Don't Skip This Step When Washing Microfiber Cloths—or They'll Stay Dirty

You invested in a collection of microfiber cloths because you heard they're the best for cleaning almost anything, inside and outside the house. What makes them an ideal cleaning tool is that they attract dust and dirt by positive electric charge — hence the balling up of your microfiber cloth you may have noticed when you toss them into the hamper. They do a great job picking up all the dirt and grime around the house, on your vehicle, and in the garage; but when it's time to wash them, they may not come out as clean as you'd hoped. If your microfiber cloths aren't performing as well as you'd like, it could be because you're not cleaning them properly. There is one easy step you may be missing when it comes to washing these wonder clothes — you're forgetting to shake them out.

There are a couple of benefits to shaking out microfiber clothes (and other towels) before washing them. The main benefit of this step is that you can shake out loose grit and grime rather than add it to the wash which simply spreads it to the other items. It also helps loosen embedded dirt so the washing machine doesn't have to work as hard to reach deep into the fibers. On top of that, shaking microfiber cloths out lets some of that static cling go — just as shaking your towels and clothing out after a spin through the dryer can help release static — so the cloths aren't just a bunched-up ball of fabric getting tossed around in the machine and holding onto all the dirt you used it to clean up. 

While shaking microfiber cloths out is the first step, and the one you've most likely been missing, it's not the only tip worth knowing when it comes to properly cleaning these cloths. If you don't want grime from your cleaning towels transferring to your clothing or to the towels you use on your face and skin, separate them and wash your microfiber cloths with other cleaning towels. While there's no best temperature to set your wash to, lightly soiled towels are better washed on a cold setting while dirtier ones deserve warm water to help achieve a deeper clean. You can also soak dirtier cloths for a bit before starting the agitation cycle. How dirty they get will depend on what you are cleaning with the microfiber cloth.

Use the gentle cycle and skip the fabric softener. Just like with other towels, fabric softener can reduce the absorbency of microfiber cloths. If you want to make them cleaner and a little softer, use half a cup of white vinegar instead of fabric softener — this will also help your cloths smell better. You don't need to use much detergent, either. Make sure the detergent has thoroughly rinsed out of the cloths so they stay absorbent and will trap all the dirt. It's also best to airdry your microfiber cloths, though you can run them on low heat once they're dry to fluff them up a bit. If they aren't doing their job anymore, there are some creative ways you can repurpose microfiber cloths instead of discarding them.