Wash microfiber cloths in the machine on warm or hot water with a small amount of detergent, and leave out fabric softener and dryer sheets. Wash them in their own load, away from cotton towels, then tumble dry on low or hang them up. Dusting cloths are the exception: cold water and air dry.
That comes straight from E-Cloth's washing instructions, which allow machine washing up to 140°F (60°C) for most of its cloths, say hot water works best, and suggest only 1 to 2 teaspoons of detergent for a few cloths. Check your own cloth's label, since other brands set different limits.
Why you shouldn't use fabric softener on microfiber#
Microfiber works because its split fibers leave tiny gaps that grab dust, grease, and grime. Softener and dryer sheets coat the fibers and fill those gaps. E-Cloth calls softener "the kryptonite to our fibers." The cloth still feels soft, but it starts smearing instead of picking up. The same goes for detergents with built-in softener, often sold as "2 in 1". Plain detergent is what you want.
How to wash microfiber cloths in the washing machine#
- Rinse the worst of the dirt out first. A cloth full of grease or grit dirties the rest of the load.
- Sort them. Cloths used on toilets and bathroom floors go in a separate wash from kitchen and glass cloths. A color system (say, red for the toilet, blue for glass) makes sorting quick.
- Wash them on their own, or only with other microfiber. Cotton towels shed lint, and microfiber grabs every bit of it.
- Use a teaspoon or two of plain liquid detergent for a handful of cloths. More detergent doesn't clean better, and the excess can stay in the fibers and leave them stiff.
- Pick warm or hot water, up to the label's limit. Skip bleach. E-Cloth says too much of it damages the fibers.
- Tumble dry on low with no dryer sheet, or hang them. They dry fast either way.
E-Cloth suggests washing most of its cloths about once a week, depending on use. Kitchen cloths used daily need washing more often than that; a damp cloth left in a heap overnight can smell by morning.
How to hand wash microfiber cloths#
For one or two cloths between loads: rinse in warm water, rub in a drop of dish soap or detergent, work it through the fibers, then rinse until the water runs clear and no suds come out. Wring it out and hang it somewhere it can dry quickly. Don't leave it bunched up on the edge of the sink.
Can you put microfiber cloths in the dryer?#
Yes, on low or no heat, without dryer sheets. Microfiber is made from polyester and nylon, which are plastics, so high dryer heat isn't worth the risk to the fibers. Dusting cloths and dusters are better hung to dry; E-Cloth says its dusting products perform best air-dried and should be washed in cold water.
How to fix microfiber cloths that went stiff or stopped working#
Stiffness and streaking usually mean residue, either from softener, too much detergent, or grease that never washed out. Before you throw them out, try this:
- Rewash them in hot water (within the label's limit) with no detergent at all, or only a few drops.
- Run an extra rinse.
- Dry without dryer sheets and test one on a mirror.
E-Cloth recommends rewashing right away if softener or dryer sheets went in by mistake, so the sooner you catch it the better. A cloth that's been through softener many times may not fully recover.
When to replace microfiber cloths#
Replace a cloth when it stays rough or crunchy after a residue wash, leaves streaks on glass even when clean, has holes or frayed edges shedding threads, or still smells after washing. Stains on their own don't matter. A stained kitchen cloth that still picks up grease is fine to keep using; demote it to rough jobs like wheels or the garage.
Between washes#
Hang used cloths over the edge of a bucket or a hook until wash day. A wet cloth thrown into a closed hamper for a week is how you end up with a smell that won't wash out. Store clean ones dry and away from the used pile.
Keep glass cloths for glass. A cloth that's been on the cooker hood carries grease with it, and on a window that means streaks you'll chase for ages. A dedicated cloth makes cleaning windows much quicker.
Microfiber mop pads follow the same rules, so you can wash them in the same load; how to clean a mop head covers the rest. If you're also replacing kitchen sponges with cloths, see when to replace kitchen sponges. A weekly ChoreLists.com reminder for "microfiber wash, no softener" is enough to make it a habit.