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I’ve been using microfiber for cleaning for close to 10 years – I love it and I always tell you to use it 🙂 but it’s been a while since I talked about why I use it. First of all, you should know that I started using any microfiber I could find cheap and have even recommended them to you but have since changed my thoughts of that after doing extensive research on microfiber. There isn’t anything wrong with using the cheapest microfiber you can find, I’m all about keeping things budget friendly, BUT I can tell you that if you hate that scratchy feeling of microfiber (I do!), don’t buy the cheapest ones you can find. You won’t enjoy using them and quite honestly, a higher grade of microfiber (higher ratio of polyamide to polyester and micron rating) does make a difference.


- bathrooms – I think that microfiber shines in the bathroom – it’s great for faucets, toilets, tubs, and mirrors. I use separate cloths for these surfaces to avoid cross-contamination.
- dusting – use for dry dusting or with your favorite polish. I also use a microfiber dusting wand in lieu of a feather duster for quick dusting.
- kitchen – they work amazingly on counters, cabinets, drawers, and appliances – especially stainless steel.
- automobiles – use to wipe down seats, dashes, doors, and general cleaning.
- baseboards and floors – if you want a superiorly washed floor or baseboard, try using microfiber.
- general cleaning – if you would use a paper towel, you can use a microfiber cleaning cloth instead.
QUICK TIP: I prefer to use microfiber slightly damp – I spray surfaces and wipe clean with a slightly/barely damp microfiber cloth.
What’s the big deal with microfiber?
- #1 reason I love it? The microscopic fibers pick up more dirt and germs!
- you can clean using only water or your favorite cleaner (non-toxic is always best!)
- no lint left behind on surfaces
- no streaks on windows, mirrors, and surfaces
- eco-friendly – use in place of paper towels or wipes for cleaning
- each microfiber cloth has 300+ uses
- washes easily
How to launder microfiber
- microfiber can be rinsed and wrung out as your using it
- wash only with other microfiber cloths – I keep a bucket on the back of our washing machine and toss dirty ones in there. I wash them weekly all together and then run a sanitize cycle on the washing machine.
- 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
- dry in the dryer on low
What is microfiber made from?
- polyester/polyamide (nylon) blend – the percentages of polyester to polyamide will vary from brand to brand.
- The higher the polyamide percentage, the tighter weave and the softer feel.
A quick science lesson
Why does microfiber work? Microfiber is composed of microscopic fibers made from polyester and polyamide (both are essentially fibers made from plastic). These microfibers are up to 50-100 times thinner than a human hair – hence the name microfibers. Because of these microscopic, teeny tiny fibers, they grab and hold dirt better than a conventional cleaning cloth, cleaning wipe, or paper towel. Microfiber grabs germs and holds them – some cloth companies claim that they kill germs and germs on surfaces. This claim is warranted, but any high quality microfiber cleaning cloth grabs germs from surfaces just simply because of construction.
What about brands?
Let’s talk about brands – I’m not going to mention any brands by name but do your research and find one that you love. If you don’t love them, you won’t use them. There are a lot of choices out there and the choices will most likely multiply as microfiber becomes more and more popular.
I sell microfiber cleaning cloths in my Clean Mama Home shop – I’ve had them made FOR me and I feel that they are amazing. I carry 2 basic cloths – a utility cloth (aqua) and a polishing cloth (gray). You can find a microfiber cleaning cloth for just about any surface but I wanted to keep things simple for me and for my customers because quite honestly, I found that when I had a whole slew of cleaning cloths for different purposes I was only coming back to two.






This post is part of a new series – Homekeeping Basics. In the series I’ll talk about ingredients, products, and some simple, basic homekeeping 101 sorts of things. I hope you enjoy it!
Amy Miller Says...
I’ve just discovered microfiber. It’s an entirely new world for me! I’m not a “cleanie” so any cleaning products that make it easier to keep my home clean, are worth considering! Thank you!
Donna DeVoy Says...
With me having many allergies I was so blessed to finding mircrofiber cloths for my daily cleaning. Love them ❤️❤️❤️❤️
An Says...
Just wish you posted to Australia. 🙁
Becky Says...
Post authorWorking on it!
Annie Sea Says...
I’m not sure where I got the idea from, but I thought you were only supposed to use water when cleaning with a microfiber cloth. For some reason, I was thinking chemicals messed them up…kinda like fabric softener does??
Becky Says...
Post authorNope, you can use them dry, damp, or with cleaners 🙂
Sharalyn Says...
Hi! This is probably a silly question, but how would the dusting mit work on baseboards or windows? Those are the two chores my kids ‘like’ to help with, and I feel a mit would be so much easier for them 🙂 Love your blog!
Becky Says...
Post authorGreat! You can use them dry or with a spray cleaner – great idea!
Beth Says...
What is the best temperature to wash microfiber cloths to get them really CLEAN? Does hot water make them shrink or is it hard on them at all? And for the dryer temperature, is that low or high?
b r Says...
Post authorHot/sanitize – you can dry on low 🙂
Marcy Davis Says...
Hi Becky, how do you recommend cleaning the polishing cloths? Can they be washed with the microfiber cloths, or separate?
b r Says...
Post authorJust wash them with any other microfiber cloths 🙂
Taylor Says...
Love these! Do you ever offer free shipping?
b r Says...
Post authorOccasionally 🙂
Amy Says...
Can I wash the bar mop towels with the microfiber cloths?
b r Says...
Post authorNo, always wash microfiber ONLY with microfiber 🙂
Alison Says...
Why is this? I am having a hard time justifying running an entire cycle every week for 10 cloths…
Tasi Says...
I hated microfiber for a long time…UNTIL the other day I saw you mention in some Instagram comments or something the same thing you wrote here about ONLY washing microfiber together. PROBLEM SOLVED. I couldn’t stand how linty and strings and weird they’d get when washed with other towels or rags. PS Also just tried your idea for castile soap with water for foaming soap…and feel like an idiot for wasting so much money buying expensive brand-name refills. I didn’t like how other soaps worked, tried that before in a pinch, but the castile is perfect. Question: I have an older top-load washer without a sanitize cycle. Is it safe do you think to still use microfiber on the toilets? I have boys and they are so gross. Or could I throw some sort of natural laundry additive in to help sanitize?
b r Says...
Post authorIf you have a HOT setting that should be about the same temperature as sanitize. You can also add 1/4 white vinegar to the load too 🙂
mb Says...
Thank you so much, this was a really helpful post! I want to make sure I’m reading correctly, you wash them all together using hot? and then you run the sanitize cycle empty after?
b r Says...
Post authorYes!
Pistol Says...
Wish you would recommend a brand to try. Don’t want to waste time and money trying to find one to love. Anyone have recommendations?
b r Says...
Post authorI recommend my brand – they’re linked throughout the post and at the bottom 🙂
Anne Says...
Hi! I used your microfiber cloths from amazon today and loved them! I washed them as recommended—separately—and dried them. However, I don’t see a “sanitize” cycle on my washing machine. So although my bathrooms are clean now I feel like my washer has all the bathroom germs in it…should I just run a rinse cycle? Thoughts on how to make sure I’m not getting bathroom germs into our upcoming loads of laundry? Thank you so much!
Clean Mama Says...
Post authorEither run the next cycle on your hottest cycle or ‘clean’ your washing machine – here’s how:
https://cleanmama.com/how-to-naturally-clean-any-washing-machine-free-printable/
I usually run the microfiber every week or two as my last load of the week and finish by cleaning the machine with white vinegar. Glad you’re loving the microfiber!
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