Favorite Microfiber for Specific Detailing Task List (Autopian Suggestions)

[Lonnie]

It seems that microfibers have recently gotten a lot of posts within this forum, seeing that there are a plethora of new microfiber types/weaves coming to market. I am looking to my fellow Autopians to list their favor microfiber cloths/towels for specific detailing tasks. Here is my list of detailing tasks and you can respond accordingly to some (or all) of what microfiber manufacturer or distributor(s) and specific name/type of towel(s)/cloth(s) you are currently using for that task:

Rinseless wash drying:
Conventional wash drying:
Bug/tar/sap cleaner removal:
Quick detailer application:
Quick detailer removal:
Spray wax application:
Spray wax removal:
Glass cleaner removal:
Clay bar lube removal:
Trim cleaner application:
Trim cleaner removal:
Trim protectant application:
Trim protectant removal:
Chrome cleaner application:
Chrome cleaner removal:
Painted or clear-coated wheel rim wax removal:
Compound removal:
Polish removal:
Wax removal:
Sealant removal:
(I am assuming that the above four above are applied with machine foam pads or LSP hand foam pads, not microfibers)
Coating application:
Coating removal:
Interior vinyl cleaner (or APC) application:
Interior vinyl cleaner (or APC) removal:
Interior vinyl protectant application:
Interior vinyl protectant removal:
Interior plastic/gauge bezels /fake wood cleaner application:
Interior plastic/gauge bezels/fake wood cleaner removal:
Interior plastic/gauge bezels/fake wood polish removal:
Interior info touch screen cleaner removal:
Interior leather cleaner (or APC) application:
Interior leather cleaner (or APC) removal:
Interior leather conditioner application:
Interior leather conditioner removal:
Interior real wood cleaner/polish application:
Interior real wood cleaner/polish removal:
Interior carpet cleaner (or APC) drying:
Interior cloth seat cleaner (or APC) drying:

I realize this is quite a list and does not include tires or the engine compartment. You can add those if you have specific cloths that you use for those tasks. (Most detailers re-purpose highly used or very dirty microfibers for tires or engine degreasing/cleaning.)

I would hope that the Autopian Store would take notice and comprise a more up-to-date Detail Task Microfiber Sampler Package(s) from these suggestions , one with a Master Detailer Combo with multiple quantities or a Novice/Starter Combo with single quantity offering of each type.

[nickclark08]

Drying: Griots PFM after flood rinse. I have a Cobra WW, don`t like it as much.
2BM: Chenile MF mitt
Rinseless: Chenile MF Mitt
Rinseless Drying: Griot`s PFM
Waterless: Edgeless Super Plush
LSP removal: Poorboys Coral DMTs (LOVE these), or Supreme 530s
Spray Wax: Supreme 530s or Meguiars Supreme Shine MF
Bug Removal: Poorboys Mesh MF with Bug Squash 1:3 (incredible combo)
Anything Interior (besides glass): Generic MF
Door Jambs: Generic MF


Haven`t got into polishing yet, but will probably use the Supreme 530s for residue removal.

[Poorboy]

Great list Lonnie ... I would remove all dressing removal/ buffing from the list as it should be done with cotton not microfiber. Using microfiber to remove dressing does exactly that and can often lead to blotchy / uneven looks.

[Billy Jack]

Here`s my typical selections:

Rinseless wash drying:
Conventional wash drying: Griots PFM or Cobra Guzzler


Quick detailer application:
Quick detailer removal:
Spray wax application:
Spray wax removal: TRC Eagle Edgeless or Wolfgang Edgeless


Polish removal:
Wax removal:
Sealant removal:
Coating removal: AG Rolled Edge

Glass cleaner removal: TRC or Griot`s Glass towels, or locally-sourced short nap glass towels

Chrome cleaner removal:
Clay bar lube removal:
Compound removal: Meguiar`s Supreme Shine



Painted or clear-coated wheel rim wax removal:
Trim cleaner removal:
Trim protectant removal:
Interior vinyl cleaner (or APC) removal:
Interior vinyl protectant application:
Interior vinyl protectant removal:
Interior plastic/gauge bezels/fake wood cleaner removal:
Interior plastic/gauge bezels/fake wood polish removal:
Interior info touch screen cleaner removal:
Interior leather cleaner (or APC) removal:
Interior leather conditioner removal: mid-grade MF`s, such as Kirkland Gold or equivalent


Interior carpet cleaner (or APC) drying:
Interior cloth seat cleaner (or APC) drying: terrycloth

For trim and interior cleaning, I use microfiber or terrycloth applicators, depending on the level of aggressiveness desired

Bill

[WaxAddict]

Good god man, that`s a homework assignment. A few of my choices:

You forgot Waterless Wash! : Rag Co Eagle Edgeless or DI Double Thick Edgeless
Rinseless wash drying: ADS Kona Blue (can`t find these any longer)
Conventional wash drying: Rag Co. "Dry Me A River"

Bug/tar/sap cleaner removal: DI All-Purpose MFT

Quick detailer application: DI Ultra Plush Two Sided or Poorboy`s Delux Mega Towel (DMT)
Quick detailer removal: Rag Co Eagle Edgeless or DI Double Thick Edgeless
Spray wax application: same as QD
Spray wax removal: same as QD

Glass cleaner removal: Megs Water Magnet

Trim protectant application: Cheap microfiber
Trim protectant removal: Old t-shirt rags

Compound removal: Poorboy`s Mega Plush
Polish removal: As Above
Wax removal: Poorboy`s Delux Mega Towel (DMT)
Sealant removal: As Above

[Lonnie]

Great list Lonnie ... I would remove all dressing removal/ buffing from the list as it should be done with cotton not microfiber. Using microfiber to remove dressing does exactly that and can often lead to blotchy / uneven looks.

I assume "dressings" include: trim protectants, vinyl protectants, and leather conditioners.
I find that dark-colored GM plastics are extremely "finicky" about protectant removal and seem to turn out "blotchy" for me. Maybe it IS the cloth type that I use!

Finding quality cotton cloths, like soft diapers or surgical huck cloths, is a difficult task since microfibers are all the rage today. I do see that Griot`s Garage does sell some. Griots Garage 100% Cotton Buffing Cloths - 10 Pack

[Poorboy]

I assume "dressings" include: trim protectants, vinyl protectants, and leather conditioners.
I find that dark-colored GM plastics are extremely "finicky" about protectant removal and seem to turn out "blotchy" for me. Maybe it IS the cloth type that I use!

Finding quality cotton cloths, like soft diapers or surgical huck cloths, is a difficult task since microfibers are all the rage today.

yes, any dressing you are trying to leave behind, I also had blotching on my Toyota`s ... I find the inside part of old sweat shirts are the best and cheapest ... they move the product around and leave a nice even coating to dry.

[4u2nvinmtl]

Rinseless & waterless wash: The Rag Company - Eagle Edgeless 16 x 16 (BLUE)
Rinseless & waterless drying towel: The Rag Company - Platinum Pluffle 20 x 40 (GRAY)
Conventional wash drying: The Rag Company - Platinum Pluffle 20 x 40 (GRAY)
Tar & sap cleaner removal: Nanoskin Autoscrub Towel (back side) and Cheep Costco Microfibers
Bug removal: The Rag Company - Eagle Edgeless 16 x 16 (BLUE)
Quick detailer application: The Rag Company - Dry Me A River Jr. 20 x 40 (WHITE)
Quick detailer removal: The Rag Company - Eagle Edgeless 16 x 16 (ORANGE)
Spray wax application: The Rag Company - Dry Me A River Jr. 20 x 40 (WHITE)
Spray wax removal: The Rag Company - Eagle Edgeless 16 x 16 (ORANGE)
Glass cleaner removal: The Rag Company - Blue Glass and Window Towel 16 x 16 (BABY BLUE)
Clay bar lube removal: The Rag Company - Eagle Edgeless 16 x 16 (BLUE)
Trim cleaner application: Cheep Costco Microfibers
Trim cleaner removal: Cheep Costco Microfibers
Trim protectent application: Foam paint brush from Art Store
Trim protectent removal: Cheep Costco Microfibers
Chrome cleaner application: Cheep Costco Microfibers
Chrome cleaner removal: Cheep Costco Microfibers
Painted or clear-coated wheel rim wax removal: Quality Microfibers included with most LSP products (GG, BF, etc. mixed colors)
Compound removal: The Rag Company - Eagle Edgeless 16 x 16 (ORANGE)
Polish removal: Zaino borderless blonde 16x16 (BLONDE) or The Rag Company - Eagle Edgeless 16 x 16 (ORANGE)
Wax removal: The Rag Company - Everest 1100 16 x 16 (white)
Sealant removal: The Rag Company - Everest 1100 16 x 16 (white)
Coating application: CarPro Suede MicroFiber (TAN)
Coating removal: Quality Microfibers included with most LSP products (GG, BF, etc. mixed colors) and then toss them in APC or the trash
Interior vinyl cleaner (or APC) application: The Rag Company - Premium Beige 11 x 11 (TAN)
Interior vinyl cleaner (or APC) removal: The Rag Company - Premium Beige 11 x 11 (TAN)
Interior vinyl protectant application: Cheep Costco Microfibers
Interior vinyl protectant removal: The Rag Company - Premium Beige 11 x 11 (TAN)
Interior plastic/gauge bezels /fake wood cleaner application: Cheep Costco Microfibers
Interior plastic/gauge bezels/fake wood cleaner removal: The Rag Company - Premium Beige 11 x 11 (TAN)
Interior plastic/gauge bezels/fake wood polish removal: The Rag Company - Premium Beige 11 x 11 (TAN)
Interior info touch screen cleaner removal: The Rag Company - Premium Beige 11 x 11 (TAN)
Interior leather cleaner (or APC) application: Cheep Costco Microfibers
Interior leather cleaner (or APC) removal: The Rag Company - Premium Beige 11 x 11 (TAN)
Interior leather conditioner application: Cheep Costco Microfibers
Interior leather conditioner removal:Cheep Costco Microfibers
Interior real wood cleaner/polish application: Cheep Costco Microfibers
Interior real wood cleaner/polish removal: Cheep Costco Microfibers
Interior carpet cleaner (or APC) drying: The Rag Company - Premium Beige 11 x 11 (TAN)
Interior cloth seat cleaner (or APC) drying: The Rag Company - Premium Beige 11 x 11 (TAN)

[Accumulator]

Interestng thread we have here!

I use cheapie generics for household stuff and for buffing off excess Tire Slime. I just throw them away when they`re really soiled.

Anybody else use no-nap/suede-style MFs to buff off LSPs? I use them for some sealants, ones I can apply ultra-thin.

I`m always surprised when people (well, non-Pros as in people working on their own vehicles) treat the jambs differently from the rest of the body.

Lonnie- Wonder if they`ve changed those Griot`s Cotton ones, when I tried `em I was so utterly underwhelmed I ended up using them as shop rags.

[Ronkh]

Bug/tar/heavy crud removal = PB bug micro

[nickclark08]

Speaking for me only, it comes down to my budget I can spend on detailing "stuff". I don`t want to trash my paint safe (higher quality) MFs cleaning nasty / sometimes greasy door jambs, which would then stop being paint safe anyway due to embedded grime and dirt that don`t come out in the wash.

Also a function of practicality. With a two-year-old and a busy family life, the cars can get pretty dirty before doing a proper clean up. Not to mention it always seems that I will inevitably kick or scuff the lower door jamb getting in and out. If I get some micro-marring from using iffy towels on my jambs, I can live with that. "Tolerable risk" or similar.

I came here to learn best practices (prevention) and how to minimize / correct (polish) life`s scuffs and scrapes. I like a clean, clear, and shiny car just as much as anyone here, and I especially like seeing the incredible job the pros and "pro-enthusiasts" do to their customer`s cars as well as their personal rides. However, I have to be realistic about my goals given my time constraints, budget, and skill. I realize and am ok with the fact I wont always be able to follow those best practices.

I`m always surprised when people (well, non-Pros as in people working on their own vehicles) treat the jambs differently from the rest of the body.

[trashmanssd]

Bug/tar/heavy crud removal = PB bug micro

I love those for glass for the first wipe to remove film or bugs. I spray them get them near dripping wet then use to get heavy film or bugs loose and use a glass microfiber behind it to clean and dry. Outside glass i will add a few sprays to the glass also. Inside windows I can usually get enough glass cleaner in the bug towel that I dont have to spray any cleaner on windows and get over-spray on my interior plastics. great for doing the inside of windshields or back windows with a lot of rake to them.

[Angus]

I love those for glass for the first wipe to remove film or bugs. I spray them get them near dripping wet then use to get heavy film or bugs loose and use a glass microfiber behind it to clean and dry. Outside glass i will add a few sprays to the glass also. Inside windows I can usually get enough glass cleaner in the bug towel that I dont have to spray any cleaner on windows and get over-spray on my interior plastics. great for doing the inside of windshields or back windows with a lot of rake to them.

Good idea! Never thought about doing this before. Thanks for the tip

[mobiledynamics]

FYI...these are amazing for final wipes
Can`t link it but CarPro`s site has 16" ultrasuedes that I love for final wipe/buff off

[Accumulator]

nickclark08- OK, that sounds sensible to me! Eh, I guess I can come across as all judgemental and I don`t intend that, I just forget that I`m kinda an outlier with regard to the out-of-the-way areas on daily drivers Just always been that way for some reason...and pix from my childhood show that my formative (positive) influences were the same way- shots showing doorjambs of cars display spotless paint.

Ronkh & trashmanssd- Thanks for (I gather) confirming that those PB Bug MFs are soft/safe enough for use on paint (of course there`s still the issue of marring from the stuff you`re cleaning off...).

On windshields, I scrub the bugs off with a Bug Sponge, which is a [freakin`] scratch-machine on paint no matter what the ad-copy says.