Are Chamois Good for Drying Cars? Yes! Here’s Why

Chamois are made of porous leather or the inner lining of sheepskin. These absorbent towels are known to remove tons of moisture in a single swipe, making them convenient and very reliable. However, is it possible for a tiny chamois towel to dry an entire vehicle? After all, most of them are a fraction of the size of traditional car drying towels.

Chamois are good for drying cars because they can absorb several times their weight in water without smearing or leaking on the vehicle. You can remove excess moisture by wringing the chamois over a water bucket. Chamois can be used several times without washing because they’re mildew-resistant.

Throughout this post, we’ll discuss why chamois are some of the best tools for drying your car, how to break in a new chamois, and how to wash it if it’s too dirty to reuse. We’ll also dive into a detailed comparison between microfiber towels and chamois towels when it comes to drying a car.

Note: If you don’t want to get into all of the details, here’s my preferred chamois set: The Clean Tools Synthetic Drying Towels come in a two-pack and measure 27 by 17 inches. They come in various colors and you can store them wet. I wash my car all the time since there are trees that drop pollen, sap, and more every day. These chamois have been the best car drying towels I can get my hands on. You can find the one-pack here.

Can You Dry a Car with a Chamois?

Chamois are designed for all sorts of applications, so it’s natural to wonder if they’d work for drying a car. You might’ve seen commercials with products using chamois leather to absorb spills in kitchens, on rugs, and so on. I decided to give chamois a try since I wash my car so often. They’ve proven to be much better than my old set of microfiber towels.

Here’s my list of reasons to use chamois towels to dry a car:

• Chamois absorb more water than most towels. They can soak up all of the water from the hose, then all you have to do is wring it out away from the vehicle. You don’t have to worry about it getting soaked or unusable, unlike cotton, polyester, and other materials. You can also use them to absorb oil leaking from office chairs, cars, and more.
• They won’t leak everywhere. Chamois leather doesn’t let the water soak through its pores, so there’s no way for the chamois to leak until it’s completely saturated. It won’t smear water around or drip on freshly dried paint, either.
• You don’t have to wash your chamois as much. Since many chamois are resistant to mildew, mold, and foul odors, you can wring it out and use it again whenever you want without cleaning it. Many towels have to be cleaned every time since they absorb everything and won’t dry all the way, but not chamois.
• Most chamois towels can be stored wet. The chamois set mentioned at the top of the article (with an in-depth review near the bottom) can be stored in the provided container without being dried. In fact, many chamois manufacturers recommend keeping the towels slightly wet to prevent them from stiffening.
• You can wash a chamois by hand or in a laundry machine (don’t use a dryer, though).

Watch the Chemical Guys video on YouTube about how to use a chamois (and other towels) to dry your vehicle after washing it:

Which is Better for Drying a Car: Microfiber vs. Chamois?

Are you used to using microfiber cloths but you’re thinking about making the switch to chamois towels? I was comparing them since I had a handful of microfiber towels I’d used for a long time, and I prefer chamois. However, there’s no doubt microfiber has it’s place in the car industry.

Below, I’ll show a couple of pros of each option, then explain where they overlap.

Microfiber Cloths Can Be Used Dry or Wet

Perhaps the most significant advantage of using microfiber towels to dry your car is they can be used in any condition (wet or dry, not dirty, of course). You can remove debris by gently brushing the car’s windows with a microfiber towel, but chamois have to be slightly damp to be used properly. Since microfiber is typically lint-free, you don’t have to worry about small fuzzes all over the car.

Chamois Are the Simplest Solution for Drying a Car

My favorite part of using chamois is you can wipe the vehicle, wring out the towel, and use it again. There’s no need to get another towel if it gets too soaked or worry about lint and other debris gathering on the chamois. These towels are as good as it gets, in my opinion.

Both Materials Are Incredibly Absorbent

According to Towel Super Center, microfiber towels can absorb up to seven times their weight in water. That’s quite impressive and very needed considering they’re hard to use once they’re soaked. Chamois are ultra-absorbent and reusable time and time again. It’s up to you to decide if you prefer the softness of a microfiber cloth or the convenience of a chamois!

Can You Wash a Car Chamois?

Chamois are often praised for their ability to stay clean simply by wringing them out. Many people enjoy the convenience of rarely having to wash them. Soak your chamois in warm, soapy water for a few minutes, then twist out all of the water. There will likely be residual moisture left over, but that’s recommended since it’ll keep it in good condition.

The best way to know how and when to wash your chamois is to review the container of the chamois you purchased. Some of them will suggest cleaning them after two or three washes, while some state you only have to clean the towel if it gets grease and other sticky debris on it.

How Do You Break In a New Chamois?

Breaking in a chamois typically refers to making it ready to absorb moisture. The good news is it’s very easy and straightforward to break in a new chamois. All you have to do is run it underwater for a couple of minutes. Many chamois come ready to use, so you don’t have to worry about preparing them. You can use the chamois right when you get it.

If your chamois gets too stiff, run it through the sink for a bit. This usually only happens if it dries in the sun for too long. On that note, always store your chamois in a dry, room temperature place. It shouldn’t be dry for too long or it can crack or become defective.

Which Chamois Are Best for Drying Your Vehicle?

The Clean Tools Synthetic Chamois is my go-to towel. I grabbed two of them a while ago and have never had to replace them. These 27″ x 17″ chamois towels are highly absorbent, come in multiple colors, and you can wash them in the laundry machine or by hand. You’ll also receive a carrying tube that prevents your chamois from drying out, cracking, and stiffening.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know how useful chamois are for drying cars, you can use one at home or find a reliable set online or in a store. I always used microfiber towels for a long time, but my chamois set has proven to be much more absorbent, reliable, and resistant to collecting sticks, leaves, and other debris. If you’re looking for simplicity and quick drying towels, I highly recommend getting a top-notch chamois.