By Ian Rammelkamp, CD, AutoFiber, San Diego, California, United States
Microfiber towels are an essential tool for the professional detailer, almost as important as water! Usually, their towel arsenal includes dozens of different types of towels for different purposes, from glass to wheels to paint and interiors. There are also towels for drying, wiping, coating, and dusting.
Many professional detailers sell high-quality microfiber towels to their customers for after-care and maintenance, and one thing that you will find is that they are all packaged with the specification GSM. So, what is GSM and does it actually matter?
GSM stands for Grams per Square Meter.
It tells you how heavy a towel is – the weight of the towel for a consistent size: one square meter.
Many customers are confused by the specification and think that a higher number is better, but this isn’t the case. The raw materials, like the yarn, and the overall construction are more important to the quality of the towel than the weight or GSM.
It is possible to make a heavyweight towel with low-quality materials that will scratch your paint or do damage to your car, and it is just as possible to make a lightweight towel with high-quality material that will not damage your car’s paint.
One thing is for sure, most detailers are microfiber fanatics. They know and use high-quality towels because they make their business more efficient. If you have questions about the types of towels to use – Ask Your Detailer!
Whether it is for drying after a wash, cleaning the inside of your windshield, or dusting your interior, there is a good chance that your detailer sells the right type of towels to use in their shop and will get you the perfect towel for the job.
If you need help finding a detailer in your area, search our directory of professional IDA detailers for a Detailer Nearby!
About the Author: Ian Rammelkamp, CD, is the Owner of AutoFiber in San Diego, California, United States.