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How to Use Microfiber Cloths for Cleaning

Learn how to clean microfiber cloths so they last and so you release less microplastics into the environment. Clean with microfiber cloths responsibly! 

I’ve used microfiber cloths for cleaning even before they were cool, but I’m starting to struggle with them and can’t really recommend them anymore because microfibers are made of plastic and will never biodegrade. I’m still using the ones I have but trying not to wear them out by washing less and other tricks.

There are just some tasks other cloths can’t do! As I learned when I explored the best cloth diapers, however, you can kill the absorbency of microfiber, so let’s learn how to clean your microfiber cloths after cleaning WITH them.

how to clean with a microfiber cloth

The Dangers of Microplastics in Microfiber Cloths

Microfiber cloths for cleaning do contain microplastics. Basically imagine the lint in your dryer, which proves that little bits and pieces come off our fabrics when we use and wash them.

Microfiber is made of polyester, i.e. plastic, so when little fuzzies come off the towels and go into the water system, they’re causing problems.

Microplastics are awful for the environment and you. In fact, we inhale and ingest over 70,000 microplastics a year.1

One more reason to filter your water really well.

However, the primary source of microplastics comes from microbeads in personal care products.2 Microplastics are a concern with fleece blankets and sweatshirts as well as my formerly favorite cleaning cloths, so I’m working on what the most conscientious move is here since microplastics contaminate our drinking water and soils.3

Why I (Used to) Love Microfiber Cloths for Cleaning

  1. Absorbency
  2. Grippers
  3. No chemical cleaners needed for glass
  4. Still look new after 3 years

Overall, I’m still hopeful that the benefits of cleaning with microfiber outweigh the waste produced by single-use paper towels or wipes. I try to hold onto mine as long as possible!

Cleaning with Microfiber Cloths: Our First Date

My grandmother introduced me to microfiber cloths over a decade ago before they became so in vogue. Microfiber is an incredible fabric, some able to hold up to 7 pounds of water on a square foot of cloth.

Car enthusiasts have long understood their superior drying ability, and you can still find them least expensively in large packages in the automotive section. My grandma gets them from Sam’s Club, and they are much thicker and more absorbent than the package I bought at Meijer (and bright green – how fun!).

Don’t be too frugal here – you can buy in bulk at Sam’s Club, but don’t bother with the dollar store microfibers. They are not anywhere near as thick and just don’t perform as well.

Beyond the super soaking drying feat, microfiber cloths also have an almost abrasive quality to them. They’re not scratchy, but the fibers are so thick, plush, and numerous that they will wipe out a spot much more efficiently than flat fabric cloths. (See number 2 above.)

Microfiber cloths are a great way to decrease our cleaning disposablesgetting rid of paper towels AND cleaners for dusting and mirrors in particular.

microfiber towels for cleaning

Using microfiber has allowed me to get rid of these cleaners:

  • Furniture polish
  • Daily shower spray
  • Glass cleaner

I don’t buy any of these products anymore, which helps my supplies budget, and I don’t have to spray them in my home, which improves our indoor air quality and ultimately, the health and well-being of my family.

Uses for microfiber cloths in cleaning routines:

  • Dusting
  • Wiping down the shower (drying off after each shower/bath)
  • Polishing bathroom counters
  • Cleaning mirrors and windows
  • Dishcloths

How to Clean with Microfiber Cloths

Shower/Tub:

After each shower or bath (almost), the wet surfaces are dried thoroughly with a microfiber cloth, which is so absorbent it’s effortlessly simple. With a little elbow grease, I can clean the “ring around the tub” scum off, again because of that hard-to-describe abrasive-but-not-abrasive gripping quality of the microfiber. It wipes right off.

Sometimes I spray a 50/50 hydrogen peroxide and water solution or straight vinegar on the shower surfaces before and/or after I wipe, but other than that, no cleaners are necessary.

If I let it go for a while, I end up needing a dusting of baking soda to get the scum off, but even that is not a huge job…not even worthy of writing down on the “to-do” list. (Read More: My 3 green cleaners explained.)

Dusting:

I honestly just use a dry or just barely moistened cloth. The microfiber picks up the dust and holds onto it amazingly well, and I don’t worry about the “perfect shine” on my furniture. It’s like dusting with a cloth full of little dust-grippers.

Bathroom counter:

I have a cloth hanging behind our bathroom door that I can grab often (daily, I wish!) to wipe down the counter, grabbing all the dust, fuzzies, beard hair, and what IS all that gunk that gets on perfectly clean bathroom counters so often?

In 60 seconds I can make a yucky counter look like I just cleaned it. This is great for aesthetics when you don’t have time to clean before company comes!

I do need to have a truly clean (sanitized) counter at least once a week, so for that, I use that 50/50 hydrogen peroxide and water spray, and my trusty microfiber cloth. The polished look on the faucet is gorgeous!

cleaning with micrifiber towels

Mirrors/Glass:

I moisten one corner of my microfiber cloth, then wipe the surface in question.

I rub a little on any tough spots, then use the dry half of the cloth to thoroughly dry and polish the glass. It looks perfect every time without ANY cleaner at all. I even used to have a mirror-topped coffee table and a mobile one-year-old, so this technique has had a LOT of use!

I don’t think my windows or mirrors need to be sanitized, but if I really wanted to mimic the ammonia in glass cleaner without the toxicity, I would use a dollop of vinegar in a spray bottle of water and the same technique to polish the glass.

Dishcloths:

I cut a few of my cloths in half to better fit the washcloth size, and also so that I could differentiate between dishcloths and cleaning towels. I like that the super-absorbency can sop up a lot of liquid on my countertop, like after cutting a juicy melon or having a spill, and I like that grippy-ness for cleaning dishes.

Why not on my floors or toilets?

I guess I just don’t want to get those mixed up with my countertops since I don’t wash microfiber with hot water. Can you blame me? I’m using holey socks now and am happier for it!

I make this super simple all-purpose cleaner for my wood floors.

How to Clean Microfiber Cloths

To best care for them, wash your microfiber cloths (I wash mine in the washing machine with laundry soap like normal laundry) and hang them to dry.

I find that I lose the abrasive-grippy-ness when they go through the dryer. I do dry my dishcloths (another reason to cut in half to keep separate) because they need the heat to smell better, and their texture is radically different than the rest of my stash of microfiber towels. (My dishcloths also get an un-stink-erator treatment when I make yogurt.)

ALSO something I learned from the cloth diaper ordeal, when a lot of my microfiber inserts stopped being absorbent (huge problem with cloth diapers, obviously!). Microfiber should NOT be washed on hot because being plastic, they can start to melt a wee bit.

Do not wash them with towels, because the lint from the towels tends to get in the nubby part of the microfiber cloth and decrease its absorbency as well.

Most of mine, after many years, have been mistreated because I didn’t know how to wash microfiber cloths, so they’re not as absorbent anymore 🙁 but still great for mirrors and dusting and regular old counter cleaning.

I have some newer ones from Grove Collaborative now, and OH they’re so lovely. I’m taking very good care of them!

So the two keys to washing microfiber cloths are: no hot water and hang to dry. Whether you wash by hand or machine, with soap or not is up to you.

Other Environmentally-Friendly Cleaning Cloths

I do feel that the best way to save the environment while you clean is to not use anything new at all.

If you have towels that are getting ratty, turn them into cleaning cloths by cutting them in half so they get put away in the right place.

Old T-shirts? Cut into squares to clean toilets or gross things.

Sweatpants that lost the elastic? Clean a toilet and throw away the cloth!

But for shining up mirrors and sinks and scrubbing those tubs, I just haven’t found anything I like as much as microfiber.

Do you clean with microfiber cloths? How do you like them?

Sources

  1. Thompson, D. (2019, June 5). We Eat, Drink, Breathe 70,000 Plastic Bits a Year. Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20190605/we-eat-drink-breathe-70000-plastic-bits-a-year#1
  2. Duis, K., & Coors, A. (2016). Microplastics in the aquatic and terrestrial environment: sources (with a specific focus on personal care products), fate and effects. Environmental Sciences Europe28(1). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5044952/
  3. Machado, A. A. D. S., Lau, C. W., Till, J., Kloas, W., Lehmann, A., Becker, R., & Rillig, M. C. (2018). Impacts of Microplastics on the Soil Biophysical Environment. Environmental Science & Technology52(17), 9656–9665. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6128618/
Unless otherwise credited, photos are owned by the author or used with a license from Canva or Deposit Photos.

66 thoughts on “How to Use Microfiber Cloths for Cleaning”

  1. On a recommendation that PATAGONIA carried them, I bought a GuppyFriend laundry bag to use to launder microfiber cloths. Since someone in my family began selling Norwex, I decided that I would like to feel confident about not contributing to microplastic pollution. I think the GuppyFriend bag solves the problem. Please, if you decide on using microfiber cloths, DO consider a good sturdy laundry bag for them!!

  2. I have different grades of Microfiber cloths in the house since there are so many brands and I have been collecting about 3 years now. Automotive section and dollar store cloths I use for floors, toilets and wall scrubbing. I was very lucky about a year ago when my local grocery store sold 2 packs of e-cloth for $7.00 and I didnt know how good they were at the time…but since they weren’t selling over the months I just bought all 8 packs of the general purpose. Online prices show me that was a steal!!! So I save those for really deep cleaning of table and kitchen surfaces. I had years of learning and research to find out that some of my older cloths( cheaper brands) got harder and nubby from the drier and probably too much detergent. Now I read that good microfiber needs hot water, no detergent ( what????) And fluff dry or air dry. It’s difficult to know the proper care, but I guess low quality microfiber needs different care than the better brands. I am still learning….ugh. But the newest ones ( smart microfiber brand) are staying fluffy and grippy with the new care process. Hardest part is the guys in the family want to use them for nasty clean ups and the cheaper ones would be better for that. Don’t hesitate to buy different grades of cloths….it will save the wear of your expensive ones and make them last longer when you use them more sparingly.

  3. For cleaning microfiber when they start to get stinky (mine stink even after washing them, especially dish cloths), I boil them for about 10 minutes. It gets all the nasties they collect oh so well and they smell great… for a while.

  4. I know this is an old post but microfiber cloths are also a great for your Swiffer! You need to make sure to keep them *just* for floors cause they’ll pick up a lot of hair over time and you wont want to use them on surfaces but you save *tons* of money and prevent waste when you use them instead of refill disposable clothes!

    1. I am struggling with cleaning my floor and dust cloths now that I have a dog. His fur sticks to the cloths and it’s not coming off when I wash them. Any help or suggestions greatly appreciated!
      Thanks,
      Beth

  5. Jo Middleton

    How do you store the cloths? I can’t bear to have lots of cloths everywhere! Thanks. Jo :0)

    1. Katie @ Kitchen Stewardship

      Jo,
      My cloths are in drawers or closets closest to where I’ll need them when they’re clean. Once used and still able to be used again for the same purpose, there are different places: in the bathroom, they hang on the back of the bathroom door (for cleaning counters/mirrors) or over the shower rod (for wiping the shower). In the kitchen, it hangs on my squirt bottle under the sink (that one doesn’t get too wet and is only for floor spot-cleaning).

      But I probably have a pretty high tolerance for cloths all over, as long as they have “a place.”
      Hope that helps! 🙂 Katie

    2. Jacqueline Gallacher

      I have been cleaning a pub for 8 weeks now and been told different things about Microfiber cloths some say wash them with detergent my boss says not to but to wash them all at a 60 wash how can water clean it alone I actually think it’s disgusting not to wash them with detergent my friend was a cleaner for 8 years and always washed her clothes someone help me here

  6. So excited for this week, it’s right up my alley. After three weeks of houseguests, I’m ready to reclaim my kitchen area and declutter a bit. My issue is more the random paper that appears in my kitchen…

  7. This fits perfectly with our “ways to help the environment” post! What an awesome way to bring the idea into the kitchen!

  8. Jenni via Facebook

    A key to switching from disposables for us was having lots of towels/napkins on hand and a few different sizes & fabrics. LOVE microfiber for cleaning up the kithen and bathrooms. But I most often find myself reaching for the rags I have cut from old t-shirts (I have a cute stack of black ones that match my kitchen and don’t show stains 🙂 and the flannel napkins. I keep napkins for the family to use on a counter top in a little metal bucket so they can’t “forget” where they are… One of my favorite things about going paperless is that now my cloth can all match my decor, lol.

  9. Melissa via Facebook

    There are all kinds of tutorials online for making reusable “paper” towels from flannel, and they look amazing! It’s my goal to make a couple rolls of these ^_^

  10. Alice via Facebook

    Color and type categories for different jobs? I’m still trying to get them to put things away in the right cabinet! And I agree with Sarah on the microfiber cloths, dog hair sticks on there, too. Plus the fabric gets caught up in my dry skin and it just feels bad. Not to be a downer, but I don’t think I’m quite ready for this step yet…

  11. Sarah via Facebook

    Microfiber in my house is just a catchall for long hair! It makes me crazy! Then I get hair on everything I wipe. Any tips?

  12. I have a bunch of microfiber cloths I got from Sams Club. I have dried them multiple times and even washed them in hot, I think, and they are still grippy. I like them a lot for cleaning mirrors and dusting, but the thing I DON’T like is that once some debris gets stuck on them (hairs, grass, whatever), it never, ever comes off. Unless you have the time to sit and pick each, individual little whatever off of every cloth, it’s there for life. So, I don’t use them for really messy cleanups that involve lots of hair or grass or other things that can get stuck. I learned that the hard way.

  13. Christal via Facebook

    We gave up disposables about 3 yrs ago. Cut folding diapers for paper towels & cotton flannel squares for tissues, folded & put into an old tissue box (my hubby will NOT givie up TP). I like this bit of info bc of the absorbancy. The folding diapers that I cut into paper towel size don’t really do it for me and neither do regular terry towels. And I like the idea of something having many uses & how easy it is to take care of. I do keep a roll of paper towels hidden under the sink…we have a 10yr old boy, 3 dogs, 2 cats, about 25 chickens, 4 ducks & ugly messes DO happen =/ and you really don’t want to be using something you’ll need to wash.

  14. Samantha via Facebook

    I just read it via Chrome fwiw. I love my microfiber cloths because I can do without all of the chemicals. When I first got mine, I was immediately a believer. We had just moved into a new (to us) house and the vent hood was gross! That microfiber cloth and a bit of warm water got all of the gunk off of that hood. What else can do that? 🙂

  15. via Facebook

    Beth Steenwyk – Skoy isn’t microfiber… Yes, if you don’t dry them (and also don’t wash with towels, just things like sheets or jeans) they keep their absorbency MUCH better. Makes a huge differece on mirrors.

  16. For those who say they use socks for cleaning…….go to your local laundromat and talk to the owner. I work in a laundromat and we are forever finding a stray sock left in the washer. If we have two, we can donate them to the local shelter, but when it is just one, we will use it for cleaning or just pitch it. So perhaps if you asked, they would bag up some they come across and give them to you.

  17. Beth via Facebook

    The skoy cloths are cotton and cellulose according to their website and are biodegradable. Is that the brand you’re using? I have a couple of microfiber cloths and I’m not terribly impressed w/ them for mirrors, but mine go in the washer and dryer (I don’t use fabric softener, but didn’t realize drying could still change them). I’m really tempted by the norwex cloths b/c I NEED something that won’t leave fuzzies or streaks on my windows.

    1. Norwex has a window cloth that you use dry after a wet microfiber cloth and you will be amazed at how streak free your windows/mirrors are!

  18. Kathryn via Facebook

    I tried color coordinating them for specific purposes – but my husband forgets and uses whatever he finds. 🙂

    1. They only feel like that when they are dry not once you wet them. Norwex also has a dusting mitt that you use dry but it doesn’t feel like that.

  19. Marianne via Facebook

    I also hate the feel of them on my hands but love how they clean and knowing what each cloth’s job is.

  20. Kelly via Facebook

    I was just about to post that I hate how they feel on my hands! I also feel like my skin is really dry after using mf, but I’m not sure if it’s the cloth itself or the diluted vinegar I sometimes use.

  21. Alice via Facebook

    I don’t like the feel of microfiber cloths, either. They get caught on the dry skin on my hands!

  22. Shelly via Facebook

    @Nella, I have the same issue! Partly because of cuts and “rough spots” on my fingers that catch on the microfiber cloth!! I guess that is indicative of another problem?! :0)

  23. Many of the microfiber cloths have silver woven through them…not Norwex distributors. 😉 I should really proofread before I post, you know?

  24. I am CRAZY about the Norwex microfiber products. There aren’t many distributors in the US yet, WOWZERS – you should track some down!!! Many of them also have silver woven into the fibers, making them antimicrobial!!!! I have different colored ones for the different zone of my home (and yes, the yellow one is for the toilet only. )

    1. Yeah! Aren’t they the best? Totally true – there aren’t many distributors in the US yet (or ON, Canada – where I’m located) – but we’re growing like crazy lately. If anyone is looking for a distributor in their area feel free to contact me – I’ve got connections!! 🙂 Or, if you want info on an awesome business opportunity I’d be happy to share that too 🙂
      Wishing everyone a happy, healthy 2012!!
      Sarah

  25. Melissa via Facebook

    Only Norwex microfiber cloths! Love the antibacterial, anti microbial properties their cloths possess. =]

  26. Nella via Facebook

    I have them and use them sometimes, but I do t like the feel of them on my hand!! I know I’m strange!! Lol

  27. so just wondering if sams club microfiber would work for cloth diaper inserts? I am expecting my second soon and need some small diaper inserts on the cheap haha.

    1. Lori,
      Sadly, I don’t cloth diaper (yet!), but if microfiber is usually used for cding (I think it is…?), I would think you could cut these from Sam’s up no problem. T/hey don’t fray when I use them for washcloths. Good luck! 🙂 Katie

  28. Dianna Kasprzak

    Thanks to Katie’s review on these microfiber cloths from Sam’s Club, I had a friend pick some up for me (and for herself too). We absolutely love these cloths! I cut a couple of mine into fourths to use for washing dishes. I like that really small size for washing — fits nicely in my hand and doesn’t have floppy ends. So far, have not had a problem with fraying, even with the cut edges.

    I also use the small size (1/4 of a cloth) for cleaning in my bathroom. I clean regularly — and quickly (those two seem to go together).

    The bright colors are invigorating and inspire my cleaning!

    1. Dianna,
      Awesome! I’ve never had the cut washcloths fray either, but I’ve used them for enough years that they’re getting pretty nasty – time for a new batch! 😉 Katie

  29. I can address the question by Cameo, being a Norwex consultant 😉 (Great site, by the way, Katie! Just stumbled on it today, coming from Heavenly Homemakers blog).

    Anyway, there are three big advantages to the Norwex microfiber cloths:
    1) Quality. It is unmatched, period. You can feel the difference the moment you pick up the cloth. It has a much smaller microfiber (a lot of microfiber cloths are composed of fibers that are 1/6 size of a human hair. Norwex microfiber = 1/100th the size of a human hair. Smaller fibers means closer contact with a surface, which means superior cleaning power).
    2) They are antibacterial. The silver in the cloth does not disinfect the SURFACE you clean (rather, the microfiber is taking everything off the surface and holding it in the cloth). The bacteria/viruses/yeasts/fungus that the cloth picks up is de-activated within the fibers because of the silver. This means you will NOT HAVE A STINKY CLOTH. Ever!! Just use water and follow care instructions, and they DON’T smell!! This is a huge advantage, as the cloths are essentially “self-sanitizing” between uses. Obviously you still have to launder them occasionally to get the dirt/grime out, but not nearly as often as other microfiber cloths.
    3) 2 year warranty. On all microfiber cloths/products Norwex offers. They back that 100% 🙂 They are also tested for 500 washes – so they will last a lot longer if you are just using them in your home for regular cleaning.

    Also – to address the heat issue:
    Interesting, I just learned that one thing you should look for on microfiber cloths is the washing label. If it can’t stand temperatures more than 40 degrees, it is most likely an poor grade of microfiber, as it can’t withstand the heat of hot-water washing. A sign of a high-quality microfiber cloth is the fiber’s ability to withstand high temperatures (also – MF that is not antibacterial SHOULD be washed at high temps to get rid of the bacteria/etc that is holds onto – otherwise you do have the stinky-cloth problem as the bacteria grows inside the cloth). I will occasionally boil my Norwex cloths in a pot on the stove to get rid of more persistent stains or things that are stuck in the fibers. The high heat “opens up” the fibers and lets all kinds of things out 🙂

    I understand that the cost is a deterrent for some people. These cloths are not cheap 🙁 But, essentially it is like all other things: You get what you pay for!! I’d rather pay for one high-quality cloth that will last me years rather than pay for 3 that will be in the garbage within 6 months. It’s more environmentally friendly, too!
    🙂

    Hope that helps!
    Cheers to you all,
    Sarah

  30. Are there any pros or cons of using antibacterial MF cloths like Norwex?
    http://www.norwex.us.com/norwex-products-cloths.htm

    1. Cameo,
      I was surprised to read that the antibacterial agent is just “silver”…I’ve never researched it myself, but it sounds better than a lot of the nasty antibacs out there! The con is the price, for sure, eh? I would have to think hard about where I really needed antibacterial properties – that’s the thing, we rarely need to kill quite as much bacteria as we do. So I have mixed feelings, i guess. 🙂 Katie

  31. Woo Hoo. I guess I’ll dig out those microfiber inserts from the cloth diapers and try them out. I have way too many inserts and didn’t think of trying them for cleaning. Thanks!

  32. Philothea @ Domestic Distractions

    I finally got around to trying these. Amazing! I’ll be using much less cleaning supplies and less elbow grease as well. Thanks!

  33. I didn’t know about the heat thing, (the dryer).

    Oh dear, time to replace some of the really old ones I have, (from Sam’s club – orange). **big grin** I have a good excuse now. Every time we walk past the shelf of MF Towels in Sam’s Club and linger, (checking for any new colors), Charlie says, “You have so many! You don’t need more.” True. I have one pack in every color, and gave away a few dozen.

    My daughter bought microfiber cleaning cloths from walmart one year. The package of three came with a small zipper bag to wash the microfiber cloths in. I suppose it is to help keep the cloths from collecting lint.

    Anxious to protect my cloths I bought the Tide laundry bags, (they are more like a screen mesh solid material than an open mesh – fine enough to keep the lint from the other laundry off my MF Towels). I had noticed the performance quality of my towels degrading ,(the orange ones).

    I figured the laundry bags would help – I put one to two towels per laundry bag – and yes, the MF towels do come out clean. : ) But, I have noticed my blue ones, (bought for my grandson when he was born – we babysit him while his parents work), are fluffier since using the laundry bags. (They are my new addition, added after I started using the laundry bags.)

    Now I’ll just hang them in my laundry room by a clothes pin after reading about how the heat is bad for them. Except for those that the damage has been done – too late. I even have a hole or two showing up on my MF towels. That’s how old they are. (The poor mistreated ones that were exposed to lint and the dryer).

    I need to replace my orange ones – I use the MF by color – orange for counter tops, including the bathroom, green for drying dishes on, or with, or for drying veggies on. Blue for the baby, Yellow for drying our hands or faces mainly.

    Orange see most of the dirty work – besides being the oldest towels. Maybe that’s why they are wearing out.

    Oh, and talking about swiffers – I wore out my swiffer. Nope, didn’t need the swiffer refils. I just used my cleaning wash cloths, (cheap bulk buy from Sam’s before they had MF Towels in stock) I also can attach one of my MF Towels to my swiffer.

    Oh well, time to clean out my clean rag stash, (aka brand new towels stored away till the other half wear out.), and get rid of my old worn MF Towels. : ( I think I’ll relegate them to floor duty permanently – I like that idea of marking them up with a sharpie – a big F in the corner of the older ones should do the trick.

    I have a hard time decluttering my cleaning rags/towels. They can be in shreds and I still find a use for them. They can be unraveling so badly the strings form big huge knots that must be cut away in order to even flatten out the cloth and fold up. I can’t let go of old rags!!! AGHHH!!! Intervention needed here. : ( “I deserve new ones – I cleaned so well and so often with the old ones it is time to let them go….I deserve new ones, I cleaned so well and often…………….”

  34. Love, love, love your website. I bought a pack of the bright green micro clothes @ Sam’s Club yesterday. I also stocked up on hydrogen peroxide and vinegar so I’m ready for action. I am wondering how you clean the surfaces of the toilet. ?

    I am very excited about incorporating your wonderful green ways of cleaning into my home!

    1. Katie,
      Holey socks! I just realized that instead of throwing them away, I can clean the toilet and then pitch them. 🙂 Katie

  35. GUESS WHAT I FOUND TODAY!?!?!? A washable, reusable, folding micro fiber duster at the Dollar Tree. I’ll admit it I am a guilty owner of the Swiffer duster. And while I plan on getting rid of my fond friend soon… I thought I would wait until my stash of refills was used up. But NOW… I have Zwipes. The dusting piece fits on my telescoping Swiffer product so all i have to do is swap out the old for the new and donate my stash of refills to an organization that often posts the need for Swiffers! I searched the company and the retail of the items is more than I would prefer regularly but from the dollar Tree? I am sold!

  36. Mary @ The Writer's Block

    Thanks for this post! I have several microfiber cloths, but I don’t think I’m getting the most out of them at all. I love the shower door idea. Never thought of that, and the shower door is my nemesis.

    I agree with Kate. I’d love to see your chore chart/routine, too!
    .-= Mary @ The Writer’s Block´s last blog ..I Am a New-Year’s-Resolutions Kind of Girl =-.

    1. Dianna Kasprzak

      I just found a new use for my green microfiber cloths. I was having company for dinner last night and having only one set of silverware, I often rewash and dry the pieces we are using at the table, because they are spotted and don’t look so pretty. I was running short on time and surely did not have time for that. Well, I grabbed a clean cloth and “polished” the pieces and they looked beautiful! It was quick and easy and I will definitely plan on this little trick each time the company is coming!

  37. I have numerous microfiber cloths, and I absolutely, positively NEVER wash them with other items. DO NOT EVER use fabric softener on them either. In fact, I also dry them in a separate load, so they don’t come into contact with other fabric-softened items in the heat of the dryer.

    Fabric softener will accumulate on the fibers, coating them, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the fabric. FS will also cause the towels to leave streaks or smudges on surfaces.

    I have cloths with both a nubby texture, as well as smooth-textured ones; the smooth is for glass, mirrors, and polishing; the nubby ones for everything else.

    I also use them on the toilets and floors, but since I launder the cloths by themselves in either warm or hot water, (depending on what’s on them) I don’t worry about mixing up cloths with different purposes.

    Forgoing fabric softener also allows the microfiber cloths to be tumbled in the dryer, so the heat of that process also kills any residual germs that may have escaped the washing machine.

    1. MadamHusker,
      Good tips…my laundry procedures are focused on being safe and eco-friendly, so I only run large loads and never use fabric softener anyway. Mine always get less “sticky” when they go through the dryer, even though there aren’t any chemicals involved. My fav laundry soap is here: http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2009/09/30/my-favorite-non-toxic-laundry-option-soap-nuts-review/

      Thanks! 🙂 Katie

      1. Lenetta @ Nettacow

        I got an e-mail from my mom this week after she’d spoken to someone at a microfiber company. (I don’t know WHY she was talking to them, but anyway…) They guy with whom she spoke said fabric softener is definitely a no-no, but the BIG thing is to NEVER wash or dry on hot. Since it’s nylon/plastic, it kind of shrinks/melts the fibers and messes with the absorbency.

        That said, I washed the MF cloths that I used with my cloth diapers on the SANITARY cycle and either dried them in the sun or in the dryer because for that, I felt it was more important that they were clean and germ-free. I’d rather have to replace my MF when needed, though I’d estimate I used them at least a year, maybe longer, washing every other day, and I didn’t feel like I necessarily had absorbency problems… I think I had a little one that was growing up and “putting out” more.

        Just wanted to put that out there.

  38. Oh, and what do you do about the texture of the cloths? My husband hates them. I have some just sitting around because he can’t stand them, and I’m not sure I like the texture either. Hmm….
    .-= Kate´s last blog ..New Year’s Day =-.

    1. It feels weird, I know, but that’s what makes it work to pick up dust and water. I don’t use them for drying hands, so I guess I don’t notice. ??

  39. What I would like to see is your weekly chore list. What days you do things, how you organize yourself and make sure it all gets done with two small children. I’ve been trying to do this for awhile and haven’t been able to come up with a good solution, so some things slip away from me! What do you do?

    1. Heh heh heh…Kate, I would like to see my weekly chore list too! *raspberries* to cleaning!

      I almost always clean the bathroom when the kids are in the tub. KEY practice is to have everything handy, plus the microfiber makes it go fast. I clean the toilet whenever it needs it b/c I keep a bottle of straight vinegar right next to the brush right next to the toilet. 30-second job.

      Laundry = when it needs it, often on the same day so I can do 2 things each time I’m in the laundry room. The kids help – my son loves it when I throw wet laundry at him and he tosses it in the dryer!

      I used to use Flylady.net, who recommends one day a week for the basic chores, 10-15 minutes w/a timer for each one. I should REALLY get back to that!!

      I try to sweep/vacuum combo once a week, and luckily my daughter loves to vacuum. Mopping is mostly spot mopping – again using a rag towel that sits w/my vinegar bottle under the sink so it’s super easy to grab a spot.

      I don’t know if that’s helpful, but that’s what works for me. Good luck!
      🙂 Katie

  40. Acckkk!! Good thing I read this. I have microfiber cloths in the washer right now for their first cleaning. I was going to throw them right in the dryer next.

    Now the question is where to hang them. The shower rod is just so long, lol. Might need to rig up something in the laundry room.

    1. My husband uses them at the hospital where he is the manager for the Housekeeping Dept. The best way to dry them is to hang them outside on a sunny day, so the UV rays from the sun will destroy any remaining bacteria. Like moms did with cloth diapers back in the day. Another tip-use the grocery carts that have been in the sun for a while. Same idea-the sun kills any germs better than the wipes do.

  41. For the floor and toilet….could you just write the word on the cloth? Or use a specific color for the floor vs the toilet vs everything else.

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