Do's and Dont's of Caring for Microfiber Cloths

Steve Hanson

We recently had a couple members ask questions about how to make sure their microfiber cloths are sanitized after cleaning them. Some people have been washing them in hot water and/or adding bleach to the wash cycle. Many members replied that using hot water is not good for the cloth because it breaks down the fiber, and most agreed that adding bleach is never a good idea.

David Holly, co-author of Green Cleaning for Dummies and founder of Green Cleaning University offered this advice on the topic of laundering microfiber cloths:

"You really have no worry about machine washing in hot water - the typical hot water temperature of a home or commercial machine is below the temperature that can harm the fibers of a well made micro fiber cloth.

The two products to avoid are bleach and fabric softener. Bleach WILL damage the fibers. Fabric softener eliminates "static cling" or electrostatic energy - this is a critical part of what makes a micro fiber work. However, if you accidentally use some fabric softener - don't panic - just rewash the cloth(s) and you'll be fine. There is no permanent damage from this.

When washing, use a VERY SMALL amount of detergent. Micro fibers release the soil when washed very easily. Overuse of detergent is at best wasteful and at worst will load the cloth with detergent that remains after drying. A good starting point is 1/2 the amount you would normally use for a comparable size load. As with many chemicals in our business - more is NOT better.

A single cycle is fine for cleaning the cloths. There is no additional benefit from washing for more than one cycle - just wasting water and energy. The nature of the fibers helps prevent mold, mildew or other "nasties" from growing. By the same token, drying is not necessary either. They will air dry very quickly and will not mildew as they dry. If you choose to machine dry - this is where temperature IS an issue. Use a LOW setting. Dryer temps are MUCH higher than wash temps.

Do NOT dry any other cloths, rags, towels or other clothing with your micro fibers if you choose to machine dry them. They will pull all of the lint off these other materials and become so loaded that they may be worthless in the future."

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Steve Hanson helps owners of small cleaning companies build a more profitable and successful cleaning business through his online community at TheJanitorialStore.com. Read inspirational cleaning success stories at http://www.cleaning-success.com, and sign up for weekly cleaning tips at http://www.TheJanitorialStore.com.