Absolutely! This is an issue that absolutely deserves emphasis. We strongly advise against using ordinary towels (such as bath towels, old T-shirts, or ordinary cotton towels) for car cleaning because it’s almost like a “gentle destruction” of your car. The main reasons are as follows:
1. The culprit for “sunburst”
This is the most fundamental and common hazard.
How it works: Ordinary towels have rough, hard fibers. During car cleaning, tiny dust and hard particles (such as sand and dust) become trapped between the surface and fibers of the towel. When you rub such a towel back and forth across the paint, these particles act like fine sandpaper, creating countless microscopic scratches in the clearcoat.
The consequence: These scratches are invisible in normal light, but in strong sunlight (especially sidelight), they appear as spiraling lines—the annoying “sunburst.” Once they occur, repairing them is extremely difficult and expensive.
2. Poor water absorption, easily leaving water stains
How it works: Ordinary cotton towels have limited water absorption capacity and poor moisture retention. They quickly become saturated with water and are unable to effectively absorb moisture from the surface of the car body.
Consequence: As you wipe, the water evaporates quickly, but minerals like calcium and magnesium contained in the water remain, forming stubborn stains on the paint and glass. These stains are particularly difficult to clean after drying, especially in areas with hard water, and can also damage the paint.
3. Inefficient cleaning, simply “pushing” dirt
How it works: Ordinary towels have a simple fiber structure, lacking deep pockets for dirt and grime to accumulate.
Consequence: When wiping, they fail to effectively “grab” and hold dust and dirt, instead simply “pushing” them from point A to point B on the car body. This not only results in incomplete cleaning but also expands the area of paint scratches.
4. Lint and color loss, causing secondary contamination
How it works: Ordinary, low-quality towels, especially those that have been used for years, have weakened fiber strength and are prone to shedding. Furthermore, some colored towels with poor color retention may also lose color.
Consequences: The lint can become lodged in the paint, glass, and cracks, making it difficult to remove. If the towel loses color, the dye contamination can be even more devastating to the paint.
Post time: Sep-30-2025