Stop Ruining Your Microfibre Cloths: 4 Rules That Make Them Last for Years

If your microfibre cloths do not work like they used to, the problem is not the cloth.

It is likely how they are being washed.

How Microfibre Actually Works

Microfibres are designed to grab dirt, grease and bacteria at a microscopic level. The fibres are split during manufacturing to create thousands of tiny hooks that physically trap particles rather than just moving them around.

The wrong wash method clogs or melts those fibres. Once that happens, no amount of re-washing brings them back. The damage is permanent.

The 4 Rules for Washing Microfibre Cloths

• Rule 1: Wash on a hot cycle (60 degrees or above). Hot water kills bacteria and properly sanitises the cloth after use on bathrooms and kitchens. A cold wash will not get them truly clean.
• Rule 2: Never use fabric softener. This is the most common mistake. Fabric softener coats the fibres with a waxy residue that permanently clogs them. Once it is in, it does not come out. Your cloth becomes useless. Skip fabric softener entirely when washing microfibre.
• Rule 3: Use washing detergent only. Standard powder or liquid detergent is all you need. Avoid heavily scented or conditioning formulas and stick to a simple detergent.
• Rule 4: Air dry or tumble dry on low heat only. High heat from a dryer can melt and fuse the synthetic fibres, permanently damaging the structure. Air drying is best. If you use a dryer, use the lowest heat setting available.

Should You Wash Them With Other Laundry?

Wash microfibre cloths separately from cotton items like towels and tea towels. Cotton sheds lint during washing and that lint gets trapped in the microfibre, reducing its effectiveness. A separate microfibre wash takes five extra minutes and makes a significant difference to how well your cloths perform.

How Often Should You Wash Them?

After every use on high-contact surfaces like bathrooms and kitchens. For general dusting cloths, washing after every two or three uses is usually sufficient. The more loaded a cloth becomes with dirt, the less effectively it cleans. A full cloth just redistributes grime.

How Long Should They Last?

Washed correctly, a quality microfibre cloth can last 200 to 500 wash cycles. That is years of use from a single cloth. Washed incorrectly with softener or high heat, they may be ruined within a handful of washes.

All the best, Liam and Andrew