Jen’s Take on the Griot’s Garage PFM Drying Towel

Drying is the step where a lot of people accidentally scratch their paint, so the towel you use really matters. This Griot’s PFM is the one I reach for, because it does the whole car in basically one pass and it glides instead of dragging.

The magic is the long-loop terry weave. Those long fibers act like a magnet for water, so you just lay it flat, pull it across a panel, and the beads vanish. It holds a crazy amount of water, up to about six pounds, so I am not stopping to wring it out every thirty seconds like I do with a thin towel. And unlike some of the ultra-thick towels out there, it does not fight you with surface tension and drag.

The satin edging is a detail I appreciate. The rounded, satin-bound corners mean there are no hard edges or exposed seams to tick across your clear coat, which is exactly where towel-induced swirls come from. Drying safely is the whole point of a good wash, and it is the step where I see the most avoidable damage, which is why I walk through it in our how to wash a car guide. Get the water off quickly and evenly and you also head off the hard water spots that show up when water is left to air dry.

Why You’ll Love the Griot’s PFM Drying Towel

• One-pass drying from a long-loop terry weave that pulls water up fast
• Holds up to 6 pounds of water so you dry the whole car without constant wringing
• Glides, does not drag, no surface tension fight like ultra-thick towels
• Satin-edged with rounded corners to prevent towel-induced scratches and add durability
• Generous 25 by 35 inch size that drapes over panels for easy, even drying
• Premium automotive microfiber that outperforms and outlasts cheaper drying towels

What Is the Griot’s Garage PFM Terry Weave Drying Towel?

The Griot’s Garage PFM Terry Weave Drying Towel is an ultra-premium microfiber drying towel built to remove large amounts of water from your paint quickly and safely. Its long-fiber terry weave acts like a magnet for water droplets, so a single pass across a panel lifts the water instead of pushing it around.

Because the long-loop weave does not create the surface tension and drag common to ultra-thick towels, it glides across the finish and can hold as much as six pounds of water. It measures 25 by 35 inches, with rounded corners and bound-in satin edging that boosts both safety and durability. If you want to dry your car fast without risking swirl marks, this is a towel that earns its spot in your kit.

How To Dry Your Car Safely (The Right Way)

1. Do a final rinse first. A clean sheeting rinse leaves less standing water and less grit for the towel to pick up.
2. Lay the towel flat on the panel. Drape it over the surface and let the long fibers grab the water.
3. Drag, do not scrub. Pull it gently across the panel in one direction and let the weave do the work. No pressure needed.
4. Work top to bottom. Start with the cleanest upper panels and save the dirtier lower areas for last, or use a separate towel down low.
5. Wash it on its own. Launder your drying towels separately from other microfiber, with no fabric softener, so they stay absorbent.

Pro tip from Jen: keep your drying towel off the very bottom of the car and never bring a section that touched the lower panels back up onto clean paint. That is how grit from the rockers ends up scratching your doors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much water does the Griot’s PFM drying towel hold?

The long-loop terry weave can hold as much as six pounds of water, which is why it can dry a full car with very little wringing.

Will this towel scratch my paint?

It is designed to prevent scratches. The premium microfiber glides instead of dragging, and the rounded corners with bound-in satin edging remove the hard edges and seams that usually cause towel-induced swirls.

How big is it?

It measures 25 by 35 inches, large enough to drape over a panel and dry it in a pass or two.

Is a terry weave better than a waffle weave for drying?

Many detailers prefer this long-fiber terry weave because it grabs and holds more water in one pass and glides more easily than a thick waffle weave, so it dries faster with less drag.

How do I care for it?

Wash it separately from other microfiber, avoid fabric softener and high heat, and let it dry fully. Cared for this way it stays soft and absorbent for a long time.