polished the car before waxing. Last thing I did was wipe off the wax with microfiber towels I got at B.J.'s. They were 25 towels for $12.99, so I figured I would try them out and see what the hoopla was about microfiber towels.

I must say, wiping off the wax never seemed easier. The microfiber towels took wax off much easier than cotton towels, but I do wonder if the scratches are coming from the microfiber towels. Any opinions?:confused:



Augustine
 
If the microfiber towels were dirty, they would definitely leave scratches. IF there was any dirt or lint stuck within the fibers, it would propbably leave some scratches.

Are they brand new towels?

Where were they purchased from?

I know Pakshak says to wash towels before use.
 
The smaller the diameter of the yarn, the softer the fabric will feel, however this does not mean that its non-abrasive and will not cause scratches (this softness can also be chemically induced) Most Microfiber that originates from Asia and the Far East is fabricated from nylon, polyester or nylon by-products. Because the label says Microfiber is no assurance that the material is safe to use or that it is non-abrasive.



Its scratch resistance has a lot to do with the way the fibres are processed and spun, there are too many factors to be able to say conclusively that natural fibres will not cause scratches and artificial fibres will. In my opinion, however, natural fibres are far less likely to scratch. Flannel or cotton flannel is a very tight weave and it could scratch as it mats down easily, always try to stay with a terrycloth weave.



You could try this â€Ëœtestâ€â„¢ its no guarantee but it is indicative of wither it will scratch your paint.



CD Scratch Test- with a micro fibre cloth, using medium to heavy pressure rub the surface of a CD. If no scratching is evident then it probably wonâ€â„¢t scratch the vehicles paint surface.



Burn Test- to test a material for polyester content, light a thread, if it emits a black wisp of smoke and then shrivels up into a black hard ball, its polyester and will probably scratch your paint.



JonM
 
Microfiber towels do vary in quality. I believe most of the Autopians who use the BJs/Costco MF towels use them for interior use or something other than paint. They usually use something of high quality.



I just picked up the some MF towels from Winners Circle and I think they are very plush and very soft, but yesterday I got my Zaino order and they gave me a free sample of their MF towel and damn was I blown away!!! It wasn't as plush, but WOW WAS IT SOFT!!!



Now of course the Winners Circle MFs are less than $2.00 and the Zaino one is $10 for about the same size. I am no where near a MF pro, but that Zaino MF felt unbelievable
 
Yes, save the Walmart MFs for the interior and wheels...



I have 20 MFs of different quality (exceldetail, 4*, 2 that came with my Menzerna Kit :) , Viking and Walmart ones) and I use the cheap ones to dress the dash, clean wheels and for the windows.



This article will tell you more than you need to know about MFs



Microfiber Towel Article
 
You just learned a valuable lesson i would have to say......There are many reputable sellers, who offer a variety of polishing towels. Selection is no different than finding your favorite sealant, sample and ask! Its a personal decision. From A utopia to Z aino, theres a right polishing towel for you.....
 
Ive been in OEM plants and yes, microfiber cloths can scratch. Has to do with quality of cloth and how being used. Shows up the worst on dark colors.
 
So, what should I use for wiping off wax? I liked using the microfiber a lot because they made wiping so much easier than cotton towels, but I don't want to use them if they're going to scratch that finish.
 
I use Walmat MFs washing my Eclipse and never had a problem. I've never seen any signs of damage to the paint.
 
Same thing with cloth diapers. Always do a panel and check until your sure. Or use a little heavier pressure on a small area and check for marring. If it is good then you should be ok using it. Some days my finger can mar clean paint and the next it can't. You have to know if it doesn't feel right.
 
I dont think Microfiber can eminate scratches, BUT it can minimize them. It all depends on the pressure applied, how clean the towels are.
 
Depends on the quality of the towel, what product it was used with before washing, how well its been washed & rinsed, and how hard you're pressing on the surface.



Don't know if I place any credibility in the CD test. I've tested with Wal-Mart cheapos & CMA Miracle Towels and, if you rub really really hard, you can induce micro-marring with either that's easy to see in the right lighting conditions.



Rub the CD like you use the MF on your car (read: lightly) & I don't see any micro marring on the CD.



Does the type of music on the CD affect this test??
 
termigator said:
Any opinions on cloth diapers? After three kids, I have plenty of them around.:p
Click to expand...



Its scratch resistance has a lot to do with the way the fibres are processed and spun, there are too many factors to be able to say conclusively that natural fibres will not cause scratches and artificial fibres will. In my opinion, however, natural fibres are far less likely to scratch. Dependent upon the quality of cotton, wither they contain polyester, which will cause scratches (even around the edging, do a burn test to see) Flannel or cotton flannel is a very tight weave and it could scratch as it mats down easily, always try to stay with a terrycloth weave.



The most important criteria for any fabric used on a vehicle surface is its quality and scratch resistance. Natural cellulose can be spun with long staple cotton and then woven into a 100% natural looped terrycloth or a velour, were the loops are trimmed to produce a fine nap (ideal for glass cleaning). This is very soft, absorbent, and non-abrasive and will not cause scratching. Once this type of fabric is washed two or three times, to remove any short fibres it will not leave a lint trail.



Burn Test- to test a material for polyester content, light a thread, if it emits a black wisp of smoke and then shrivels up into a black hard ball, its polyester and will scratch your paint.

JonM
 
While I am new to the forum and just relearning about detailing I can tell you there is no way you should use the MF's from BJ's to take off wax. They are great cleaning towels and we use them for polishing glassware on catering jobs but they are a bit harsh compared to even the Walmart MF that I now use for drying my car, so I cannot imagine they are soft enough for wax. They do make great cleaning cloths though so I highly reccomend them for that.
 
IMO the CD scratch test is not a good indicator if a towel or applicator will scratch your paint. The surface of the CD and the paint on your car are not even close in hardness. I have towels (DF Towels) that scratch the hell out of CD'S but not my paint. My sheepskin mitts also scratch the CD badly but not my car.



The true test if a towel will scratch is to try it on a small area of the paint and look for marring under several types of light. You don't buy your towels to use on the CD so why test them on a CD. Test them on the surface you are going to be using them on.
 
I agree.



Who started the "test your MF towels on a CD" scratch test anyways? If you want to find out if the will cause marring, try 'em out on some other car in the parking lot ..... just kidding.
 
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