Match the weave to the job. The Gauntlet and Liquid8R are twisted-loop drying towels for pulling water off panels, and the Double Twistress is the larger version. Eagle Edgeless 500 and Premium FTW are plush buffing towels for waxes, sealants and quick detailers. Edgeless 245 and Creature are the general-purpose towels for wheels, shuts and interiors. The waffle weaves, including Dry Me A River, are best on glass and for drying.

Grams per square metre, which is a measure of density rather than quality. A high gsm drying towel such as the 1100gsm Liquid8R holds far more water, so you need fewer passes over the paint. A lower gsm plush towel is better for buffing off a wax because it grabs less and leaves less lint behind. Higher is not automatically better: a 1400gsm towel on a wax residue is harder work than a 400gsm plush cloth.

The waffle pattern gives you a flat, low-nap surface that clears glass cleaner without leaving streaks or lint, which is exactly where plush towels struggle. Use one dry towel to spread and remove and a second clean dry one for the final pass, and do the inside of the screen last. Keep glass towels separate from paint towels, since any wax or dressing residue picked up from paintwork will smear on glass immediately.

For a full wash and protect, most people work comfortably with one drying towel, two plush towels for removing protection, two general-purpose towels for shuts and wheels, and a dedicated glass towel. Buy more than you think, because the temptation to reuse a dropped or dirty towel on paint is where marring comes from. Keep them colour-coded by job and retire paint towels to wheel duty once they have picked up grit.