How Many Microfiber Towels Do You Really Need for Detailing?
Whether you’re detailing your own car or running a professional setup, the question always comes up:
“How many microfiber towels do I actually need?”
Answer: more than you think.
This guide breaks it down by job so you know how many to have—and which ones to keep separate.
1. Washing Your Car
- ✅ 3–5 towels per wash to avoid reusing dirty sides
- ✅ Always use clean towels to prevent swirl marks
Pro Tip: Color-code your wash towels to avoid mixing them with interior or wheel towels.
2. Drying Your Car
- ✅ 1 towel usually does the job (unless you're drying multiple cars)
- ✅ 2–3 on hand is ideal so you’re never left with a wet towel
3. Buffing Ceramic Spray or Wax
- ✅ Use 2 towels per car for ceramic spray application (1 to apply, 1 to buff)
- ✅ Keep a minimum of 6–10 clean buffing towels in rotation
4. Interior Cleaning
- ✅ Use 2–3 towels for each vehicle interior
- ✅ Separate towels for plastics, screens, and leather
- ✅ Pair with Complete Cabin Cleaner for safe interior results
5. Glass and Mirrors
- ✅ Use a dedicated clean towel—ideally low-pile or waffle weave
- ✅ Avoid reusing towels used on other surfaces
6. Greasy or Dirty Jobs (Wheels, Engines, Trim)
- ✅ Use older towels or dark-colored towels only
- ✅ NEVER reuse these on paint
- ✅ Have 4–6 towels reserved for these jobs
Customer Testimonial
"I bought a 12-pack of Jimbo’s Everyday Towels and thought it was overkill. Two weeks later I realized I needed more. Once you start separating towels by job, you’ll never go back."
— Riley T., Verified Customer
Recommended Minimum Towel Setup
| Job | Recommended Qty | Towel |
|---|---|---|
| Washing | 3–5 | Orange Wash Microfiber |
| Drying | 2–3 | Massive Drying Towel |
| Buffing | 6–10 | Everyday Microfiber |
| Interior | 2–3 | Everyday Microfiber |
| Dirty Jobs | 4–6 | Old or dark-colored towels |
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Conclusion
If you’re serious about detailing, you need a serious microfiber towel game.
Start with the right towels—and make sure you always have backups clean, dry, and ready to go.
Shop microfiber bundles at Jimbo’s Detailing or grab them on Amazon while in stock.
