Microfibre Cloths Tested

Whether you’re shifting dirt or polishing your car, you need a microfibre cloth. We test 10...

Auto Express Car Reviews

May 2010

It looks like a normal cleaning rag, but the microfibre cloth is so much more. These car care essentials employ cutting-edge technology to deliver stunning performance. Each cloth is made up of tiny strands, a fraction of the width of a human hair, and they not only clean, but dig out and hold on to grime without scratching. They’re also great for buffing bodywork and glass.

The technology is moving all the time, with makers now adapting the type of fibre and weave to various jobs. We put 10 to the test to find the best.

The Test

To win this test, a cloth has to be a jack of all trades – drivers want a product for cleaning, buffing and polishing. First up, we used an industry secret: the CD test. To see the effects our cloths might have on paint, we rubbed them on a blank disc and checked for marks.

Next up, we tested cleaning ability by spraying the cloths with glass cleaner and wiping a windscreen. Finally, we applied polish to a bonnet, divided into sections, then buffed it with each cloth in turn. Price was our final factor – all the figures we quote exclude any postage charges.

Verdict

YOU can get designs that are better at buffing or cleaning, but Spautopia’s Polishing Cloth is the top all-rounder. Second goes to the Armor All – with two materials it is practical, and you also get three in a pack. Dodo Juice and Swissvax fought it out for third place, with the former edging home.

1. Spautopia Soft Polishing Cloth
2. Armor All Clean & Polish Towels
3. Dodo Juice Fantastic Fur