Best Cloth To Clean Guitar

Illustration for cloth to clean guitar
Illustration

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A clean, dedicated microfiber cloth is the safest everyday guitar-cleaning tool because it lifts fingerprints and dust without introducing paper-fiber scratches. Keep one dry cloth for routine wipe-downs and a separate cloth for polish; never use a gritty, dropped, or fabric-softener-coated cloth on a finish. Nitrocellulose, satin, matte and unfinished wood all deserve extra caution, so consult the instrument maker before adding any liquid product.

# Product Price Where to buy
1 Fender Premium Plush Microfiber Polishing Cloth $10-$15 Amazon · eBay
2 MusicNomad Microfiber Guitar Detailing Cloth $8-$15 Amazon · eBay
3 Dunlop System 65 Plush Microfiber Cloth 5435 $6-$10 Amazon · eBay
4 Ernie Ball Ultra-Plush Microfiber Polish Cloth P04219 $7-$10 Amazon · eBay
5 Ernie Ball Polish Cloth P04220 $5-$9 Amazon · eBay
6 Dunlop System 65 Micro Fret Cloth 5410 $7-$10 Amazon
7 Dunlop Guitar Finish Cloth 5430 $15-$20 Amazon · eBay
8 Dunlop Miracle Cloth 12 Inch MCR12 $8-$12 Amazon · eBay
9 Dunlop Miracle Cloth 6 Inch MCR06 $6-$10 Amazon · eBay

The picks, in detail

Fender Premium Plush Microfiber Polishing Cloth
Pick 01 of 09

Fender Premium Plush Microfiber Polishing Cloth

Fender’s fine microfiber cloth is explicitly rated for all finishes, including nitrocellulose, making it the straightforward all-purpose body and hardware cloth.

  • fine microfiber
  • compatible with nitrocellulose
  • safe for chrome and polished surfaces
Pros

  • Finish compatibility is clearly stated by Fender
  • Traps dust rather than pushing it around
Cons

  • Single-purpose cloth costs more than generic packs
MusicNomad Microfiber Guitar Detailing Cloth
Pick 02 of 09

MusicNomad Microfiber Guitar Detailing Cloth

A lint-free microfiber towel sold specifically for instrument surface care, sized and finished for wiping dust, fingerprints and cleaning-product residue.

  • super-soft microfiber
  • lint-free construction
  • guitar surface-care design
Pros

  • Purpose-built for instruments
  • Good dedicated dry-cloth choice
Cons

  • Use a separate cloth if applying polish
Dunlop System 65 Plush Microfiber Cloth 5435
Pick 03 of 09

Dunlop System 65 Plush Microfiber Cloth 5435

Dunlop’s 16 by 16 inch terrycloth-microfiber option gives broad coverage for a guitar or bass body.

  • 16 x 16 inch size
  • terrycloth microfiber
  • model 5435
Pros

  • Large cloth speeds up body wipe-downs
  • Official price is modest
Cons

  • Large size is less convenient in a small gig bag
Ernie Ball Ultra-Plush Microfiber Polish Cloth P04219
Pick 04 of 09

Ernie Ball Ultra-Plush Microfiber Polish Cloth P04219

A 12 by 12 inch ultra-plush microfiber cloth that Ernie Ball says can be used with or without cleaning solution.

  • 12 x 12 inch format
  • ultra-plush fibers
  • SKU P04219
Pros

  • Works dry or alongside appropriate cleaner
  • Compact enough for a case pocket
Cons

  • Plush pile can retain debris if not washed
Ernie Ball Polish Cloth P04220
Pick 05 of 09

Ernie Ball Polish Cloth P04220

A washable 12 by 12 inch gray microfiber polishing cloth with stitched edging, suited to a simple everyday case cloth.

  • 12 x 12 inch
  • stitched edging
  • washable microfiber
Pros

  • Simple no-frills option
  • Stitched edge helps resist fraying
Cons

  • Less plush than the P04219 version
Dunlop System 65 Micro Fret Cloth 5410
Pick 06 of 09

Dunlop System 65 Micro Fret Cloth 5410

A small Dunlop cloth designed for detailed fret and hardware work where a broad body cloth is awkward.

  • micro cloth format
  • System 65 line
  • model 5410
Pros

  • Useful for tight work around frets and bridge hardware
  • Officially listed current accessory
Cons

  • Too small to be the only body-cleaning cloth
Price: $7-$10
Dunlop Guitar Finish Cloth 5430
Pick 07 of 09

Dunlop Guitar Finish Cloth 5430

A dedicated guitar-finish cloth from Dunlop for players who prefer a named finish-care accessory over a general household microfiber.

  • guitar-finish-specific product
  • Dunlop care line
  • model 5430
Pros

  • Clear intended use
  • Made by a long-established guitar-care brand
Cons

  • Priced above basic microfiber choices
Dunlop Miracle Cloth 12 Inch MCR12
Pick 08 of 09

Dunlop Miracle Cloth 12 Inch MCR12

The 12-inch Miracle Cloth is a compact reusable option for guitar bodies, hardware and case storage.

  • 12 inch cloth
  • Dunlop Miracle Cloth range
  • model MCR12
Pros

  • Easy case-fit size
  • Cheaper than many branded plush cloths
Cons

  • Smaller coverage than the 16-inch System 65 cloth
Dunlop Miracle Cloth 6 Inch MCR06
Pick 09 of 09

Dunlop Miracle Cloth 6 Inch MCR06

A six-inch Miracle Cloth for spot-cleaning hardware, control areas and small instruments rather than whole-body polishing.

  • 6 inch cloth
  • Dunlop accessory
  • model MCR06
Pros

  • Small enough for a compact maintenance kit
  • Useful as a separate hardware cloth
Cons

  • Not practical for cleaning a full-size guitar body

Buying tips

  • Wipe strings, neck, body and hardware after playing with a clean dry cloth before dirt hardens.
  • Keep polish and dry-use cloths separate; embedded grit can scratch a finish.
  • For nitrocellulose, satin, matte or unfinished surfaces, follow the guitar maker’s finish instructions before using cleaner or polish.

As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner, toptenpick.com earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are subject to change.

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