Microfiber Towels in India (best for detailing)

VOiLA · 3rd June 2010, 03:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkh

Some pics...The yellow cloth is 3M - 12x12, the BLUE is from SPAR-OASIS MAll and 14x16. Both are equally good- folded you can see that 3M cloth is little plusher- has more fibers per square inch, but the blue one is easier to use, has 70-30 ratio while 3M has 75-25( polyster to polyamide)

From where did you get the 3m ? Can anyone help me find good quality microfiber cloths for cleaning LCD in Delhi ?

Thanks

Brix · 14th June 2010, 21:11

I've used the Jopasu cloth and mitts and after many washes, I've devised a method to use them properly on glass. This is to ensure that no water streaks and spot remain.

First clean your car completely. As in, no dirt on the glass.

Use a fine spray can to squirt water on the place you wish to wipe, the finer the spray the better. Then rub the MF cloth over it till you absorb all the water.

If the spray can is difficult to get, use a clean damp cloth with enough water in it to leave a water trail. Wipe this on the surface you want to clean followed by the MF and get the same results.

As a result, the MF cloth glides over the glass absorbing the water and any minor dirt left leaving a sparkling surface underneath without scratching the glass.

I used this with the Vista brand glass cleaner and the Eagle 1 glass cleaner and they work just as well.

I do this not only for the glass but the whole body of the car. As a purist, I use 2 different cloths. 1 for the body and 1 for the glass.

After using them I drop them in a bucket with detergent and then use a portable washing machine for 5 min to clean then. Followed by a double rinse with plain water. This is because the MF would hold the detergent inside them and wont perform effectively. Another thing is - dont use fabric softner on them.

If you dont have the portable washing machine thingie - handwash them with any basic shampoo and rinse them. Basic because the silicone in the shampoo may coat the fibres.

My 2 cents.

Thad E Ginathom · 14th June 2010, 21:18

I use micro-fbre cloths on the glass too, with pretty much the same method. Household cleaner sprays can be used to spray the water; the ones that have a twist head that gives a choice, spray or jet, are particularly good.

I have a rough micro-fibre towel for getting the dirt off and a fine micro-fibre cloth for polishing. When I use the Auto Glym polish, I apply it with a cotton cloth (a piece of old bedsheet) as I find the microfibre cloths too absorbent, and the polish gets wasted. Then polish with microfibre.

sanjayc · 14th June 2010, 21:37

If you want, you can pay a visit to Haute-Car Zone at OMR, Chennai - Have purchased 2 packs of MF clothes. Each packs contains 3 pieces:

- one multipurpose micro-fibre cloth in blue, this one same as avlbl by 3m/Jopasu etc

- one yellow cloth meant for glass wiping/polishing - this is kind of unique - one side is slippery compared to the other - the slipper side to be used on the glass surface - the non-slippery side provide better grip on the dry palms- this cloth does not have any fibre which stick out of the cloth or woven in it - unlike the first one - hence no streaking whatsoever

- one pink cloth for buffing/polishing- this is kind of fluffy cloth - very good results for giving a final buffing after applying wax

Cost me appx 500 IIRC for the set of three.

Thad E Ginathom · 14th June 2010, 22:15

Quote:

If you want, you can pay a visit to Haute-Car Zone at OMR, Chennai ...

It is about ten minutes walk from my house, although it entails crossing the Buckingham Canal in full stink!

I think these things are very expensive in India. I get most of my cloths from the "99p shop" (That's just one penny less than a pound) where I can get (if they are in stock) a pack of five for ...99p. About Rs.70. They are fairly small, but they also have towel-size cloths at 99p each. We keep a couple for cleaning the car and use the rest as hand towels.

Microfibre is wonderful in the house --- for bringing a shine to granite, or to a stainless-steel stove.

sanjayc · 14th June 2010, 22:31

Well..actually, it seems any towel with bristles are being branded "microfiber" towels..which is not the case. The denisty of fibers (technically something known as "denier") defines the quality..also, the ends of the fibre are different (enabling them to trap fine particles rather than push around) than the body towel woven types, which is generally the case with cheaper ones...that's as far as the theory goes!

More here Microfiber - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Brix · 15th June 2010, 13:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanjayc

If you want, you can pay a visit to Haute-Car Zone at OMR, Chennai - Have purchased 2 packs of MF clothes. Each packs contains 3 pieces:
Cost me appx 500 IIRC for the set of three.

Thats very good information - I'll try to drop in there today.

Brix · 15th June 2010, 14:01

Just to help - the landmarks for Haute-Car Zone is
"just after HCL and opp. India Infoline Bldg."

Brix · 15th June 2010, 15:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanjayc

pay a visit to Haute-Car Zone at OMR, Chennai

Went there now. Its the erstwhile Toyota Showroom. Quite big and fancy.
BUT very expensive. They did not have those MF towels. Big disappointment.
He didn't even know what they were.

And I simply HATE it when someone tails me when I look at the goods of the shop, as though I were shoplifting. The guy tailing me didn't know much, apart from the prices.

. I needled him into giving a wrong explanation and he agreed. Realized that the technicians might be worse off.

Finally, I got myself some car perfume and that itself came to 300. Damn!

Thad E Ginathom · 15th June 2010, 18:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanjayc

Well..actually, it seems any towel with bristles are being branded "microfiber" towels..which is not the case. The denisty of fibers (technically something known as "denier") defines the quality..also, the ends of the fibre are different (enabling them to trap fine particles rather than push around) than the body towel woven types, which is generally the case with cheaper ones...that's as far as the theory goes! ...

I guess it is the way of the world, where these things are ignored by the law: the name will be picked up and used by people for their ordinary bit of cloth. One can feel the difference, and certainly experience it in the cleaning ability, also in its drying ability, if using it as a towel on oneself. I can say that, in UK, the difference between the cheap ones and the pricey "original" products is in stuff like the finishing: neatly stitched edges on the expensive cloths.

I even have a microfibre floor mop! Of course, our maid continues to use a bit of rag to mop the floor...

Although my wife has taken to most of my kitchen gadgets, she doesn't really care about how the floor gets mopped, as long as it does

sanjayc · 15th June 2010, 19:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brix

Went there now. Its the erstwhile Toyota Showroom. Quite big and fancy.
BUT very expensive. They did not have those MF towels. Big disappointment.
He didn't even know what they were.

And I simply HATE it when someone tails me when I look at the goods of the shop, as though I were shoplifting. The guy tailing me didn't know much, apart from the prices.

. I needled him into giving a wrong explanation and he agreed. Realized that the technicians might be worse off.

Finally, I got myself some car perfume and that itself came to 300. Damn!

I went last year (around Dec 09 end) when I took delivery of my new car!

http://www.fouring.co.kr/eng/product...et=262&cate=19
http://www.fouring.co.kr/eng/product...et=541&cate=19
http://www.fouring.co.kr/eng/product...et=263&cate=19

The above are the exact things I picked up..even the website packaging pictures matches with what I have. I have not even opened the 2nd pack since the 1st one itself is going great.

I guess becos of high price, there are not many takers and hence they have stopped importing. Still, aren't they keeping any alternative brands?

Brix · 16th June 2010, 12:45

They look fantastic. Too bad I got to wait. They promised to call when stock comes, but we all know that will never happen.

Anyway - one good outcome of going there was that I saw some fantastic brands for the reverse radar I wanted to buy. Autocop, Crosslink and another brand. Pretty advanced stuff. I'll get that next month.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanjayc

The above are the exact things I picked up.

sanjayc · 16th June 2010, 13:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brix

Anyway - one good outcome of going there was that I saw some fantastic brands for the reverse radar I wanted to buy. Autocop, Crosslink and another brand. Pretty advanced stuff. I'll get that next month.

Are u looking out for video/camera-based reverse parking sensor or simple sound/alarm based one? Be aware that Car-Haute Zone will be costlier by at least 20-30% for in-demand products. Also, note that, it is not necessary that they will have good technicians for installation.

I did a roof mount LCD monitor (do not remember the brand name correctly..some Nocvex it seems) installation back in Sep or Oct 09 on my Ikon thru them..that time I was a complete novice in such things and did not do much r&d on the price part..got ripped on the pricing part, and had to haggle over with the installers in getting it done exactly the way I wanted.

For reverse sensor, Xenos @ Nandanam does a very neat job (got done thru them in my Fiesta)...quite of bit of very good reviews are present in this forum, particularly by Linea owners.

Brix · 16th June 2010, 13:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanjayc

Be aware that Car-Haute Zone will be costlier by at least 20-30% for in-demand products.

Ah no! I was happy to get that info about the brands of reverse sensors. No way I would buy/install from there. I dont mind going to GP Road and getting it installed. Those guys do many installations daily and would know what they are doing.

Alternatively Xenos seems like a good buy too. Will use PM for more info on this.

Brix · 21st June 2010, 13:41

I got another brand of Microfiber Mitts from Metro(Cash and Carry) in Bangalore.

The brand is Unger. One side is fluffy(like worms) and another side is Microfiber.
Their Squeegee is also great.

14th June 2010, 21:11	#77
Brix BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Chennai Posts: 585 Thanked: 24 Times	I've used the Jopasu cloth and mitts and after many washes, I've devised a method to use them properly on glass. This is to ensure that no water streaks and spot remain. First clean your car completely. As in, no dirt on the glass. Use a fine spray can to squirt water on the place you wish to wipe, the finer the spray the better. Then rub the MF cloth over it till you absorb all the water. If the spray can is difficult to get, use a clean damp cloth with enough water in it to leave a water trail. Wipe this on the surface you want to clean followed by the MF and get the same results. As a result, the MF cloth glides over the glass absorbing the water and any minor dirt left leaving a sparkling surface underneath without scratching the glass. I used this with the Vista brand glass cleaner and the Eagle 1 glass cleaner and they work just as well. I do this not only for the glass but the whole body of the car. As a purist, I use 2 different cloths. 1 for the body and 1 for the glass. After using them I drop them in a bucket with detergent and then use a portable washing machine for 5 min to clean then. Followed by a double rinse with plain water. This is because the MF would hold the detergent inside them and wont perform effectively. Another thing is - dont use fabric softner on them. If you dont have the portable washing machine thingie - handwash them with any basic shampoo and rinse them. Basic because the silicone in the shampoo may coat the fibres. My 2 cents. Last edited by Brix : 14th June 2010 at 21:14.
	() Thanks

14th June 2010, 21:18	#78
Thad E Ginathom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 11,471 Thanked: 30,161 Times	I use micro-fbre cloths on the glass too, with pretty much the same method. Household cleaner sprays can be used to spray the water; the ones that have a twist head that gives a choice, spray or jet, are particularly good. I have a rough micro-fibre towel for getting the dirt off and a fine micro-fibre cloth for polishing. When I use the Auto Glym polish, I apply it with a cotton cloth (a piece of old bedsheet) as I find the microfibre cloths too absorbent, and the polish gets wasted. Then polish with microfibre.
	() Thanks

14th June 2010, 21:37	#79
sanjayc BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 953 Thanked: 8 Times	If you want, you can pay a visit to Haute-Car Zone at OMR, Chennai - Have purchased 2 packs of MF clothes. Each packs contains 3 pieces: - one multipurpose micro-fibre cloth in blue, this one same as avlbl by 3m/Jopasu etc - one yellow cloth meant for glass wiping/polishing - this is kind of unique - one side is slippery compared to the other - the slipper side to be used on the glass surface - the non-slippery side provide better grip on the dry palms- this cloth does not have any fibre which stick out of the cloth or woven in it - unlike the first one - hence no streaking whatsoever - one pink cloth for buffing/polishing- this is kind of fluffy cloth - very good results for giving a final buffing after applying wax Cost me appx 500 IIRC for the set of three.
	() Thanks

14th June 2010, 22:31	#81
sanjayc BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 953 Thanked: 8 Times	Well..actually, it seems any towel with bristles are being branded "microfiber" towels..which is not the case. The denisty of fibers (technically something known as "denier") defines the quality..also, the ends of the fibre are different (enabling them to trap fine particles rather than push around) than the body towel woven types, which is generally the case with cheaper ones...that's as far as the theory goes! More here Microfiber - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
	() Thanks

15th June 2010, 14:01	#83
Brix BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Chennai Posts: 585 Thanked: 24 Times	Just to help - the landmarks for Haute-Car Zone is "just after HCL and opp. India Infoline Bldg."
	() Thanks

21st June 2010, 13:41	#90
Brix BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Chennai Posts: 585 Thanked: 24 Times	I got another brand of Microfiber Mitts from Metro(Cash and Carry) in Bangalore. The brand is Unger. One side is fluffy(like worms) and another side is Microfiber. Their Squeegee is also great.
	() Thanks