Favorite Microfiber for Specific Detailing Task List (Autopian Suggestions)

L

Lonnie

Active member
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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
 
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
 
Poorboy said:
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.
Click to expand...

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
 
Lonnie said:
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.
Click to expand...


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.
 
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)
 
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.
 
Bug/tar/heavy crud removal = PB bug micro


20140507_131256_zpspkwg6fpu.jpg



20140507_131157_zps5f32snkz.jpg



20140516_100038_zpsmt0ulamf.jpg



20140508_090400_zps49piddwm.jpg



20160728_120731_zpsnuwphyeb.jpg
 
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.

Accumulator said:
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.
Click to expand...
 
Ronkh said:
Bug/tar/heavy crud removal = PB bug micro


20160728_120731_zpsnuwphyeb.jpg
Click to expand...
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.
 
trashmanssd said:
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.
Click to expand...

Good idea! Never thought about doing this before. Thanks for the tip :)
 
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 :o 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.
 
Speaking of cotton cloths:
Does anyone use recycled (cleaned, not new) cotton surgical huck cloths for vinyl/rubber protectant removal??? I see there are a number of sellers on the internet, but they are not "cheap" and usually come in like 50-pound quantities.

I wonder if local industrial uniform-&-towel-cleaning services sell recycled huck cloths??

My main problem using old cotton T-shirts is cutting them up into manageable sizes and having the frayed threads come off as lint when wiping down plastic or vinyl. Many of my old cotton cloths from way-back detailing are sown-edged flour-sack cloths you can still buy that are used as drying towels for kitchen dishes and utensils (which I still do.) The "problem" is finding a soft and absorbent-enough fabric. Many are as hard as hemp-fiber burlap bags, even after repeated washes. The initial tactile soft-to-the-touch method to my fingers is my gauge on cotton flour-sack cloths. I see that Sam`s Club sells some I will need to check out. Most of them are still too large in size though, usually 24" x 24".
 
Eh, for some reason I just don`t have any problems using cheapie MFs for dressing (AKA "slime" ;) ) removal.

And, also for some inscrutable reason, I found the Huck Towels to be utterly worthless for, well...anything. Maybe I just got some bad ones, but I just used those up as shop rags too. People rave about `em but "no thanks".
 
I`m waiting (in vain?) to hear somebody say that there`s a plush MF Drying Towel that`s better than the PFM.

Anybody try the PFM for Glass, the one with the tight-weave on the back side?
 
Accumulator said:
I`m waiting (in vain?) to hear somebody say that there`s a plush MF Drying Towel that`s better than the PFM.

Anybody try the PFM for Glass, the one with the tight-weave on the back side?
Click to expand...

I use our Waffle Weave (which I blot with) that can easily dry a full size truck and if you feel the need to use a plush towel for drying a DMMT (16x24) can absorb as much if not more than any other towel ..

as for cotton huck towels .. i too have had little luck with them over the past 30+ years and yes, a real cheap mf that doesn`t absorb could be a substitute for cotton with dressing

the key to doing windows is not always the towel but the use of too much cleaner that saturates the towel in use and then leave streaks behind ..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top