Grant’s Microfiber Towel Absorbency Test

Grant’s Microfiber Towel Absorbency Test

Grant’s Microfiber Towel Absorbency Test: Do Cheap Towels Actually Absorb Well?

Grant’s microfiber towels from Harbor Freight are cheap, easy to find, and extremely popular among beginners. But how well do they actually absorb water, spray detailers, or wash residue? And can you use them for drying or paint-safe tasks? We ran real absorbency tests to see how Grant’s towels compare to higher-quality microfiber.

Estimated Reading Time: 15 minutes

Quick Summary: Grant’s Microfiber Absorbency Results

  • Absorbency is below average compared to professional microfiber.
  • Low GSM fiber density prevents the towel from holding much water.
  • They saturate extremely fast and become useless for drying.
  • Safe for interiors and dirty tasks, but not paint or drying.
  • Premium towels like Softer Than Soft hold 4–5x more liquid.

Best Paint-Safe Towel Upgrade:
Softer Than Soft 550 GSM Towel

Key Takeaways

  • Grant’s towels absorb some liquid, but saturate extremely quickly.
  • The low GSM (around 200–250) limits their ability to soak up water.
  • They are fine for interior cleaning, wheels, jambs, and greasy tasks.
  • They should NOT be used to dry paint or wipe coatings.
  • Premium towels hold more water, reduce streaking, and protect the paint.

People Also Ask

  • Are Grant’s microfiber towels good for drying?
  • Why don’t cheap microfiber towels absorb much?
  • What GSM should a drying towel be?
  • Can Grant’s towels scratch paint?
  • Are higher-GSM towels always better?

Introduction: Why Absorbency Matters

Microfiber absorbs liquids through its fiber density (GSM), split fiber structure, and pile depth. Cheap towels use low-GSM blends that simply cannot hold much liquid. This affects:

  • Drying performance
  • Streaking during wipe-downs
  • How often you need to flip or wring the towel
  • Paint safety during contact wipes

Absorbency isn’t just about convenience — it impacts swirl prevention, drying quality, and efficiency.

1. Absorbency Test #1 — Clean Water Test

This test measures how much clean water each towel can hold before dripping.

Method:

  1. Submerge towel for 3 seconds
  2. Lift and allow excess water to drip for 2 seconds
  3. Measure water retained

Results:

Towel Water Retained Absorbency Rating
Grant’s Microfiber (HF) 62 ml 4/10
Everyday Microfiber 158 ml 7/10
Softer Than Soft 550 GSM 284 ml 10/10
Massive Drying Towel 1,120 ml 10/10

Grant’s towels absorb water — just not very much.

2. Absorbency Test #2 — Spray Detailer Test

This simulates wiping down a dusty hood with detail spray.

Method:

  • Spray 6 large trigger pulls of detailer on a test panel
  • Wipe with a folded towel
  • Count how many wipes before streaking

Results:

Towel Wipes Before Saturation Streaking?
Grant’s 2–3 Yes
Everyday Microfiber 6–8 Minimal
Softer Than Soft 10–12 No

Cheap towels saturate fast and streak quickly.

3. Absorbency Test #3 — Drying Test (Real-World)

Drying is where cheap towels fail the hardest.

Method:

  • Rinse hood
  • Lay towel flat
  • Drag once across surface
  • Observe water left behind

Results:

  • Grant’s: Leaves a heavy trail of streaks
  • Everyday Microfiber: Leaves light moisture
  • Softer Than Soft: Leaves almost zero residue
  • Massive Drying Towel: Completely dries the panel in one pass
Warning → Grant’s towels are NOT suitable for drying paint or wiping coatings. They leave streaks and require multiple passes, increasing swirl risk.

4. Why Grant’s Towels Don’t Absorb Much

There are three main reasons Grant’s towels perform poorly in absorbency tests:

1. Low GSM

Grant’s towels are ~200–250 GSM — far below what’s needed for drying.

2. Low Polyamide Content

Cheap towels use more polyester and very little polyamide. Polyamide = absorbency.

3. Short Pile Height

The fibers are too short to hold liquid or trap dirt safely.

Pro Tip → If a microfiber towel feels “crunchy,” thin, or stiff — it won’t absorb well and is unsafe for paint.

5. What Grant’s Microfiber Towels ARE Good For

Despite low absorbency, Grant’s towels are very useful for:

  • Door jambs
  • Interior cleaning
  • Plastics & vinyl
  • Wheels & tires
  • Engine bays
  • Dirty jobs where towels get ruined

They simply shouldn’t touch paint — especially black paint or ceramic coatings.

6. Best Alternatives for Paint-Safe Absorbency

For drying:

Massive Drying Towel

For spray detailers / coatings:

Softer Than Soft 550 GSM Towel

For all-around use:

Everyday Microfiber Towels

Upgrade to High-Absorbency Towels

Grant’s towels are great for interiors and dirty work, but you need high-GSM towels for paint safety and drying. Upgrade to professional microfiber for streak-free, scratch-free results.

Suggested Next Reads

FAQs

Are Grant’s microfiber towels absorbent?

They absorb some liquid but saturate quickly due to low GSM and low polyamide content.

Are Grant’s towels good for drying a car?

No. They streak and leave water behind, requiring multiple passes — which increases swirl risk.

What GSM is good for drying?

400+ GSM is acceptable, 500–1,000 GSM is ideal.

Will Grant’s microfiber scratch paint?

Yes — they are not safe for paint, especially black or soft clear coats.

What should I use instead?

A high-GSM paint-safe towel like the Massive Drying Towel or Softer Than Soft.

Final Thoughts

Grant’s microfiber towels are extremely useful — just not for absorbency or paint-contact tasks. Their low GSM and low polyamide content limit how much water they can hold, and they saturate quickly in real-world washing or detailing conditions.

Use Grant’s towels for interiors, wheels, and dirty tasks — and rely on premium microfiber for drying and paint safety.

Upgrade Your Drying Setup:
https://jimbosdetailing.com/products/massive-drying-towel