The Laundry Tip That Prolongs The Life Of Your Microfiber Towels

You probably have a collection of microfiber towels to make sure you get a streak-free shine on your mirrors or to keep your bookshelves dust-free. They're the workhorses in any good cleaning routine, after all, thanks to their ability to grab grime. However, you might notice after a few months of use that those once-miraculous cloths start to leave behind tiny bits of fuzz or struggle to absorb spills. But before you write yours off, adjust your laundry habits. The biggest threat to your microfiber isn't how you use it to clean, but rather how you wash it. These cloths need to be washed separately from other fabrics.

If you're wondering what microfibers are actually made of, the fabric is constructed from synthetic materials split into millions of tiny hooks. This unique structure is clever, as it creates a huge surface area that generates a natural static charge, which lets it pull hair and dust off things with ease. But that great magnetic quality becomes a big liability in the washing machine if you toss them in with a load of garden-variety cotton bath towels or shirts. Cotton sheds like crazy, releasing a ton of tiny lint fibers during a wash cycle. Because microfiber is designed to catch onto everything it touches, it'll suck that cotton lint deep into its pores. And that'll eventually clog the fabric.

And once those tiny hooks are filled with lint from whatever else you're washing with them, your microfiber towels will no longer be able to pull up dirt or liquid. You'll unintentionally turn a high-tech cleaning tool into a dull rag, and be stuck figuring out how to repurpose your old microfiber cloths instead.

The simplest way to prolong the life of your microfiber is to use a "microfiber only" rule on laundry day. By washing them alone, the only thing rubbing against their special fabric is more of the same. And if you don't have enough cloths to justify a full load, just store them in a small, dry bin until you've collected enough to run the machine. Just make sure you don't skip an important step when washing microfiber cloths – shaking them out first — or they'll stay dirty.

However, if you're in a rush and absolutely must mix them in with your regular laundry to get them clean, there is a clever workaround: Put them in a mesh laundry bag. Placing your microfibers inside a fine-mesh bag creates a physical barrier between them and your lint-shedding cotton clothes. Thanks to the small holes in the mesh, water and detergent can still get through enough to clean the fabric, but those fine holes are small enough to prevent large clumps of lint from getting trapped in the fibers. This step keeps your towels pristine even when sharing the washer drum with a set of flannel sheets or heavy hoodies.

Beyond separation, remember to also skip the fabric softener. While it makes our shirts feel soft, fabric softener coats the fibers of a microfiber cloth in a waxy film that ruins their absorbency and makes them feel greasy. Always dry them on low heat or hang them to air dry, because high temperatures can actually melt the delicate plastic fibers and make them lose their shape. By taking these small precautions, you'll keep your microfiber cloths well-functioning for years and your house cleaner, too.