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.
Drying any microfiber should be done on a low tumble dry or cool setting. Drying on warm or hot or over drying microfiber will cause shrinkage or damage the material. THE ABOVE INFO IS FROM A LEADING MF COMPANY. Hot water will not alter the MF. It will clean really dirty ones.
Machine Wash in Cool or Warm Water Using a Gentle Cycle
Wash lightly soiled cloths in cool water. If your microfiber towels are heavily soiled, use warm water. For washing machine settings, choose a gentle or delicate cycle.
Because polyester and microfiber are synthetic materials, use warm or cool water so you don't damage the fibers. Wash on a normal or sheets cycle and use a gentle laundry detergent. While drying polyester/ microfiber sheets, it's essential to avoid the use of high temperatures, just like when washing.
Machine wash a load of microfiber cloths in cold or warm water. Do not use hot water. If using detergent, choose a gentle detergent with no scent or laundry additives. Use a small amount of detergent, no more than one or two teaspoons.
Typically, manufacturers recommend low heat or air with dryer balls. If you need to put them in the dryer, put them on for a short period; you can damage your microfiber sheets if you dry them for too long. Make sure you read the label.
The number one rule for microfiber is to only wash with cold water. Hot water can damage, shrink, and melt the synthetic polymer fibers causing the towels to lose their softness and absorbency. Warm or hot water can also loosen excess dye leading to discoloration issues over time.
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.
I have used the granular oxi clean before in the wash with my towels and they came out fine. I pre-soak all my microfiber towels in the granular oxi clean. I use the Gary Dean method for rinseless washing with ONR or Duragloss w/aquawax.
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.
▸Why do some microfiber towels leave lint and others don't? Linting can be due to the strength of the selected microfiber material and the applications in which they are being used in. Some are lower in strength and break down into very little particles causing linting.
Never use dish soap to wash microfiber towels. Even your everyday laundry detergent can be too harsh for these delicate towels, containing fragrances and other chemicals that could damage the fibers.
Tide Free & Gentle Liquid Detergent is an excellent choice for those with sensitive skin and for washing delicate fabrics like microfiber.
You can hand wash your towels with warm water and a mild clean-rinsing liquid soap. Clean-rinsing liquid soaps easily rinse out without leaving behind any residue. Make sure to rinse extremely well, until all soap residue is gone and the only thing coming out of your microfiber is water.
Hot water damages the fibres and reduces their efficiency. Fabric softeners block the pores, preventing proper absorption of dirt, while optical brighteners fade the cloth. High heat slightly shrinks the microfibers, lowering their cleaning ability.
Microfiber can hold up to 7 times its weight in water, making it great for drying, thus preventing mold spores from growing and spreading.
Microfiber Care
The ceramic coating will usually dry and crystallize on the towel and you don't want to use that again. Just toss those when done. Everything else can be reused. Eventually the nice towels will become ratty and they can be relegated to dirty jobs.
Microfiber can be machine dried if you prefer, use a low heat setting and NO FABRIC SOFTENER. Air or line drying is also an option, be sure to do this somewhere the towels cannot be contaminated with dust or lint.
After the lint trap has been emptied, you can place your microfiber towels inside the dryer separately from garments made with natural fibers as they tend to shed. Avoid adding dryer sheets and using high heat settings to dry microfiber towels as this may damage the fibers.
Even clean sheets can develop musty odors if they're stored in damp conditions or don't dry completely.
Microfiber sheets are as durable as cotton sheets. However, these sheets soften over time with multiple washes. If the bed sheets are not of high quality, they might not withstand for a long duration.