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Did you know there are things you can clean with just a microfiber cloth?
That’s right! Microfiber cloths are very unique in structure, so you can actually clean dozens of things without any other product.
We have talked about microfiber cloths many times on Chemistry Cachet, but I thought a new dedicated post would be helpful in the new year to save you time and money cleaning your home!
Things You Can Clean With Just A Microfiber Cloth
Why Is Microfiber Good For Cleaning?
To understand why there are so many things you can clean with just a one of these microfiber cloths, it is helpful to know why!
From our first microfiber post back in 2017, we mentioned these cloths have tiny fibers that fit into the smallest particles including dirt, food, or grim. Normal towels don’t have the capacity, their fibers are too large. Scientifically, microfibers are usually made of nylon and polyester.
When you clean with microfiber, thousands of tiny fibers can loosen up anything that is stuck on your counter and remove it.
Microfiber is much more absorbent than regular fibers, so it makes it better in cleaning. I love microfiber, and it is the only thing I use to clean around the house. I purchased this bundle years ago from Amazon, and I still use them. They are affordable and will last a long time.
Do You Need Special Brands Of Microfiber?
No, I wouldn’t use an expensive brand to get the benefits from the tips in this post. I have used ones like Norwex, but I didn’t see any difference when it came to cleaning and absorption.
Stayed tuned at the end of this post to learn how to clean microfiber cloths properly!
Clean Glass
You can clean glass with just a microfiber cloth. One way is to slightly dampen the microfiber, then wipe off the glass. This removes debris and grim. Another tip I love for glass like mirrors, is to wipe them off with the microfiber after showering when steam is still on the mirror. Check out this post for more details on this.
Dust Furniture
I love dusting with just a microfiber! You can do this two ways also. For dry dusting, just wipe off with the cloth. To get stuck on dust off, dampen the cloth first before wiping.
Blinds
You can clean blinds with a microfiber only! Check out our blind cleaning hacks post for details.
Baseboards
These also work fantastic for baseboards. Since baseboards mainly collect dust, it will get rid of dust quickly. We have a great post on baseboard cleaning to read here.
Electronics
I keep a microfiber in my office and clean off all my electronics with it. I just wipe it off every few days to control the dust. For really dirty electronics, you can dampen the cloth first. Microfiber is great for cleaning your phone screen too! To clean your phone screen, slightly dampen the microfiber. Follow up with the dry side of the cloth.
Faucets
One of the easiest ways to keep your faucets clean and free from hard water build up is to wipe down after each use. I keep a microfiber cloth in my shower. After showering, we always wipe down the faucet with the dry microfiber and it keeps water stains from popping up. This is great for all faucets!
Showers
I also recommend wiping down your shower walls with a microfiber after each use or at least a few times per week. The microfiber absorbs the water keeping away water stains and mildew.
Shower Doors
Don’t forget to do the same thing to your glass shower doors! I like to squeegee them after each use, but it is also helpful to wipe off any water with a microfiber. It is amazing how doing this will keep all area of your showers clean.
Inside Your Car
I used to buy special cleaning wipes for my car, but now I just use a microfiber to clean the interior. It works so well! Check out more of our car cleaning hacks here.
How To Clean Microfiber Cloths Properly?
There are many myths out there about taking care of microfiber cloths. I will tell you that I have had a set of microfiber cloths since 2016, and they still work like new. This is how I clean them.
You can wash them in the washing machine with regular detergent. I use both cold and warm water. It is best to avoid things like fabric softeners because it will adhere to the fibers overtime, making them not work as well. But regular detergent is great.
You can also hand wash them. Throw them in a sink or bowl of warm water with a little detergent. Let it soak 15 minutes, then scrub it and wring them out under the faucet.
To dry them, avoid using dryer sheets. Toss them in the dryer with some dryer balls or let them air dry.
The secret to keeping them clean, but also making sure they continue to work properly, is keeping the fibers from picking up or adhering to any other substance. Lint and fabric softeners are usually the culprits. Other than that, they don’t need much special attention. I always avoid washing microfiber with other towels or items it might get lint from. That being said, I will throw some microfiber into a wash with things like regular cloths and sheets without issues.
How To Disinfect Microfiber Cloths?
Washing in hot water and your usual clothing detergent is typically the best way to disinfect clothes including microfiber cloths. If you have cleaned something extra gross, you can also hang out in the sunlight to kill any bacteria after you wash them.
Does Microfiber Disinfect?
Speaking of disinfecting, I saw something on the news a few months ago about this. I wanted to answer this question for you in case this was something you were curious about too.
Most studies on microfiber show they will pick up all types of material and debris including bacteria. It doesn’t kill pathogens and bacteria like a cleaner, but instead picks it up from a hard surface. It will remove as much of this as using a traditional cleaner and wiping it off. So, yes it does disinfect, but not in a traditional sense.
One Extra Tip…Are Microfibers Toxic?
It never fails, there is always someone who brings up this subject and gets upset when I share anything about microfiber. There are those who get upset when you share information about using paper towels to clean, but those who don’t like microfiber. The truth is, everything has is drawbacks.
Yes, microfibers are synthetic fibers. This is the case with almost all clothing and linens too. If you are concerned about this factor, you can check out this information from the EPA. There are steps you can take to minimize pollution from washing or using microfiber.
You can do your own research, but I think the benefits far outweigh the negatives when it comes to microfiber as a cost effective and handy way to keep your home clean.
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Aussie Jo says
Thank you for this
Alexis says
I hope it comes in handy!
Olga Haberl says
Thank you for all this information! I’m getting myself a pack of those cloths.
Alexis says
They are so handy and make cleaning so easy!