Microfiber Towels

[dadofTHOR]

I was at Target and they have a dozen 14x14 mf towels for $8. They come packaged as 6 whites and 6 grey. I would use these mainly to apply wax or a quick detailer. My question for all you that might have an opinion is why should i spend twice as much from an online specialty store. Is the quality that much better that a novice such as myself would even notice? Any and all input will be appreciated.

[minibull2]

I usually buy the yellow towels from Costco.

They come in this huge bag and last forever. Reasonably priced as well.

As far as quality vs. online retailers, they are fine.

I have been using them for years with no problems.

The only thing that matters is that you dont scratch the paint.

Clean away!

Minibull

[kenchan]

try a real MF towel from detailers paradise or Griots and you will know
why.

i would use those target towels to wipe dressing and clean non-painted
surfaces though. maybe the back of wheels or something.

[MiniMaybee]

dadofTHOR - I use the Target brand for my wheels to wipe the brake dust off and they work great. They are also great for inside the engine compartment and gucky spots like hinges and latches.
The cheap ones will swirl your paint though - that's why the DP Monster Fluffies are so awesome. Once you see the difference you'll switch.

[billie_morini]

I'm using Detailers Best package of 25 micro fiber towels purchased at Sams Club for about $11. These are "good enough."

[tdm156]

here here on the costco ones. They have worked great for me!

[mcdbrendan]

if only you could have taken advantage of the DP sale, then you would know that the monster fluffies are easily the best microfibers out. (and the DP window towels will change your life)

all i can say is give it a try.

[kenchan]

yep, for wax removal all i used last fall was monster fluffy.

the difference is enormous... cheap mf is like calling tap water a QD.

[BlimeyCabrio]

Yep. My cheapo MFs are for my wheels and trim and engine, and door jambs and dash and leather, etc.

I use Paradise Platinums for wax removal, and Monster Fluffies for QD. So far I haven't heard anyone say "My Monster Fluffies are OK, but I prefer my cheap microfiber towels..."

It seems the only people who think the cheapos are "good enough" are folks who have never wiped their car with a Monster...

I didn't think it mattered - until the Detailing Crack Dealer (aka Heather) sent me a free Monster Fluffy with a big order - then it was ALL OVER.

[mcdbrendan]

good analogy

[kenchan]

Originally Posted by BlimeyCabrio

Detailing Crack Dealer (aka Heather)

LOL!!! she gently and kindly sucks you into the addiction and
by the time you notice, it is too late.

[OctaneGuy]

The problem with the Costco towels is that you don't know what they USED to be like. If the Target brand bulk towels are good enough, then yes, the Costco towels are certainly good enough.

However, about 2 years ago, those same yellow Costco towels were produced by a local manufacturer using very high quality microfibers. They were plush! Not as thick as the Monster Fluffy, but extremely soft. But eventually Costco replaced those with a different brand, same color. I bought one pack of the original one, and two packs of the new ones after the first ones sold out--had to wait 2 months before they came back in stock. Those two packs became my "non essential towels".

I often take my original Costco MF's and show them to someone who uses the new Costco MF's and they are surprised by the HUGE difference in thickness and softness of the towels.

If quality towels that won't swirl your paint are important to you--and they should--that's the reason for using MF's in the first place, I would have several high quality Prima or Meguiar's towels for the paint on your car, and use the other towels for chrome, wheels, glass, plastic, etc...

Richard

[MLPearson79]

I only use Prima MFs (the Platinum, Waffle Weave, and Monster Fluffy) on my paint. I have a zillion cheapy blue ones from Costco that are used on trim, wheels, sills, engine bay, and interior.

I really love the waffle weave ones for drying.

[Prima Car Care]

Originally Posted by BlimeyCabrio

I didn't think it mattered - until the Detailing Crack Dealer (aka Heather) sent me a free Monster Fluffy with a big order - then it was ALL OVER.

I'm glad I can be contributing to the world as a detailing crack dealer!!

-Heather

[Prima Car Care]

I agree that the cheap cloths from Sam's, Cosco, etc. have their place in that they are great as non-paint rags. They sometimes don't last as long, but that really depends on the batch you get.

I wouldn not advise using any MF from a non-reputable source who will do quality control for you. I realize that I'm a biased source since I sell the good stuff, but believe me when I say that we have done years of research in this area. We've spent years testing microfiber of all kinds, and continue to do so. It is amazing the variations you find out there! Even MF we've tested that looks and feels identical to each other will perform very differently and one will scratch while the other does not. It's crazy but true!

Here are some considerations when using MF on paint:

• Nap Length/Plushness: For anything that touches your sensitive painted surfaces, be sure to use MF with long, plush fibers. Many looped or short-style MF do not have enough cushion to prevent micro-marring from tiny pieces of dust and dirt that may accidentally be in your MF or on your paint. Also, split (aka non-looped) fibers are more effective than the looped fibers on paintwork tasks.
• Thread Count/Density: Thread count doesn't affect the safety of your MF on paint, but it does dramatically affect the effectiveness of your MF. Most premium MF is anywhere from 180,000 threads per square inch to 220,000 threads per square inch (all of ours are over 200k). Most general/cheaper MF is anywhere from 50,000 threads per square inch to 100,000 threads per square inch. Try this: apply some QD or polish or wax to your paint then wipe one section with a cheap MF and another section with a premium MF. You will see what I mean! (unless you happened to have found a good batch of the cheap ones, which can happen from time to time!) The premium MF will have removed significantly more product in fewer swipes. Or, is your wax stubborn to remove? Try the premium MF and it'll likely solve your problem with little effort.
• Imperfections/Quality Control: This is by far the most important consideration in terms of paint use safety! The giant machines which weave microfiber have extremely hot mechanical parts right next to the fabric being woven. Very often, the fabric goes "off course" just the slightest bit and the edges touch the "bazillion degree" metal. This causes very small nubs on the edges which harden into mega-swirl-makers. Most specialty suppliers of premium MF check for these imperfections and discard or return those with the problems. The mass-marketers simply cannot slow down their process to inspect all of their MF, nor, quite honestly, do they care. At Detailers Paradise we literally hand-inspect every single piece of MF we sell. It is horribly tedious but we simply refuse to sell you anything which could harm your paint. That's what you count on us for, right?! I don't know to what degree our specialty retailer comrades inspect, but I know they all (or at least most) do in some way or another.

Another thing to consider is your paint. Is it dark or light? To what degree will it show the micro-marring caused by poor quality MF? Is your paint soft or hard? (Most MINI paint is right down the middle of the softness/hardness scale, unless it's been repainted- in which case it will be much softer in most cases) What is your personal tolerance level? Some people just don't notice or care if they have some micro-marring and that's fine! The OCD Police might come after these people, but hey, it's a free country!

Anyway, I hope this information is helpful.
At the end of the day, it's your MINI and your choice! I just feel that everyone should be able to make an informed choice. Let me know if I can elaborate more. (well, at least if it's by 4pm MST today or I won't be able to reply for another week)

-Heather

[dadofTHOR]

Thanks to all for your thoughts on this matter. I guess the only answer is do what Heather just suggested and try them side by side. When I finally order my portercable I guess I'll cough up a couple of extra bucks for a fancy MF.

[kenchan]

^^ good choice. in the mean time, why not clean out your engine room
with those target/costco MF towels? i hear they are perfect for that.

[AliceCooperWA]

I used the cheapo auto parts store mf towels to dry my MC. It did a really good job of drying...ie, it is a 3'x2' towel and dried the whole car very well. Since it was late in the day (dusk), I didn't notice any marring. But then, my paint looks so horrible right now, even after hand polishing and waxing, that I wouldn't notice any additional swirls. I did just get a free monster fluffy though! I will be using that for my next waxing after I buff out all the crap on my paint. There is no comparison between the 2 products. The cheap one feels like a slightly softer terrycloth towel, while the monster fluffy feels like a winter blanket made of clouds...ok maybe I went a little too far with the analogy...

[mcdbrendan]

another good analogy.

[k_h_d]

After getting a Monster Fluffy in the mail I can really see the difference between my target micro fibers.

Now that I am probably going to be starting to get high quality micro fibers what is the best way to care for them? Simply washing in a washing machine?

[kenchan]

yep, i toss it in my washing machine with other MF towels (no cotton towels).
no softener. I just use ALL in that white bottle with no fragrance.

and let air dry afterwards. you can tumble at low heat if you need it
dry in a hurry. but do like i do...buy like 6 of those Platinum MF's from DP.
i think im going to get another 6 more to replace my Griot's ones.