The dry cloth attracts and traps dirt, dust, and debris effectively due to its static charge. On the other hand, wet towels are perfect for wiping surfaces, removing stains, or cleaning with liquid-based detailing products. Wet microfiber increases absorbency and helps lift away grime without leaving streaks.
You can use them dry or wet. Dry ones are really great to polish/clean stuff (eg drying your glasses after washing them, dusting TVs, drying of faucets...). For wet use I usually get the cloth wet with warm water, spray some cleaner on the area and just give it a good wipe.
Brand new microfiber towels contain residual loose fibers, lint, and chemicals left over from manufacturing. Wash them separately before using to remove this debris and maximize cleaning ability.
Using just microfiber cloths or mop pads with water to clean can give your counters, glass, floors, and appliances a like-new appearance. It traps more dirt than you might think, all without chemical cleaning agents. Here's why you should switch to cleaning with microfiber cloths and water to in your home.
As a cleaning material, cotton is lauded for being gentle on surfaces. In addition, cotton cloths require minimal financial outlay and so are seen as a cost effective material. CleanLink also points out that natural cotton is familiar and therefore widely trusted by cleaners.
Air-drying is the best option for microfiber, but if you choose to use a dryer, set it to a low heat or air-dry setting. DON'T use fabric softeners and harsh detergents. Fabric softeners can clog the fine microfiber fibers, reducing their ability to pick up dirt and moisture.
How Often to Wash Microfiber Cloths. Wash microfiber clothes after every use or at least every third use. If they are wet or excessively soiled, wash them after each use. If they're used only for light and routine cleaning, wash them at least after every third use.
The biggest concern regarding microfiber is microplastic pollution. This occurs because all microfiber products can shed the microscopic microfibers in the wash and can make their way to the ocean.
Choose lint-free
Microfiber or other lint-free towels won't leave behind little specks on glass surfaces. Newspaper or old, clean cotton diapers are other great options.
Pro Tips. ☠️ Never use the Towel Cycle, Sanitizer Cycle, or any other high heat cycle on your washer or dryer, as the heat melts and shrinks microfiber.
When to use leave-in conditioner. Unlike rinse-out conditioner, leave-in conditioner is a post-shower product, typically used on damp hair. This means after you shampoo and condition, gently dry your hair, ideally with a microfiber towel, until it's damp and then reach for your leave-in conditioner.
The edges give microfiber its scrubbing power and the surface area gives microfiber its absorbency. Those tiny little edges will degrade over time; the degradation is accelerated by heat! Typical residential clothes dryers reach 170°F inside the drum. If you can avoid it, don't dry microfiber on high heat.
There's a right side and a wrong side of some microfiber cloths. “Most microfiber cloths are the same on each side, but if you have a dual-sided cloth, then use the ribbed side for scrubbing and the fluffy side for dusting,” says Taylor. Using it dry instead of damp (or vice versa).
Benefits of Wet Cloth Cleaning
Wet cloth cleaning is the most thorough method of dusting, as it lifts dirt and debris from surfaces without leaving any residue behind. The damp cloth can ensnare airborne allergens, rather than permitting them to drift around the area.
What's so great about microfiber? Microfiber cleaning cloths and mops work well for removing organic matter (dirt, oils, grease) as well as germs from surfaces. Microfiber's cleaning ability is the result of two simple things: more surface area and a positive charge.
Microplastic Pollution
While they may feel like cloth, microfiber linens are essentially made of plastic. The plastic used creates tiny fibers that are so small that they are barely visible, which produces a more impactful pollutant than we may know. Some enter our oceans once these fibers make it through our laundry.
Microfibers can harm the small aquatic organisms that ingest them. Microfibers can also contain toxic chemicals that are intentionally added to textiles during the manufacturing process or that accumulate on plastic particles in the ocean.
If your microfiber towels are properly washed, dried, and stored, you should be able to reuse them hundreds of times or for a few years. To keep your towels in top condition, wash them after every use. You will know to retire your microfiber towels when they fail to absorb water or if they become rough to the touch.
Microfiber cloths only require water to clean. If desired, chemical cleansers that do not contain bleach can be used in conjunction with the cloth without damaging the material.
If you can, use a detergent without dyes to clean microfiber towels and cloths. ARM & HAMMER™ has several detergents that fit the bill: ARM & HAMMER™ Free & Clear Liquid Laundry Detergent is free of dyes, perfumes, parabens, preservatives, and other common skin allergens.
The two products to avoid are bleach and fabric softener. Bleach WILL damage the fibers. Fabric softener eliminates "static cling" or electrostatic energy - this is a critical part of what makes a micro fiber work.
Microfiber can hold up to 7 times its weight in water, making it great for drying, thus preventing mold spores from growing and spreading.