What exactly is microfiber yarn and why
is our AlpineMicrofiber™ so good?
There seems to be quite a lot of confusion in the automotive
market as to exactly what microfiber is. There are several
unscrupulous suppliers who would have you believe that
because a cloth is microfiber it is safe for your car.
NOTHING could be further from the truth. There are towels
that use microfiber yarns that will scratch and there are
towels that do not use microfiber that are safe. The fact
that a towel is made using microfiber yarns is not in itself
a guarantee of safety.
Microfiber is not a fabric, it is a yarn, spun into thread,
that is used to weave or knit fabric. Most common microfibers
are polyester and will indeed scratch the surface of your
car if you aren't careful. You should, as a rule, avoid
any cloth material that is not 100% natural. Stay away
from polyester, rayon, nylon, and the like.
By definition, microfibers are ultra-fine yarns made from
various sources. They can be polyester, nylon, or a natural
material such as cellulose. Microfiber is two times finer
than silk and nearly one hundred times finer than human
hair. In fact, many microfiber yarns are so fine that a
strand stretching 25,000 miles around the earth will only
weigh a few pounds.
The smaller the diameter, the softer the fabric will feel.
This does not mean, however, that it is not abrasive or
will not scratch. In fact, most microfiber cloths that
come from the orient are polyester microfiber and will
most likely scratch the surface of your car. Just because
it says microfiber and it feels soft does not guarantee
a scratch free shine!
Microfibers are never used in their natural state, they
are spun together to make a larger diameter yarn which
is then used to weave or knit various fabrics such as twills,
satins, and terrycloth. Many times you will see microfibers
spun in combination with other yarns in order to achieve
a desired result. For example, nylon microfiber spun with
spandex to give it stretch is a common fabric used in lingerie
and swimwear fabrics. We use an all natural cellulose microfiber
spun with long staple cotton that is then woven in a terrycloth
fabric.
Compare our terrycloth with those of other manufacturers.
The first thing you will notice is how much softer it is.
Also take note of the larger terry loops that we use. These
larger loops allow for more fabric to come into contact
with the surface than other terrycloths.
AlpineMicrofiber™ is DF's trademark for microfiber
yarn. It is a secret process that combines 100% natural
materials into very absorbent and soft yarn that will not
scratch whatever surface it comes into contact with.
Finally, they do not use any chemicals to fool you into
thinking their cloth is softer than the competitor's. DF
Towels are softer naturally and will stay that way.
