The Cleaning Cloth Face-Off: Terry Cloth Vs. Microfiber

SOFTSPUN Microfiber
3 min readOct 4, 2019

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Selecting towels isn’t as easy as stepping into a store and picking what feels and looks good. Especially if your commercial business requires regular use of towels, you need to be extra careful while making choices. No matter the business type — a salon, gym or hotel — your customers want the best for their skin. And, you want the best for the purpose they will be used for. Picking the right towel for the job that doubles into a good-looking and soft-to-touch piece can sometimes be a bit difficult. As your customers want to feel hygienic, dry and comfortable, you need to ensure that the towel you use is efficient at absorbing and cleaning.

Although colors, designs, and packaging are a treat to the eyes, the material of the towel truly decides its efficiency. The two most common materials used to make towels are — microfiber cloth and terry cloth. If you’re wondering what’s the difference between the two, this post if for you. We will discuss the differences that make one better than the other in some cases. This will help you in deciding what to pick for your specific purpose.

Understanding Terry Cloth

Created on a special loom, terry cloth is an exceptionally absorbent form of cotton. The loops are designed in a way that pulls in water. Sometimes, polyester is used while making terry cloth to supplement the material. Mostly, it is entirely made of cotton. Terry cloth is widely used by manufacturers to make sweatsuits, sweatbands, bathrobes, and towels, etc. due to the absorbent efficiency of the material.

Understanding Microfiber

Microfiber is made from synthetic material, unlike cotton-made terry. The fibers are even smaller than silk, and the width of each is less than half of a human hair. The capacity of microfiber to expand on coming in contact with water makes it highly absorbent. It can absorb (and hold) more than terry cloth, which makes it the perfect choice for commercial uses that need quick drying like car washes, restaurants, laundering businesses, etc. Servers use microfiber towels at restaurants to quickly (and efficiently) clean up spillage. Big water spills at hotels can be taken care of with this material, which is why hotels buy microfiber cloth in bulk quantities. Due to this high absorbency (and capacity to hold), microfiber towels are the №1 choice of professional cleaners.

Microfiber and Terry Cloth — Are They Really Same?

Although these two materials are known for their high absorbent nature, they are not the same. They might have similarities, but the usage is entirely different. When you employ them for different tasks, you will be able to make the most of the material’s qualities. Different textures and appearances make these materials different. To find out what works best for your specific needs, you might want to consider both towels according to their employment in various businesses.

Ask yourself the below-mentioned questions before you buy any material:

Who will use the towel?

Different tasks and users call for different towels. Although both microfiber and terry cloth are super absorbent, you might want to consider who is the user before buying. If your customers will use the towels directly, terry towels are softer and more attractive. They are best for beach and bath towels, bathrobes, etc.

Will you use it for cleaning up?

If you want a towel for efficient cleaning up, buy microfiber cloth online. They are best for absorbing spillage quickly and fully and can also pick up residue.

Is it environment-friendly?

When you use microfiber, you are less likely to use a chemical for proper cleaning as the material is self-sufficient to leave no residue behind unlike terry cloth.

When you ask yourself these questions, you will be able to decide what’s best for you. Keep your users and usage in mind, and you will be able to pick the perfect material of towels for your business.

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SOFTSPUN Microfiber

SOFTSPUN is a microfiber cloth manufacturer in India which is a trailblazer of sorts when it comes to crafting an effective and multifaceted cleanliness tool.