Car Wash Mitt vs Microfiber Cloths: Which One Should You Buy?

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Below: where a mitt beats a stack of cloths, where cloths win anyway, the three mitts ranked on their listings, and how to keep them washing clean.

Car wash mitt vs microfiber cloths: where each one wins

A wash mitt is a washing tool first. The Chemical Guys mitt uses chenille noodles that the listing says hold thick suds and trap grit; the Meguiar’s mitt is made, per its listing, to carry more suds for faster washing. Suds are lubrication, and lubrication is what keeps dirt from grinding into the clear coat while you work. The elastic cuffs on the Amazon Basics and Chemical Guys mitts keep the mitt on your hand while you wash a panel, which matters when the mitt is heavy with soapy water.

Cloths win everywhere the mitt cannot fold. For drying, a cloth folds into quarters so you always have a dry face to work with; for glass, door jambs and interior touch-ups, a small folded cloth reaches where a mitt will not. The Amazon Basics is the bridge between the two jobs: its title calls it a drying mitt, and the listing claims it absorbs 7 times its weight in water, so it dries in mitt form while cloths handle the details.

The practical split for a weekend wash: mitt and soapy water for every painted panel, then cloths for drying, glass and the final wipe-down. Keep the two jobs on separate tools, because the mitt that washed the lower doors has seen the dirtiest water of the day.

The gear: three wash mitts, ranked

Amazon Basics 2-pack. The top pick on the listing facts: a 2-pack, so one mitt can be in the wash while the other works; the maker claims 7 times its weight in water absorption; lint-free, scratch-free and non-abrasive; 12 percent polyamide and 88 percent polyester; an elastic wrist cuff; machine washable; and the only one here with a stated warranty term, a limited one-year one. One listing wrinkle: the bullets say the mitt measures 12 by 8 inches while the title and spec table say 10.44 by 9.06 inches.

Chemical Guys chenille mitt. The suds pick: ultra-soft chenille noodles that the listing says lift and trap dirt for a swirl-free wash, safe on paint, glass, chrome and plastic, with an elastic cuff and machine-washable construction. It is sold singly, and the listing states no dimensions, weight or warranty, which keeps it behind the 2-pack on stated value.

Meguiar’s X3002 mitt. The 8 by 10 inch hand-shaped mitt: machine washable and reusable, lint-free, described as clear-coat safe, with the maker claiming a showroom-like finish on all paint types. Two listing wrinkles: the title calls it “Microfiber Towels” while the bullets and spec table describe a wash mitt, and the spec table names a warranty without giving any term.

What to look for in a wash mitt

Start with the mitt face. The Chemical Guys pick uses chenille noodles that the listing says hold thick suds and trap grit, while the Amazon Basics and Meguiar’s mitts use a flatter microfiber face. The Meguiar’s listing says its microfiber is made to carry more suds for faster washing, and the Amazon Basics bullets claim 7 times its weight in water absorption. More suds means more lubrication, and lubrication is what keeps dirt from grinding into the clear coat.

Check the cuff next. The Amazon Basics and Chemical Guys mitts both list an elastic cuff that keeps the mitt on your hand. A mitt that slips off mid-panel is annoying when your hands are wet and soapy, and a snug cuff matters most on larger mitts.

Size matters for how much panel one dunk covers. The Amazon Basics lists two sizes that disagree: the title and spec table say 10.44 by 9.06 inches while the bullets say 12 by 8 inches. The Meguiar’s is listed at 8 by 10 inches in the bullets. Bigger is not automatically better; it is more fabric to rinse clean between panels.

Warranty is the tiebreaker when specs are close. The Amazon Basics is the only one of the three with a stated term, a limited one-year warranty. The Meguiar’s spec table names a warranty without giving any term, and the Chemical Guys listing states none.

Finally, match the mitt to the job. If you want one tool that washes and dries, the Amazon Basics is sold as a drying mitt with that 7-times absorbency claim. If wash-day suds are the priority, the chenille Chemical Guys is the pick. For a wash mitt the maker calls clear-coat safe with a showroom-like finish claim, the Meguiar’s rounds out the set.

Keeping them washing clean

All three listings say machine washable, so none of these is a disposable. Wash the mitt before its first use and after every wash, and keep paint mitts away from wheel duty: brake dust is the grit that scratches clear coat. The 2-pack format of the Amazon Basics earns its keep here, with a spare ready while one is in the machine. Store them dry and clean, and retire a mitt to wheel duty once its fibers mat down.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a microfiber wash mitt?

A wash mitt is a microfiber wash tool shaped to fit your hand, worn like a mitt. The chenille type, like the Chemical Guys pick, has noodle-like strands that hold suds; the flat type, like the Amazon Basics and Meguiar’s picks, works more like a thick pad with a cuff.

How do you wash microfiber cleaning cloths?

Machine wash them, as all three listings instruct for their mitts. Wash them separately from cotton laundry so they do not pick up lint, and give them a wash before the first use.

Can you wash microfiber cloths by hand?

Yes. Rinse them thoroughly in clean water until the water runs clear, then let them air dry. Machine washing, per the listings, is the easier routine for a regular wash schedule.

How do you dry a microfiber wash mitt?

The listings state machine washing but no drying method. Air dry them fully before storage; a dry mitt stores clean, and a damp one sealed in a bag does not stay fresh.

Mitt or cloths for drying the car?

Either, by the listings: the Amazon Basics is sold as a drying mitt with a 7-times-its-weight absorbency claim, while folded cloths give you fresh dry faces for glass and jambs. Use the mitt for big panels and cloths for the details.

Related: car drying blower vs towel, foam cannon for pressure washer and our car detailing hub.