Microfiber cloths can be used for dusting, wiping, and rubbing away dirt and stains, which makes these apparently simple items some of the most used cleaning tools in any home.
Since these cloths are so helpful, it's only fair that you treat them with the care they need. Besides, not cleaning them properly will make them less effective at cleaning—don't let that happen!Â
Here are two methods to wash your microfiber cloths.
Method #1. The easy way: Machine wash
Using a washing machine will save you all the trouble of rubbing and squeezing the water out of the cloths. So, if you don't have much time to spare, the machine wash method is perfect!
Step 1. Separate the clothsÂ
Microfiber can easily get caught in other fabrics or catch loose lint and dirt—plus, since the cloths are most likely filthy, they could pass on some of that dirt to the rest of your fabrics. So, when using a washing machine to clean microfiber cloths, you need to do a load just for them.
Step 2. Shake off the cloths and clean deep stains
Get rid of the loose dirt and crumbs by shaking each rag over a trash can. Then, if they have deep-set stains, apply some detergent directly onto the stain before shoving the cloth in the washing machine—this will help loosen up the grime.
Step 3. Set up the washing machine
As with your regular loads, the first thing to do is pour the detergent. However, the amount of detergent needs to be much less than what you usually use for another load of a similar size—you can use half of the regular amount or just a couple of teaspoons of detergent—otherwise, the detergent could clog the spaces between fibers.
When setting up the washing cycle, select warm water for soiled cloths or cold water if the fabric is not that dirty. Never select hot water when washing microfiber. This fabric is made of plastic fibers that could wear down from the heat.
Step 4. Air dry
Once the washing cycle is over, you need to dry the cloths. Since microfiber is sensitive to heat, shoving your cloths in a dryer could do more harm than good. It's better to leave them outside to air dry, but don't worry; microfiber dries more quickly than other fabrics!
Method #2. A simple alternative: Handwash
If you don't have a washing machine or don't want to do a load just for the cloths, you can wash them by hand. This method is just as effective, if slightly more laborious and time-consuming.
Step 1. Shake off the cloths
Shake the microfiber cloths over a trash can to eliminate loose crumbs and dirt. Doing this will make the rest of the cleaning process more manageable.
Step 2. Set up a bowl with soapy water
Fill a bowl with either warm or cold water—hot water could damage the plastic fibers. Then, pour a splash of laundry detergent into the bowl, but be careful not to overdo it; the soap could clog the fabric's spaces between fibers.
Step 3. Rub the stains off and soak the cloths
Put the cloths in the water and rub them together over the stains. Then, leave the cloths for 10 to 15 minutes soaking in soapy water for the rest of the dirt and grime to come off—you can repeat this process as many times as you need.
Step 4. Rinse and air dry
Rinse with clean water to remove the soap and leave the cloths to air dry. The microfiber shouldn't take too long to dry since it dries pretty quickly!
Give your microfiber cloths a well-deserved break!
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