Once you start cleaning with microfiber cloths, you never go back. And while they aren’t one of the pricier cleaning items that you have to purchase, there are still things you can (and should!) do to extend the life of your microfiber cloths. One of those things is not putting them in the dryer and giving them a little extra care when it comes to cleaning them. Here are 6 things you should always clean with microfiber cloths.
How do microfiber cloths work?
To know why you shouldn’t put microfiber cloths in the dryer, you first have to understand how they work. The idea of “many hands make light work” is the basic principle that makes microfiber cloths a cleaning dream. Unlike cotton or nylon cloths, which have large fibers, microfiber cloths have thousands of tiny fibers. In fact, there are 200,000 fibers in one square inch of a microfiber cloth. When you’re cleaning, all of those tiny fibers pick up and hold the dirt, dust and liquid.
Besides the thousands of fibers, another aspect that makes these cloths so absorbant is the fact that the fibers are positively charged. The dirt and dust that sit on surfaces in your house is negatively charged, so the mess is attracted to the cloth like a magnet. The microfibers hold onto that dust and dirt until it is released when the cloth is rinsed out.
Why should you not put microfiber cloths in the dryer?
Drying your microfiber cloths on high heat will cause the fibers on the cloth to melt, making them ineffective the next time you try to trap and lock dirt and dust when you’re cleaning. Since they are also designed to pick up lint, they can become dirtier in the dryer by picking up any lint that was left behind from a previous wash. Here’s how to properly clean a microfiber couch.
How should you clean microfiber cloths?
Jennifer Druckamiller, director of product experience at microfiber company Norwex, suggests reusing your microfiber cloths a few times in between laundering. Simply rinse them under warm water after you’re done using them and hang them up to dry.
“When it’s time to lauder, wash microfiber cloths separately or with other lint-free items (microfiber is designed to grab and hold onto lint),” says Druckamiller. “Prevent the fibers from being coated in your washing machine by using a detergent that is free [of] fillers and additives.”
Use cold or warm (not hot) water in the washing machine and never use bleach or fabric softener. By not using hot water, you’ll remove the dirt and grime from the cloths while still keeping their electric charge.
If you’re in a rush to start cleaning and you really need your microfiber cloths dried quickly, you can—cautiously—put them in the dryer on a low heat setting. If your dryer doesn’t have a low or no-heat setting, unfortunately, you’re going to have to put off cleaning while your cloths air-dry. Druckamiller adds that putting them in the dryer (on low) can help to maximize their electrostatic charge, which will help them trap dirt, but she warns to never use dryer sheets because they can coat and damage the fibers, reducing their ability to clean. Also, make sure that you never put any other clothes in the dryer with your cloths because they will pick up the lint off of the other fabrics. Now that you know how to care for your microfiber cloths, make sure to avoid these cleaning mistakes that are actually making your home dirtier.
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Morgan Cutolo