[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Ever wonder how to clean microfiber cloths? It’s a question house cleaning companies Ask a House Cleaner. When it comes to cleaning microfiber cloths is it hand washing vs. machine washing? Or is it pre-soaking with a microfiber cleaning detergent?
Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru gives cleaning advice on how to disinfect microfiber cloths. The washing instructions for grit and grime are simple. The rules apply when you wash microfiber towels or microfiber mop pads.
Today’s sponsors are My Cleaning Connection, Savvy Cleaner Training and HouseCleaning360.com
Listen: Top 5 Tips to Clean Microfiber Cloths
Watch: Top 5 Tips to Clean Microfiber Cloths
Hey there, I’m Angela Brown, and this is Ask a House Cleaner. This is a show where you get to ask a house cleaning question, and I get to help you find an answer.
Question: What is the Best Way to Clean Microfiber Cloths?
How do you clean microfiber cloths? It’s an interesting question from a new guy that’s starting a house cleaning business.
“Hi, Angela. I’m starting a house cleaning business. I used to work for a company and they used to wash their microfiber on the sanitize cycle. But I found, and have learned since that heat deteriorates microfibers.
So, for myself, I’ve been using bleach instead, which I know is also bad. But I’ve been using a cup of bleach for an extra-large load on a top loading washer. So, I was just wondering what you do if you use that, how you clean microfiber cloths?”
What Are Microfiber Cloths Made of?
All right, that’s an excellent question and yes, you’re correct. The heat will destroy your microfiber cloths. So, let’s go back to a second for what is a microfiber cloth.
Now, a cotton cloth is cotton and the fibers are kind of lumpy because that’s what cotton is. They’re globs of cotton. Now, a microfiber cloth is different in the sense that it’s scientific in its approach. And so, the threads are about one, one hundredth the width of a human hair.
So, when they blend the fibers together, you have a uniform, consistent, drying fabric.
Microfiber Cloths Go Mainstream
Back in the 1950s microfiber cloths were popping up in random places, but not yet available to the common household.
The Japanese made them popular in the 1970s and brought them as a new standard to the auto detailing industry.
And then in the 1990s microfiber gained mainstream awareness.
Regular households began using microfiber cloths for house cleaning and drying dishes.
There Are Different Types of Microfiber Cloths
Just like there are a variety of surfaces in our homes, there are a variety of microfiber cloths for them.
The main type of microfiber cloths is:
- Plush – used for detail work
- Waffle Weave – drying
- Flat -Low Grain – Glass and flat surfaces
- Suede – Coatings
The various textures will make the job a breeze.
How Do You Clean Microfiber Cloths?
Wash your microfiber cloths in a load of laundry by themselves. Don’t mix them with other clothing items. And don’t wash them with cotton cloths or you will get lint embedded in your microfiber.
Have a soaking bucket. You can put your used or soiled microfiber rags in a bucket of pre-soak detergent and water. This should lift the dust, grime, and gunk you’ve got in your cloth. Bleach and fabric softener are not recommended pre-soaking solutions.
A mild fragrance-free liquid soap is a good pre-soaking solution. There are also proven microfiber detergent concentrates that are a sure bet.
Washing Instructions for Microfiber Cloths
Once you’ve soaked your cloths and have lifted the dirt, toss them in the washing machine on a gentle cycle in warm water.
You don’t want water that is too hot, and you don’t want water that is too cold. Cold won’t get the dirt out or the grime out of your microfiber cloths. And the hot will destroy those fine fibers.
Then when you dry them, my preference is just to hang them up to dry, but you can throw them in the dryer on a low tumble, low or no heat. Again, you do not want hot at all.
Microfiber Cloths with Seams and Without
I carry with me in the back of my car a plastic shoe box that I keep microfiber cloths in. There are a couple of different kinds of microfiber cloths.
Half of them have seams around the edge and the others are edgeless. The edgeless or seamless ones I use to dry the outside of my car and windows after I’ve gone through the drive-through car wash.
The seamless ones are a flat microfiber cloth prevent streaks caused by this edge.
The ones with the seams are a thicker plush and I use them to clean the grill and wheels of the car. So, to clean my car, I have two cloths. The plush to do the bigger jobs – dry up most of the water, and the flat one to polish and finish the car.
Wash Volumes of Microfiber Cloths in Separate Loads
Lots of house cleaners have switched over to microfiber cloths for everything. Dusting, wiping, drying, and polishing are a few ways cleaning technicians use their cloths.
And depending on the volume of cloths you’re washing on a daily or weekly basis, it may make sense to keep all your cloths separate. (Ex: waffle weave in a load by themselves and flat clothes in a load by themselves.)
Boil the Grime Out of Microfiber Cloths
When your cloths get grimy from grease or dirt that won’t come out in a pre-soak you can boil them. The key to boiling is control because heat will destroy the fibers.
Take a pan of water, you use one teaspoon of white distilled vinegar per gallon of water. Bring your water to a boil and drop your cloths in there for about 90 seconds. Stir with a wooden spoon to agitate the dirt. Then remove either with the spoon or a pair of tongs.
Put them in a bowl to catch the dripping water, let cool, and take them to the washing machine.
Run a cycle in your washing machine for just the heavily soiled cloths so the grime and grease don’t contaminate other laundry or cloths.
Use the Boiling Technique as a Last Resort
Because high heat ruins the fibers of your microfiber cloth only do this as a last resort before you toss a cloth for being “too dirty” to use again.
Microfiber cloths last a long time and do a magnificent job if you care for them.
Top 5 Tips to Clean Microfiber Cloths
- No heat for washing
- No heat for drying – air dry is best
- Use the boiling tip as a last resort
- Keep loads of laundry separate from other clothes and cotton cleaning cloths.
- Use mild cleaning detergents with no fragrances or dyes.
Have you made the switch yet to microfiber cloths?
Or are you still using a mix of paper towels and cotton cloths to clean?
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Resources For This Episode
Waffle Weave BriteWipes Max Super Absorbent – http://bit.ly/2CE800M
Flat or Glass Microfiber BriteWipes. The top choice among house cleaners and auto detailers- http://bit.ly/2HGxkay
Best Selling Microfiber Cleaning Cloths – http://amzn.to/2CDtk6H
CarCarez Microfiber Car Wash Drying Towels Professional Grade Premium Microfiber Towels for Car Wash Drying Blue – http://amzn.to/2GG326hChemical Guys Microfiber Wash Cleaning Detergent Concentrate – http://amzn.to/2FmXDS4
3D Towel Kleen – 1 Gallon | Low Foam Laundry Detergent for Towels | Leaves No Residue on Towels | Maintains & Prolongs Towel Life – http://amzn.to/2CDY3AR
Malco Microfiber Refresh Concentrated Detergent – http://amzn.to/2EMxTl0
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