How should I wash microfiber cloths?
Short answer: Wash them on their own or with other microfiber, in warm or cool water with a mild detergent. Skip the fabric softener, dryer sheets and bleach. Air dry them or tumble on low. Softener and high heat clog and melt the tiny fibres that do the cleaning.
Why it matters
Microfiber cleans well because each strand is split into tiny fibres that grab dust and grease. Fabric softener coats those fibres, and high dryer heat melts them. Either way, the cloth stops picking things up and starts smearing them around instead. If your cloths leave streaks on glass, that's usually why.
The rules
- Wash them separately. Microfiber grabs lint from cotton towels and gets clogged.
- Use a small amount of mild liquid detergent. Too much leaves residue.
- No fabric softener, dryer sheets or bleach.
- Air dry, or tumble on low. They dry quickly either way.
- Keep the colours separate after washing. Bathroom cloths stay bathroom cloths.
When to replace them
Replace a cloth when it feels stiff, won't pick up crumbs or dust, or has permanent stains from grease or bleach. Good cloths can last hundreds of washes. Cheap ones often give out after a few dozen. Retire old ones to the garage or for car detailing.