Forget nano particles, car wash guns or everlasting polishes... the biggest revolution in valeting over the past couple of years has been the microfibre cloth. It’s essential if you want to make cleaning your car easier.

The secret is in the fibres, which are split into tiny strands that can dig out grime and hold it. Not only can the cloth clean, but it also absorbs water, and several makers now produce special weaves to suit particular jobs, such as glass cleaning or buffing.

The test
These cloths can clean, polish and dry, so we tested all three. Each was weighed dry, soaked, then put back on the scales to check how much water it could absorb.