Microfiber cloths are extremely popular in the auto detailing world, especially when discussing microfiber drying towels that people use to dry the vehicle once they wash it. Yet, many people wonder if MF drying cloths can still scratch the paint. Today, we’ll give you the answer to that question and also provide you with some tips to prevent scratching while drying your car. 

If appropriately used, microfiber drying towels won’t scratch the paint on your vehicle. That’s why you should always follow a proper procedure when drying your car. 

That’s the short answer, but we want to explain the problem completely so you always know what to do. 

Microfiber Drying Towels Are Safe For Car Paint

As I already said in the short answer, car drying towels made from the fiber are safe for your car’s paint. However, if misused, they could cause some minor (light) scratches on your vehicle. These tiny scratches are called swirls, and almost every car has them (it’s tough to avoid their occurrence on vehicles altogether). 

They are undoubtedly ten times better than old-fashioned chamois or deer skin products that most people used for drying vehicles in the past. They always scratched the paint, but it was the best that we got. Luckily, nowadays, you have an option to get high-quality microfiber drying towels that you can use worry-free on your car’s paint. 

Here are a few most common situations where scratches may occur while using microfiber drying towels:

• The car isn’t clean
• Car’s paint is completely dry
• A microfiber towel is dirty
• You haven’t removed the label

Tips To Prevent Scratching While Drying Your Car With Microfiber Drying Towels

Here are some quick tips we have for you. By following them, you’ll prevent scratching the car’s paint while drying it after washing the car. 

Use High-Quality Car Drying Towels

Low-quality products never work, so we suggest you buy high-quality microfiber drying towels. They’re incredibly soft and can soak a lot of water (you won’t even need to squeeze them while drying the vehicle). 

We suggest you look for microfiber drying towels with GSM larger than 500. 

Remove The Label

Unfortunately, all microfiber towels have a label. That’s the most useless thing on towels, and you should remove it as soon as you buy microfiber drying towels. Labels are often sharp and can cause swirl marks and scratches on your vehicle. 

Wash MF Towels After Each Use

You should never use the same microfiber drying cloth more than once. After using it, you should always wash it. Just make sure to use liquid detergents and don’t wash them at high temperatures since that may destroy the fibers. 

If The Towel Falls To The Floor, Don’t Use It

When microfiber cloths fall to the floor, most people just pick them up and continue working. This is one of the worst mistakes you can make. Floors are full of dirt particles, and once the towel falls, some of the dirt will get into it. 

That dirt will scratch your car if you use the same microfiber towel. So, if that happens, stop using it immediately, and use a new one to finish the task. 

Dry The Car While It’s Wet

Not many people talk about it, but it’s the most common reason why cars get swirl marks and scratches while being washed. You should attempt to dry the vehicle as soon as you’re finished washing it. Even though it sounds obvious, many people wait for a few minutes, and the water already starts drying, which isn’t good. When the car is wet, the water on the surface acts as a lubricant, preventing scratching the vehicle. 

If you realize that the car is “too dry”, just rinse it one more time and quickly wipe it off with a microfiber drying towel. 

Use Quick Detail Sprays

Not many people do it, but we find it extremely helpful. While the car is still wet, spray some quick detail spray on the damp surface, and then dry the car using a microfiber towel. Quick detail sprays will add additional lubrication to prevent scratching, improve the shine of your car, and protect the paint from harmful factors. 

Final Words

As you can see above, microfiber drying towels, if used properly, won’t scratch the paint on your vehicle. Just make sure to follow all the tips and tricks we showed you. It’s pretty simple, and even a complete newbie can safely wash and dry their vehicle. All it takes is just a little patience.