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How to Wash Microfiber Towels

How to Wash Microfiber Towels

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High-quality microfiber out-cleans any other towel or mop, and can last over 300 washes — but only with the right care and maintenance.

Proper care ensures the fibers remain open in order to trap more dirt. Correct care also minimizes lint and streaks, ensuring a spotless finish while preventing cross-contamination.

Learn how to wash microfiber towels by learning:

      • The do's and don'ts of washing microfiber
      • Differences between household and commercial washing settings
      • The correct temperatures to wash microfiber cloths in
      • The cleaning products you should avoid using while cleaning microfiber

DOs

Wash in cold to warm water (160ºF max)

Preserves the fibers' integrity. Hot water damages the fibres and reduces their efficiency.

Use simple detergents with no softeners or optical brighteners

Fabric softeners block the pores, preventing proper absorption of dirt, while optical brighteners fade the cloth.

Dry with no heat, low heat, or permanent press (140ºF max)

High heat slightly shrinks the microfibers, lowering their cleaning ability.

Use plastic dryer balls to remove hairs and lint

Microfiber is positively charged, which is why it picks up dirt so well, and consequently holds onto it. Plastic dryer balls help knock the dirt, hair, and fur off.

DON'Ts

Never soak in bleach

Microfiber is very sensitive to bleaches. It damages the fibers, which start shedding and depositing lint on surfaces.

Never keep dirty microfiber in unventilated laundry bags

Closed airtight containers are a breeding ground for germs. Not only that, but the odor remains on the cloth even after washing it. The odor then transfers to surfaces while cleaning, leaving the room with an unpleasant odor.

Never load your washer and dryer loosely (¾ full max)

Overloading your dryer compresses the fibres during washing, causing them to shrink and diminishing their performance. Compression also pushes dirt into the fibres and traps it there. This can leave streak marks on surfaces.

Never wash microfiber with natural fabrics

Natural fibres such as cotton and wool shed fibres. Microfiber, being positively charged, attracts lint from these materials and deposits them on surfaces while cleaning.

Residential: Washing & Drying Instructions

When it comes to washing microfiber towels, proper laundering and drying techniques are paramount to ensuring their longevity and performance.

Can you wash microfiber towels in a washing machine? Of course! This section gives you simple yet effective steps on how to wash microfiber cleaning arsenal using a residential machine.

      1. Keep dirty microfiber in ventilated Barrier Laundry Bags to minimize germ growth.
      2. Load washing machine ¾ full with microfiber and other non-linting synthetic fabrics.
      3. Add a small amount of detergent, especially if microfiber contains cleaning chemicals.
      4. Set the washing machine to Normal Wash with warm water.
      5. Transfer to the dryer and add dryer balls. Set the dryer to Permanent Press. (140ºF max)
      6. Line dry for maximum microfiber lifespan (only where sanitization is unnecessary)

Pro Tips

☠️ Never use the Towel Cycle, Sanitizer Cycle, or any other high heat cycle on your washer or dryer, as the heat melts and shrinks microfiber.

🦠 135º for 60 minutes is the minimum temperature & time required to kill germs in the dryer and is safe for microfiber towels and pads. Do not exceed 140º.

🫧 Rags to Riches Microfiber Detergent strips oils, waxes, and stains from microfiber. Only 2 oz per full laundry load.

🏐 Whitmor Dryer Balls dislodge hair, lint, and debris with every whack, making your microfiber dry faster and fluffier.

🎒 Barrier Laundry Bag has a waterproof bottom and mesh top to reduce germs and mold growth while preventing drips. Launders with microfiber.

How to Wash Microfiber Cloth By Hand

  1. Use hot water and a small amount of detergent.
  2. Scrub with a soft bristled brush, if necessary.
  3. Rinse thoroughly, wring well, and then line dry.

Hand Washing vs. Machine Washing

You may be wondering whether hand washing or machine washing is easier, faster and more effective. Well, each has its own advantages and disadvantages, which we'll look at in the table below.

Aspect Manual Washing Machine Washing
Cleaning Effectiveness Effective for removing loose dirt More effective for removing stubborn stains, dirt, grime, and bacteria
Fabric Care Gentler on the fabric, extending the lifespan of microfiber towels Can be harsh on the fabric, shortening the lifespan of microfiber towels
Environmental Impact More environmentally friendly, using less water and energy Consumes more water and energy
Convenience More time-consuming and labor-intensive More convenient and less time-consuming
Suitability Unsuitable for washing large number of towels at once Suitable for washing a larger number of towels at once

Commercial: Washing & Drying Instructions

If you're handling large quantities of microfiber towels in a commercial setting, you need guidelines tailored for laundromats and other large scale cleaning businesses.

This section provides instructions on how to wash microfiber towels without compromising their integrity, even while washing in large quantities.

Detergent Dos

  • High solvent for heavy soil
  • Dose determined by product specification for poundage
  • No Alkaline, Bleach, or Fabric Softener

Temperature Dos

washing machine guidelines

Drying Dos

microfiber drying guidelines

Our Top Microfiber Towels for Homes and Offices

Best All Purpose Towel Best for Tough Stains Best Value for Money

Best For:

  • Cleaning everyday items in your household
  • Wiping up bathroom floor & kitchen countertop spills. Highly absorbent
  • Smaller tasks such as dusting fragile collectibles

Best For:

  • Removing hard-to-move soap scum
  • Scrubbing the bathtubs to remove build up of grime, but without caustic abrasives
  • Cleaning shower mirrors, leaving them streak free after a hot shower

Best For:

  • Lasts over 300 washes — countless hours of cleaning
  • Simplifying your cleaning regimen as one towel can be used for multiple tasks
  • All-purpose cleaning tasks as it is designed to be durable for office use while being plush enough for home cleaning

"These wet mops do a great job. I like that they don't get too wet and leave puddles on the tile floor. I like that they can be put in the washing machine to be cleaned. Great price, recommend." - Loretta Krebs, Verified Customer

Microfiber is popular for its cleaning efficiency. This practical guide is your go-to resource for maintaining the cleanliness and longevity of your microfiber cleaning cloths, ensuring they stay in pristine condition for years to come.

Print out and display it next to your laundry machines and also share with your employees. Use it as a training and reference tool, so that even your newest employees learn how to wash microfiber towels correctly.

With an average 3.7 star rating on Trustpilot, join over a thousand buyers and explore all our best selling microfiber towels for your home or office.

Our curated cleaning kit for professionals

We’ve curated a cleaning kit of our top products that our professional cleaning customers purchase over and over again. It contains three full days’ worth of high quality supplies for one cleaner, including four types of microfiber towels, microfiber dusters, scrubbers, heavy duty mops, and a laundry bag.

All this would usually cost you $500. Get it for $299.

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