Your car drying towel is the final piece of the detail puzzle, and it can make or break the end result of your vehicle. It’s the difference between a flawless showroom finish and water spots or streaking stealing the shine.

Even though it’s used on clean paint and glass, your towels still accumulate quite a bit of dirt, debris, and contamination. Washing car drying towels on a regular basis keeps them serving their purpose for the long haul, while avoiding scratches, swirling, and other issues.

We’ll walk you through how to wash a car drying towel in this guide, from hand washing vs machine washing to choose the right detergent for the job. You’ll also learn about the signs your trust towel might be ready to be retired and used for wheel cleaning or interior detailing.

When that time comes, the perfect replacement car drying towel is right here at Jennychem waiting for you. Shop our selection and round out your detailing process today!

Why Washing a Car Drying Towel is Important

Taking the time to wash the towel you dry your clean car with sounds silly. All it did was wipe away water, surely you can just let it dry and then use it again the next time you wash your car right? Not quite.

These towels accumulate dirt, grime, and leftover cleaning products over time. The last thing you want is to reintroduce these things onto your perfectly clean car at the final step in the detailing process. Here’s why it’s worth learning how to clean a car drying towel. 

Preventing Dirt and Contaminant Buildup

Trace amounts of dirt, road grime, and soap residue linger on the surface of your car even after a thorough wash. Your towel isn’t just drying water, it’s also picking up these residual compounds and trapping them within its fibres, leaving your car impeccably clean.

So the next time you go to use your car drying towel you could be putting these same contaminants right back onto the surface of your car, undoing much of the work you just put in.

Maintaining Absorbency and Softness

What is it that separates the best car drying towel from the rest? Absorbency. The more water your towel can pick up the more effective and efficient your drying process is.

Unfortunately, that same trapped dirt and chemical residue we mentioned above also compromises absorbency. It clogs the fibres responsible for absorbing water and cuts into their capabilities. 

We’ll talk more about this as we walk you through how to wash a car drying towel, but be aware that fabric softeners or improper detergents can stiffen these fibres and make them more abrasive over time as well. It’s not just about washing a car drying towel, you need to do it right.

Avoiding Streaks and Residue

Even if you’re not risking putting little scratches on your car’s paint as a result of trapped dirt and debris, a used car drying towel contains some level of leftover waxes, soaps, and detailing sprays. These can leave behind streaks on your car rather than a spotless finish.

Washing your towels properly is not something you can take lightly if you’re serious about how your car looks. So, let’s get into how to clean a car drying towel below!

How to Wash a Car Drying Towel: Step-by-Step Guide

It sounds simple, just throw it in the washing machine and let it do all the heavy lifting, right? Not so fast. While machine washing your car drying towel might be possible in some cases, there’s a case to be made for hand washing.

The details can make all the difference in keeping your towels working their best for years to come. Here’s how to wash a car drying towel:

Pre-Wash Preparation

Start by shaking out any loose particles that could damage its fibres in the wash. If you have to physically pick out dirt or dried-on product residue, go ahead and do it. It’s monotonous but it will extend the life of your towel.

You might want to pre-treat any areas containing stubborn grease, oil, or wax buildup with a microfibre-safe degreaser. Soaking the towel in warm water mixed with a small amount of mild detergent is another option.

Can You Wash a Car Drying Towel in the Washing Machine?

We get asked this question all the time. Technically, yes - you can wash your car drying towel in the washing machine. This is the quickest and easiest way to go about it, but you need to take care to use the correct settings. 

A gentle, detergent-only cycle with no fabric softeners, bleach, or high heat is your best bet to avoid ruining the microfibre structure, reducing absorbency and making the towel stiff over time. Here’s what you need to keep in mind:

• Use a dedicated load: Never mix drying towels with regular laundry or other detailing cloths used for waxes and polishes. Ideally, you would only wash microfibre materials together without any cotton materials.
• Choose a gentle cycle: A mild setting prevents excessive agitation, which can damage the towel’s fibres.
• Avoid powdered detergents: Liquid detergents dissolve easier and leave fewer residues behind on the fibres.

However, hand washing is a great alternative if you want to take extra precautions to care for your car drying towel.

The Case for Hand Washing Your Car Drying Towel

This method gives you more control over water temperature and detergent concentration so you won’t have to stress about fibre damage nearly as much. Here’s how to wash a car drying towel by hand:

• Fill a bucket or sink with lukewarm water. Extreme heat might produce a better clean, but it can weaken the towel’s structure so it’s not worth it.
• Add a microfibre-safe detergent, and use only the recommended amount to prevent soap buildup.
• Submerge the towel and agitate gently. Rub it against itself to loosen trapped dirt and grime.
• Let it soak for 10-15 minutes if you used it for more than drying and it’s extra soiled.
• Rinse thoroughly with clean, cold water until no soap remains.

The truth is, hand washing car drying towels makes more sense because you probably only have a couple of these to wash. You might not be able to justify an entire washing machine cycle.

Setting the Right Water Temperature

No matter the approach you take to washing your car drying towels we cannot stress the importance of proper water temperature enough. Warm, not hot, is the goal. 

30-40°C (86-104°F) is the sweet spot for breaking down dirt and oils without harming the towel’s structure. Remember, hot water can damage the microfibres over time and compromise their effectiveness. 

Using a Microfibre-Safe Detergent

Another common mistake we see made in caring for car drying towels is using the same detergent you do for your clothes or cotton bath towels. This can cause more harm than good as typical detergent has fillers, brighteners, and fabric softeners that clog the microfibres.

So, use a detergent specifically formulated for microfibres instead. A mild, fragrance-free liquid detergent with no additives is your best bet. Whatever you do, avoid fabric softeners, bleach, and powdered detergents - that’s the most important takeaway!

Double Rinse for Best Results

What about microfibre towels makes them so great for drying a car? It’s their absorbency. But this characteristic can be a problem when it comes to holding onto detergent residue, which could then transfer over to your car’s paint in the drying process.

Plus, this residue forms a film over the towel’s fibres which can make them less absorbent so you’ll need to go through more towels when drying. A second rinse cycle goes a long way in removing all lingering soap.

If you’re washing by hand, go through the process of wringing out excess detergent and rinsing multiple times until the water runs clear.

Drying and Storage

How you dry your towel is just as important as learning how to clean a car drying towel. Air drying is the safest approach. Hang your towel in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight to prevent fibre damage.

Why can’t you throw these towels in the drying machine? It goes back to the way that heat negatively affects the fibres. If you’re going to use a tumble dryer, select the lowest heat setting (no more than 60°C/140°F) and avoid dryer sheets as they can leave behind remnants.

Don’t make the mistake of throwing your clean car drying towels back out into the garage when the job is finished - they’re just going to get dirty again! Follow these tips instead:

• Fold and store in a clean, dry place to prevent dust accumulation.
• Avoid storing in airtight containers until the towels are 100% dry. Otherwise, you could trap moisture into the fibres and end up dealing with mildew.
• Keep separate from heavily soiled cloths or rags used for waxing and polishing.

There you have it, how to wash a car drying towel! It just takes a bit more work after washing and drying your car, and it can make all the difference in how long your car drying towels last and how well they work.

Signs Your Car Drying Towel Needs to Be Replaced

But even with proper care for your towels, there will come a time when they need to be retired for another purpose - like cleaning your rims, applying tyre shine, or maybe even detailing the interior of your car. Pay attention to these signs the end is near and replace accordingly: 

Loss of Absorbency

A high-quality drying towel should quickly soak up water without leaving moisture behind. If your towel is dry, yet struggling to pick up water and leaving behind beads on the vehicle or the towel’s fibres, they’re probably clogged.

Deep cleaning the towel may breathe some life back into the towel, but you’re better off finding a new use for that towel and replacing it with something more absorbent at this point. Otherwise, you’re going to deal with water spots or streaks left on your car’s paint or glass surfaces.

Visible Wear and Tear

The eye test works for determining how much life is left in your towel, too. Watch for frayed edges, thinning fabric, or uneven patches. Small rips or holes may seem innocuous, but they make drying less while increasing the risk of leaving lint or fibres on your car’s surface.

Rough, Stiff Feeling

A car drying towel should always feel soft and plush. As soon as you notice a stiff, rough texture, especially right after washing the towel, it’s time to move on. 

It’s likely due to detergent buildup, fabric breakdown, or exposure to heat. Whatever the case, a hardened towel can drag across your car’s paint and leave behind scratches or swirl marks.

Persistent Streaking on Your Car

Speaking of swirl marks, pay attention to how your car looks after drying it. If you follow our advice on how to dry car after washing yet you’re dealing with streaking or swirls, the towel is not doing its job right.

This issue often occurs when the fibres have become coated with detergent residue, oils, or waxes, preventing them from properly absorbing moisture. The good news is a replacement is just a few clicks away at Jennychem!

The Perfect Replacement is Just a Click Away!

Jennychem is your go-to source for all the professional car cleaning products you could need, from car microfibre cloths to car shampoo, snow foam, and a whole lot more. We have three great car drying towels to choose from if you need to upgrade:

• Thick Dark Blue Microfibre Towel: Holds 10x its weight in water, helping you dry more of your car with less towel. This means quicker drying time and fewer towels to clean when it’s all said and done! No worrying about lint or streaks either. 
• Grey Twisted Loop Towel: Triple-twisted fibres maximise absorbency while the double-faced design empowers you to dry your car’s surface quickly and efficiently, reducing drying time. It just takes one wipe!
• AQUA Buffing Buddy: Absorbs up to 8x its weight in water with a coral fleece microfibre material that leaves behind a flawless, streak-free finish every time.

Although cleaning your towels can prolong their life, there comes a time when you’re just holding yourself back from bringing out the full shine of your vehicle. Don’t settle - keep your car spotless and scratch-free with the best drying towels in the game!

Closing Thoughts on How to Clean a Car Drying Towel

Hopefully you have a solid understanding of not just how to wash a car drying towel, but why this is so important in the first place. It prevents dirt buildup, maintains absorbency, and ensures a flawless finish every time.

Whether you machine wash or hand wash, make sure you use microfibre-safe detergent, avoid fabric softeners, and dry it properly to preserve its quality.

You can learn more about cleaning car windows or how to polish car by hand in our blog if you want to expand your skillset as a detailer. But the only thing left to do at this point is stock up on the UK’s best selection of car drying towels at Jennychem if you haven’t already. 

Don’t let an old towel ruin your hard work. Swap your worn-out towels for a plush, lint-free drying towel that protects your paintwork and brings out the full potential of your car!