July 5, 2021
How to Clean Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
I love cleaning with microfiber – it’s versatile, economical, and eco-friendly. My favorite benefit? How well it cleans. No lint, no spreading dirt and germs around, and you only need to wipe once and your surface is clean. I get quite a few questions surrounding how I clean my microfiber cleaning cloths (I have a whole collection of my favorite cloths + towels here!) – so if you’ve ever wondered this, today’s post is for you.
A common misconception with any cleaning cloth that you wash and reuse is that it might not be clean or that you might spread germs around from the cloth as you clean. The thing with microfiber is that its ‘micro’ fibers actually the dirt and germs and holds on to them in lieu of spreading them around. I think that’s what holds people back from switching from cleaning wipes and paper towels – maybe you can relate? Let’s bust open those misconceptions today and talk about HOW to make sure your cleaning cloths are actually clean before you use them.
Please note: Check the care label on your microfiber first, these are my personal recommendations and how I care for my microfiber cloths.
Here are a couple basic ‘rules’ for washing microfiber:
- Microfiber can be rinsed and wrung out as your using it – don’t just wipe once (unless it’s toilets or something germs/dirty). Rinse, wring and continue using.
- Wash only with other microfiber cloths. If you put other laundry items in the washing machine with your microfiber it turns into a static magnet – just avoid that altogether by washing microfiber all by itself.
- Find a place to hold the microfiber while it’s drying and before you have a load to wash. I keep a bucket on the back of our washing machine and toss dirty microfiber cloths in there. If a cloth is wet I drape it over the side of the bucket until it’s dry and then I place it in the bucket. Dusting cloths don’t get mixed into this bucket, this bucket is for bathroom cleaning cloths so there isn’t cross-contamination.
- Wash on HOT or sanitize – most germs and microorganisms are killed at 140 degrees Fahrenheit. I wash my microfiber that needs to be sanitized on HOT or sanitize. You can look up your particular washing machine or brand and see what temperature the hot and sanitize cycles get to and decide what’s best for you. (As a general rule, washing on warm and drying on low to medium will kill the germs in your cleaning cloths, but if you need to sanitize, it will need to be warmer.)
- I wash the microfiber cloths in this bucket weekly and then run a sanitize/clean cycle on the washing machine. Bonus: clean cloths + a clean washing machine. Not sure how to clean your washing machine? You should be doing it monthly at the least to avoid spreading germs in your clothes, bedding, cleaning cloths, etc. Here’s how with a free printable!
- Launder with detergent – use less (I use half the amount that I usually use) so it fully rinses out.
- Do not use fabric softener – it coats the fibers and ruins its effectiveness, but it’s safe to add a 1/4 cup of white vinegar if you’d like.
- Dry in the dryer on low to medium. Drying the microfiber in the dryer will kill any germs that might remain after washing them.
Cleaning with microfiber is easy and with a couple simple steps you’ll find that it’s simple to care for and keep clean.
Jessica Says
What’s the good word on stained microfiber cloths? I have glass cleaning cloths I recently used on windows of a new home we are renovating and they were filthy afterward. One run through the wash and they’re stained with gray streaks from all the dirt.
Suzanne Says
I heard that washing them on hot causes the fibers to sort of melt together, thus diminishing or ruining the effectiveness. Any thoughts or advice on that?
b r Says
Post authorI have never experienced that…
Katherine Says
I use microfiber cloths as well. The reason you use hot water is so that the fibers swell. When they swell, it releases the grime that is deep within the fibers.
GrannyPJ Says
What if you already washed some of your microfiber cloths and used fabric softener? Can they be washed again without to restore them or should they be thrown away?
b r Says
Post authorJust stop using the fabric softener, they should be fine going forward 🙂
Karen Says
I have the same problem as Jessica – stains that won’t wash out. Any tips? It doesn’t change the effectiveness, but just looks dirty. Thanks.
b r Says
Post authorSoak in hot water with a scoop or two of oxygen whitener – wash as usual! Here’s my favorite:
http://amzn.to/2unyhAT
Teresa Drake Says
The link above for your whitener leads me to Amazon, but no product is featured. 😞
Debi Says
I have 2 questions. Why can’t I wash them with other cleaning cloths or towels? (I don’t use fabric softener.)
Also, when I clean my granite, it is very streaky with micro cloth…is it a bad cloth, or am I a bad cleaner? It is the wash cloth kind, like your blue ones. Not the polish kind.
b r Says
Post authorThey will become static-y – if you don’t mind that, go ahead and wash with other cleaning cloths or towels. Try rinsing it out a couple times while you’re wiping down the counters OR you might have some buildup or just kitchen oil that’s spreading around. Have you tried my granite cleaner? It’s pretty awesome:
https://www.cleanmama.net/2016/04/diy-cleaners-marble-granite-cleaning-spray.html
Marcy Davis Says
How do you recommend cleaning the polishing cloths?
b r Says
Post authorWith the other microfiber cleaning cloths 🙂
Laginia Meyer Says
Are you cleaning the inside of your toilet, (like under the lid, ring and inside bowl???) with the microfiber cleaning clothes or just the outside of toilet?
b r Says
Post authorJust the outside for the bowl and the seat.
Sue S. Says
I overwinter many plants utilizing every sunny spot indoors. They shed leaves, etc. in the less ideal conditions. When I’ve tried to clean with microfiber cloths, bits of dried plants get embedded in the surface of the cloths. Washing doesn’t remove the debris. After sessions of cleaning the bits out of the surface by hand too many times, I’ve given up. Any suggestions? Thanks!
b r Says
Post authorTry a lint roller over the cloths 🙂
Sue Says
Is there a right side and wrong side to microfiber cloths?
b r Says
Post authorBoth sides are usable 🙂
Salmeen Says
How do you differentiate between bathroom cloths and kitchen cloths? Do you use a different color or just write “Bathroom” on the cloths using a fabric marker?
b r Says
Post authorI run them through the sanitize cycle 🙂
VM Says
Do you wash bathroom microfiber cloths with other microfiber cloths like kitchen cloths??? I worry about cross- contamination if all the microfiber cloths wash together.
b r Says
Post authorI wash bathroom cloths separately.
Katie Says
I know that you really only need to use water with microfiber cloths, but I also like to use homemade cleaners on tougher messes, will this ruin the microfiber?
b r Says
Post authorNope! I use cleaner all the time with my microfiber cloths 🙂
Carly Says
Can I use wool dryer balls with the microfiber towels?
b r Says
Post authorFor sure!
M Says
Do you use a lot of cloths so that you end up with a reasonably normal sized load or do you wash when there are only a handful of cloths? Maybe (probably!) I don’t clean as much as I should, but even when I do I end up with no more than 4 bathroom cloths and maybe 4 other cloths in a week’s time. Then if I separate them, well, that makes for a really small load, or a pretty long holding time until I wash again. Or should I be changing my cloth more often, even if I am rinsing as I go? The cleaner I use is an internet recipe called “blue magic” that is white vinegar, Dawn, and water, so there are always soap suds to wash out. (I think I got too much Dawn when I made it.) I always heard washing with towels or other cloths that shed lint would cause the microfiber to catch and retain the lint and make them less effective. Thanks for this article; I love my microfiber cloths, but caring for them properly has always caused me productivity-reducing anxiety!!
b r Says
Post authorI have a small load every week but I use them to clean during the week too – maybe 20 or so cloths?
Barb Says
I switched to Micro Cloths last year. I bought them in different colors so I would always know which ones are for what purpose!
Blue is for windows and glass
White is for kitchen
Green is for dusting
Pink is for bathroom
Yellow is for toilets
On my cleaning buckets is a color code for the kids and hubs. The yellow is always washed on its own too.
b r Says
Post authorLove it!
Terri Says
Can I use a bit of bleach in the cycle? Our water heater is set to 120° and I have a regular top load washer, so no sanitize cycle. I always put 1/4 cup of bleach in for towels and sheets.
b r Says
Post authorI don’t recommend using bleach – try 1/4 cup vinegar in the softener dispenser instead.
Tiffany Naveroski Says
When I use my clothes I find that the leave behind little dust particles or lint or something. I’m not getting a streak free cleaning. Any thoughts on why this would be happening? I wash on sanitize cycle and hang dry in my laundry room.
b r Says
Post authorTry drying them in the dryer – that will remove some of the lint!
Rita Says
Do you wash your floor microfiber cloths separately? Thank you.
Clean Mama Says
Post authorI wash all microfiber together 🙂
Carrie Says
How long do you use one towel for? Do you wipe your counters down with 1 towel and consider it dirty or do you clean with it for a couple of days? Example like your kitchen counter? Refrigerator handles ect..
Clean Mama Says
Post authorOne day 🙂