Microfiber cloths are not your typical fluffy washcloths; they are powerful cleaning workhorses. Microfiber cloths are different from cotton or nylon in that they have thousands of microscopic fibers. One square inch of microfiber cloth can have up to 200,000 fibers. These small fibers are what make microfiber cloths so effective at collecting and retaining dirt, grime, and liquid without the need for detergent or water. Therefore, it is important to properly clean and dry microfiber cloths after every use.
The quality of even the best microfiber cleaning cloths depends on how well you maintain them. You can’t just throw a microfiber cloth in the washing machine and expect it to come out clean. In this article, we’ll show you how to clean your microfiber cleaning cloths in between uses so that you always have clean ones on hand.
Things to Keep an Eye Out For When Washing Microfiber Cloths
- Avoid using fabric softeners, as they clog the microfiber’s pores and render the material unusable.
- Use caution when washing anything else with microfiber. Any item made of cotton should be avoided because to the microfiber’s tendency to attract and hold onto lint.
- If you must mix loads, choose other synthetics that don’t shed lint instead of cotton or wool.
- Like with any other laundry chore, sort your white or light microfiber from your dark microfiber before washing.
Hand Washing Microfiber Cloths
Time needed: 16 minutes
- Before you wash them, give them a good shake.
Before washing the Microfiber cloths, take them outside and shake off the excess dust and dirt. This makes sure that they won’t be mixed up with your washing water.
- Wash in warm water
The cloth should be washed by hand in warm water using a detergent that does not have any added fragrances or softeners. When doing laundry, use as little detergent as possible. A few people argue that you shouldn’t use any detergent at all.
- Hand scrubbing
Scrub any heavily stained areas by hand. It may take some time, but you should keep at it.
- Let it soak
After scrubbing the stains by hand, let the cloth soak for 15 to 20 minutes before agitating again.
- Rinse thoroughly
Wring out excess water after washing and rinsing the towel in running water.
Machine Washing Microfiber Cloths
Time needed: 20 Minutes
1. Shake off the excess dust and dirt
Like we said before with hand washing, shake off the excess dust and dirt outside.
2. Do not use hot water
Use cold or warm water, but never hot, in the washing machine. By not using hot water, the electric charge of the clothes can be preserved while the dirt and filth are washed away.
3. Use only a mild amount of detergent
If you must use detergent, pick one that is mild and free of added scents or laundry additives. Put in no more than two teaspoons of detergent. Put a tablespoon of white vinegar into the wash if the microfiber towels have a bad smell that has to be removed.
4. Let the washing continue
Let your washing machine run for half the running cycle. Let the clothes soak for 15–20 minutes, then restart the washing cycle and let it finish.
5. Shake out the wrinkles
It’s best to get the wrinkled fabric out of the washing machine as soon as possible and give it a good shake.
How To Properly Dry Microfiber Cloths
It’s not enough to simply wash your microfiber cleaning cloths. Microfiber cloths need to be dried properly to ensure they retain their charge and stay lint-free for as long as possible.
Microfiber cloths dry fastest when hung in direct sunlight or airflow. Don’t dry them in the dryer; doing so will drastically impair the microfiber’s effectiveness.
If you must dry your clothes in a machine, do it carefully. If you want your microfiber towels to come out of the dryer looking as wonderful as they did when you washed them, strictly follow these guidelines:
- You can prevent the microfiber from attracting extra lint by clearing the lint trap.
- It’s important to sort clothes before drying them. Towels made of microfiber material can be washed independently. Microfiber will collect lint from other fabrics if you dry them in the dryer with microfiber.
- Choose a low-heat setting.
- Put it in the dryer without a dryer sheet and let it dry. Dryer sheets of the highest quality might nevertheless clog the towel’s fibres, reducing the towel’s absorbency.
- Once the drying is complete, take them out immediately and don’t ever iron anything. The fibres will melt if they are overheated.
Tips To Maintain Your Microfiber Cloths
If you want to keep your microfiber cloths in good condition, shake them after each use to release dust and grime, and then wash them in warm or cold water. Keep microfiber cleaning cloths in a designated container, away from other cleaning cloths or such materials. Cleaning chemicals should not be used with microfiber cloths, and use only the bare minimum amount of chemicals if necessary. Many types of microfibers may be cleaned with just water. Clothes made of microfiber should never be ironed, as the high heat could melt the fibres.
