Clean Your Car With The Best Chamois Cloths

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Last Updated: May 3, 2024, 1:28 p.m.

A chamois cloth may not be the first item that comes to mind when you think of cleaning up your car, but this usually neglected material is the icing on the cake that takes your car cleaning from just ok to super-efficient. Chamois quickly absorbs water from the car’s body, eliminating the risk of unsightly spots that would have been left behind if the water was left to dry off on its own. Since we understand the difficulty many buyers face when sorting through the various brands of chamois cloth on sale online, we’ve reviewed the 5 finest chamois cloths of 2023. We’ve also included an informative buying guide at the end to teach you what features you should keep an eye out for, so you can make an informed purchase.

Chamois Cloth Buying Guide

In the final part of this article, we explain various aspects of chamois cloth and how to select the most suitable one for you. We also answer frequently asked questions about this highly-absorbent car cleaning item and general car detailing.

Chamois Cloth vs. Microfiber Cloth

A microfiber cloth or towel could be the first item that you think of when it’s time to dry off water from the body of a car. Although chamois cloths aren’t quite as popular as microfiber, they do a better job of drying moisture from your car than microfiber cloths. For starters, microfiber cloth is not quite as absorbent as chamois, thereby proving comparatively inadequate at getting the job done. You won’t be having this problem with chamois because of its high absorbency. This characteristic makes them a better fit if you desire a faster cleaning process. In addition, low-quality microfiber towels can leave threads and particles behind, negating their primary purpose. With such microfiber towels, you clean up the water only to return to find bits of thread and particles. Quality chamois cloth won’t give you these problems as it is usually lint and streak-free. Another point to note here is that you can conveniently clean one or two vehicles with a single chamois cloth as long as you use it correctly, but you can’t do the same with a single microfiber cloth because it is not as absorbent. Microfiber cloth has its advantages too though: for instance, it is cheaper and available in various sizes. Ultimately though, chamois cloth towers above microfiber because of its unmatched absorbency and streak-free application.

How to Pick the Right Chamois Cloth

Picking a chamois cloth from the pool of available options is about to get easier. This section explains specific features to look out for when selecting a chamois cloth. Material You might be wondering why we need to consider the material since chamois itself is a type of material. Well, you’d be right, but not totally. Apart from chamois made from animal skin, there are now also chamois cloths that are made of synthetic material. Although chamois is a goat breed, these days original chamois leather is obtained from sheepskin. Sheepskin is the preferred choice because unlike most leather, it is considerably absorbent, making it ideal for soaking up water and cleaning up cars more quickly. Those who are uncomfortable using chamois cloth sourced from sheepskin can opt for chamois cloths made of artificial materials. They are usually made from PVA, and unlike chamois made of sheepskin, they are less likely to develop mold or mildew in storage. Size Depending on the size of the vehicle you’re cleaning, you can choose from the different sizes of chamois available. If in doubt, we recommend that you opt for a bigger size since you can always cut it to your preferred size. Washability With repeated use, your chamois cloth is bound to get dirty, so the cloth’s washability is important for a hitch-free experience. A machine-washable product is excellent as you can clean it with minimal effort, although that potentially limits your selection pool to only synthetic chamois cloths. Storage container You can’t store chamois cloths, especially those used on cars, any way you please. They’ll get too dry and scratch the car’s finish if you store them without care. To avoid this, manufacturers now include a storage container to store the cloth while it’s still wet to ultimately keep it damp and soft enough till the next time you need it. You should strongly consider buying a product that includes a special container for storage. Quantity Although you’ll encounter many products that offer a single piece of chamois cloth, many others offer multiple chamois cloths in a pack. You should pick the quantity appropriate for your needs, noting that products with only one chamois cloth are often not as expensive as those with multiple chamois cloths. Color Although the shammy’s color doesn’t directly affect the quality or effectiveness, it is good to know that you have the freedom to choose from a variety of colors. Chamois cloths typically come in yellow and blue colors, but certain manufacturers go above and beyond to offer other colors than the two mentioned.

Tips on Using Chamois Cloths

It is not uncommon to find some people talking down on the chamois cloth and claiming it is not a good idea to have them in your car detailing toolkit. The following tips will help potential buyers to get their money’s worth from any chamois cloth. The first thing is to prepare the shammy. Your shammy must be wet before you ever think of using it on any surface. This step is important because chamois gets very stiff when dry, and using it immediately on your car will leave scratches. Dip the cloth inside a bucket of water or pour water on it. Wring out excess water, and your chamois is all set for use. Apply the damp chamois on the car’s surface, dragging it horizontally or vertically. If the chamois is quite big, you should start by folding it in half. Depending on the cloth’s absorbency, you may not need more than a swipe or two to wipe off any water. Once you’ve removed the moisture from a specific part, you should wring out excess water before moving on to the next part. Repeat the second and third steps until you cover the entire body. Note that these tips are general tips. Sometimes, there are specific instructions on the product packaging and you should follow those if possible.

Top Picks

Best Overall: Chemical Guys Leather Car Seat Cleaneramazon Basics Chamois Cloth
Most Versatile: The Original German Shammy Chamois Cloth
Best Natural Chamois: Sheepskin Elite Chamois Cloth
Best Premium: Mighty Cleaner Chamois Cloth
Best For Larger Cars: Airlab Chamois Cloth

Reviews

Best Overall

Chemical Guys Leather Car Seat Cleaneramazon Basics Chamois Cloth

Each chamois cloth measures 26 x 17 inches
It is made with 100% synthetic material
It is machine washable
Does not give off any unpleasant odors
The material is chemical resistant

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Most Versatile

The Original German Shammy Chamois Cloth

It comes in three color variants
Measures 20 x 27 inches
It is machine washable and dries soft
It doesn’t drip

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Best Natural Chamois

Sheepskin Elite Chamois Cloth

It is tanned with natural marine oil
Available in five sizes
It is lint-free
The fabric is stretchy

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Best Premium

Mighty Cleaner Chamois Cloth

Size: 26 x 17 inches
Made with polyvinyl alcohol
It doesn’t leave streaks or spots
It is easy to maintain and wash

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Best For Larger Cars

Airlab Chamois Cloth

The material is biodegradable
It contains no microplastics
Size: 35 x 23.6 inches
Its detergency level is high

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FAQs

What can I do with a chamois cloth?

Due to their versatility, chamois cloths can be used for many cleaning activities. Apart from utilizing their high absorbent capacity to clean cars, you can use them to clean off dust in the car’s interior as well as cleaning bathroom and kitchen surfaces.

Why should I wet the chamois cloth before use?

You should wet the chamois before use because a chamois cloth turns stiff when it’s dry. A dry chamois will leave scratches on your car. Getting it wet softens it and makes it usable on any surface.

How do I maintain my chamois cloth?

Your chamois maintenance routine depends on the chamois material. For natural chamois gotten from sheepskin, you should avoid bleach and detergents. We recommend hand washing them with car wash shampoo or any natural soap. You can machine wash synthetic chamois. For each type, wring out the water, and dry away from direct sunlight. Note that they are best stored damp to avoid getting too hard, and you can use an airtight container for storage.

How much do chamois cloths cost?

Chamois cloths made of genuine leather are a bit expensive due to the various processes involved in the production, but synthetic chamois cloths are budget-friendly options that offer almost the same benefit as those made of sheepskin. The size and the number of towels in the pack also determine the price. Usually, the price ranges between $9 and $50.

Are chamois cloths better than microfiber towels?

Yes, they are. Chamois cloths absorb moisture better than microfiber towels do, making it easier and faster to get moisture off surfaces.