Keep Your Microfiber Towels Fresh With A Simple Storage Tip

When it comes to tidying up, there's nothing like a simple microfiber towel. The list of items and surfaces you should be cleaning with a microfiber cloth ranges from your favorite jewelry to your houseplants to whatever electronic device and glasses you're using to read this. Microfiber cloths pick up tons of dust and debris, dry quickly, are streak-free, and don't cost an arm and leg — in short, the ideal cleaning product. But there's one thing you need to know about these powerhouses: They'll only be as effective as possible if you're storing them properly in a sealed container away from dirt and humidity. 

When you toss microfiber towels somewhere that they'll be exposed to dust or other little contaminants, the microfiber fabric will lose the qualities that make it so efficient at picking up filth. After washing, thoroughly drying, and properly disinfecting your microfiber towels, it's crucial to place them in a clean, dry, and sealed place, like a dedicated plastic storage bin. This way, they'll maintain their dust-trapping abilities and keep cleaning your place for ages.

The efficacy of your favorite cleaning towels lies in their construction. Microfiber is a synthetic fiber made up of tons of split fibers that are much tinier and thinner than, for example, the fibers of cotton. The fibers will get into tons of nooks and crannies, attracting and absorbing more dirt, residue, and bacteria than many other fabrics. On top of that, those fibers rubbing together creates a positive static charge that makes the fabric even better at trapping dust and negatively charged dirt. Keep the cloths somewhere they could get wet, though, and you risk mold or mildew. Put them somewhere dusty, and they could attract too much gunk that clogs the fibers and takes away from that static cling.

You might consider keeping a sealable plastic bin or bag of organized microfiber cloths if you have the space (and several towels to maintain). With this, you can store and organize your cleaning supplies out of sight in a closet or cupboard. If you've only got one or two towels to manage, you could keep them more accessible in a drawer, using a divider to separate them from other items so they don't pick up too much lint. Your towels should be totally dry before you put them in storage, but to help control any lingering moisture, you could also add desiccant packs to your storage container.