Microfibre cloths do most of the work in a detail once the car is washed: wiping off quick detailers and wax, cleaning glass, levelling coatings and tackling wheels and interiors. The right cloth depends on the job, so this guide explains what GSM, pile and edges mean and compares the microfibre cloths we stock using each maker's own figures.
What are the best microfibre cloths for cars in the UK?
Use a soft, edgeless cloth of 400 GSM or more on paint, such as the FibreKing Ultimate Detailer or Duplex Edgeless, and a pile-free cloth on glass, such as the FibreKing Gold Label Korean Glass Cloth. Keep a multipack such as FibreKing Silver Label for wheels, engine bays and interiors.
What does GSM mean on a microfibre cloth?
GSM stands for grams per square metre, the weight of the microfibre. A higher figure usually means a thicker, plusher pile that holds more liquid and cushions the paint, while a lower figure gives a thinner cloth that is easier to fold and wring out. The cloths below run from 180 GSM on the Maxshine detailing cloths to 500 GSM on the FibreKing Ultimate Detailer.
FibreKing's own figures show the difference: it says the 315 GSM Silver Label holds up to eight times its weight in water, and the 400 GSM Gold Label up to ten times.
Edged or edgeless?
The edge is where a cloth is most likely to mark soft paint. FibreKing says the edgeless design of its Ultimate Detailer makes it safe on even the most sensitive paintwork, and that the edgeless finish of its Duplex cloth minimises the risk of marring. Maxshine cuts the edges of its detailing cloths ultrasonically instead of sewing them. The FibreKing Silver and Gold Label multipacks are tagless, so there is no label to drag across a panel.
Glass cloths are built differently. FibreKing finishes its Gold Label Korean and Carbon glass cloths with overlock stitched edges, which it says stop them fraying.
Which microfibre cloth for which job?
Every pick below is in stock with us, and every claim comes from the maker's own listing or website.
Paintwork, quick detailers and wax
- FibreKing Ultimate Detailer: 40 x 40cm, 500 GSM coral fleece microfibre, edgeless, made in South Korea and sold in packs of three. FibreKing lists it for removing detailing sprays, wax, compound, sealant and polish, for final buffing and for rinseless and waterless washing.
- FibreKing Gold Label 36 pack: 40.6 x 40.6cm, 400 GSM, a 70/30 polyester and polyamide blend. FibreKing says it is lint-free and non-abrasive and safely removes wax without scratching.
Pair the cloth with a spray such as the AutoBead Quick Detailer, a polymer based quick detailing spray that AutoBead says safely removes dust, fingerprints, smudges and smears, adds clarity and gloss, and tops up existing wax.
Ceramic coatings
- FibreKing Duplex Edgeless: 40 x 40cm, 400 GSM, an 80/20 polyester and polyamide blend, sold in packs of three. One side has a long plush pile for delicate work and the other a tight, flat weave for heavier cleaning, and FibreKing names gently removing ceramic coatings among its uses.
Turn to a fresh, dry face of the cloth often when you level a coating, so residue does not build up in the pile.
Glass and mirrors
- FibreKing Gold Label Korean Glass Cloths: 40 x 40cm, sold in packs of three, made in South Korea from a 70/30 blend with a 2mm sponge layer inside. FibreKing says the high density, pile-free weave removes moisture, dust and fingerprints without leaving streaks or lint.
- FibreKing Carbon Glass Cloths: 40 x 40cm, 350 GSM, sold in packs of three and woven with carbon fibre threads that FibreKing says give better static control and stop lint and static building up on the glass.
- FibreKing Waffle Weave Towels: 40 x 40cm, 300 GSM, sold in packs of three. FibreKing says the waffle texture is exceptional for glass and also suits runny products, small area drying and taking off quick detailers.
Wheels, engine bays and interiors
- FibreKing Silver Label 36 pack: 40.6 x 40.6cm, 315 GSM, an 85/15 polyester and polyamide blend. FibreKing designed these for the dirty jobs, such as wheels, engine bays and interiors, and says they work wet or dry, with or without chemicals.
- Maxshine Detailing Microfibre Cloths: a pack of 20 small 22 x 22cm cloths at 180 GSM with ultrasonically cut edges, machine washable. Maxshine suggests them for general cleaning in place of disposable paper towels.
Everything in one box
- FibreKing Car Cleaning Microfibre Starter Kit: FibreKing puts a Gold Label 400 GSM 36 pack, a Silver Label 315 GSM 36 pack, a Gold Label 900 GSM drying towel, a three pack of Gold Label glass cloths, a Gold Label Korean wash mitt, a three pack of Ultimate Detailer buffing cloths and a two pack of interior scrub pads in one kit.
Microfibre cloths compared
Figures are the makers' own, as shown on each product page or the maker's website.
| Cloth | Weight | Size | Made for |
|---|---|---|---|
| FibreKing Ultimate Detailer | 500 GSM | 40 x 40cm | Sprays, wax, polish removal, final buffing |
| FibreKing Gold Label | 400 GSM | 40.6 x 40.6cm | Cleaning, polishing, wax removal |
| FibreKing Duplex Edgeless | 400 GSM | 40 x 40cm | Coatings, interiors, exteriors, engine bays |
| FibreKing Carbon Glass | 350 GSM | 40 x 40cm | Glass and mirrors |
| FibreKing Silver Label | 315 GSM | 40.6 x 40.6cm | Wheels, engine bays, interiors |
| FibreKing Waffle Weave | 300 GSM | 40 x 40cm | Glass, runny products, small areas |
| Maxshine Detailing Cloths | 180 GSM | 22 x 22cm | General cleaning |
How many microfibre cloths do you need?
More than most people expect. A cloth that has picked up wheel grime or interior dirt should not go back on the paint, so keep separate cloths for paint, glass, wheels and the interior. Colour coding makes that easy: the FibreKing Silver and Gold Label 36 packs come in several colours, so each job can have its own.
For one car, a 36 pack for the dirty jobs, a few plush cloths for the paint and two or three glass cloths will see you through a full detail.
How do you use a microfibre cloth without scratching?
- Start on a clean car. A cloth cannot make up for grit left behind, so wash first, as our guide on how to wash your car safely explains.
- Fold the cloth into four, so you have eight clean faces, and turn to a fresh face as each one loads up.
- Use light pressure and let the product do the work.
- If a cloth touches the ground, move it to wheel duty or wash it before it goes near the paint again.
How do you wash microfibre cloths?
Wash them with a dedicated microfibre detergent, with other microfibre only, away from cotton items that shed lint. FibreKing gives 25ml to 50ml of its Microfibre Wash on a gentle cycle at 30 to 40 degrees, then air drying or the lowest cool tumble dry setting. Never use fabric softener. Duel Autocare explains that conditioners harm the absorbency and performance of microfibre, and FibreKing also rules out chlorine bleach and ironing. Wash the cloths from wheels and engine bays apart from your paint cloths.
Need help choosing?
Tell the TDHQ team what you drive and how you detail, and we will point you to the right cloths. You can also browse every microfibre cloth, glass cloth, buffing towel and microfibre wash we stock, or read our guides to the best car drying towel and car detailing for beginners.
Last updated 1 October 2026.
