Tried at home
Why a pack of grey cloths tops the Launchpad list, and how to make them last
We bought a pack and it did not disappoint. A low-risk, useful buy, as long as you wash the cloths the right way.
Some best sellers are exciting. A pack of microfiber cloths is not one of them, and that is exactly why it sits at number one. People buy them, use them every week, and buy them again.
Why we bought a pack
This one is not written from the listing alone. The steady run of positive customer reviews on Amazon is what prompted our editor to buy a pack, and the cloths did not disappoint. It is a product we use and believe in, which makes it an easy one to recommend.
What you get
The listing describes four grey cloths, 40 x 40 cm, at 340 GSM, aimed at car and bike cleaning but sold as multipurpose.
What the numbers mean
GSM stands for grams per square metre. It is a simple measure of thickness. Around 340 is on the plush side. Thicker cloths soak up more water and give a softer touch on paint.
40 x 40 cm is a sensible size. Fold it in four and you have eight clean faces to work with before the cloth needs a rinse.
One cloth, one job
The fastest way to scratch a car is to dry it with a cloth that cleaned the wheels.
With four cloths, give each a job and stick to it:
- One for glass
- One for paint
- One for wheels and dirty jobs
- One spare, or for the inside of the car
Grit trapped in a cloth acts like sandpaper. A cloth that has touched the wheels should never go near the paint again.
Washing them properly
- Wash microfiber on its own, not with towels or cotton that shed lint.
- Skip the fabric softener. It clogs the fine fibres, and the cloth stops absorbing.
- Use cold or warm water, not hot.
- Air dry, or tumble dry on low. Thick cloths take a while to dry, so plan ahead.
What a listing cannot tell you
How soft a cloth feels and how much lint it sheds only show up after a few washes. Before buying, skim the recent comments for the words lint and after washing.
Simple, cheap and really handy around a car, a bike or a kitchen. We bought them on the strength of other buyers' reviews, and they earned their place. Just keep each cloth to its own job.
Washing and drying a car or bike, streak-free glass, dusting screens and steel.
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