Clean Microfiber
Microfiber is a material created from extremely thin artificial fibers. It is useful for making highly absorbent items, such as dish or cleaning cloths, towels and the like. It's very easy to keep clean, as you'll learn here.
Contents
Steps
Cleaning a microfiber cloth by machine
- Wash separately from clothing and linens. Cleaning cloths will be especially dirty and you won't want this transferred to clothing.
- Treat for stains. This step is optional––if it doesn't bother you that a cleaning cloth carries a stain, skip doing this.
- Wash in hot water. Hot water is able to remove the worst of the grime. Your washing machine will also appreciate the fact that you're pushing the added grime out using hot water.
- Hang over a clothes horse or hanging rack to dry. These cloths can be dried in a dryer but why waste the energy when air drying will happen quickly and you don't have to waste an entire drying load on just cleaning cloths?
Cleaning a microfiber cloth by hand
- Dampen each cloth. Then, rub a paste made of baking soda with a little water over each cloth. Let sit for a half hour. The baking soda will absorb odors and start cleaning the cloths.
- Fill the sink with warm, soapy water. Dip the cloths in and gently scrub them between your hands. Remove all of the baking soda paste and dirt that lifts with it.
- Rinse. Use cold or warm water to rinse, whatever you prefer.
- Add a few drops of lemon juice across each cloth after rinsing, for a fresh scent.
- Hang to air dry. They will be lovely and clean again.
Cleaning really dirty microfiber cloths
- Drop each filthy, oily, greasy, etc. microfiber cloth into a bucket of hot soapy water. Use basic dish washing detergent for the soapy part.
- Let sit overnight.
- Drain the next day. Rinse.
- Toss in the washing machine. Wash these cloths alone, to avoid transferring grease, oil, etc. Add slightly more laundry powder than usual (but be careful not to overdo a front loader, as this can damage the machine). Wash using a hot setting.
- Remove and let air dry.
Cleaning a microfiber towel
Microfiber towels are often used for camping, sports and outdoors pursuits, to mop up sweat, dry oneself or to keep gear and cooking equipment clean.
- For towels that are used for drying the body, use the normal washing process as outlined above for the microfiber cloths (machine or hand).
- If you want to wash the towels in a machine with other clothing, place inside a lingerie washing bag to keep the towel(s) separate from other clothing. This will stop the transfer of fibers from other clothing onto the towels.
- For towels that are heavily soiled or grimy, use the method outlined above for really dirty microfiber cloths.
Cleaning a microfiber couch or sofa
Tips
- Stains on microfiber items do not usually affect their ability to clean, dust or dry; it is an issue of appearance rather than utility.
- If you do want to use a dryer to dry microfiber, use the low heat setting only to tumble dry the microfiber (else it risks melting). And dry it alone––if other fabrics are added at the same time, the fluff, etc., will be attracted to the microfiber cloth. Which sort of makes cleaning it pointless!
- Microsuede is part of the microfiber family. For tips on cleaning it, see Clean Microsuede and How to clean microsuede furniture.
Warnings
- Do not use fabric softener on microfiber cloths; this will clog them up and they won't be as effective at cleaning or drying.
- Do not use bleach on microfiber cloths; it will cause the fibers to deteriorate and lose strength.
- Do not iron microfiber cloths. This will melt the fibers.
