When washing microfiber cloths, avoid harsh soap, fabric softener or detergent with laundry additives, including fragrances and fabric conditioners. These coat the fibers of the cloth and make them less effective for cleaning.
Harsip said that the main reason why microfiber towels are ruined is drying them at high heat. Remember that it's not just bad for microfiber towels to be dried at too high of heat, but it can ruin them completely. Once the damage has been done from heat, it cannot be reversed.
Washing Microfiber Sheets
Typically, you'll find the manufacturer recommends either a cold or warm water wash. The reason for this is high temperatures can melt the fibers and leave your sheets permanently wrinkled and uncomfortable. Do not use fabric softener on microfiber sheets.
Most towel experts would agree that it's a bad idea to use fabric softener on towels regularly, as it will decrease their absorbency over time.
When washing microfiber cloths, avoid harsh soap, fabric softener or detergent with laundry additives, including fragrances and fabric conditioners. These coat the fibers of the cloth and make them less effective for cleaning.
Of all the laundry items you should never use fabric softener on, the most important to remember is baby and children's clothes. "The waxy buildup from fabric softener can cause baby clothes (and other children's items labeled as flame-resistant) to become less flame-retardant, and thus more flammable," says Nelson.
Use a dedicated microfiber detergent like Towel & Pad Revitalizer or a dye free/perfume free liquid laundry soap - no powders or granulated. Set washer to a warm water setting. Some heat is required to break down waxes and polishes. Cold settings will not clean towels as effectively.
Before you wash your microfiber cloths, it is important to know that you should never use fabric softener or bleach. Fabric softener will clog the spaces in the fibers and render your cloth useless. Bleach, on the other hand, will erode the fibers.
Avoid Using Fabric Softeners on Certain Fabrics
You'll also want to skip the fabric softener on specialty fabrics like wicking sportswear, flameproof children's clothes or pajamas, or water-resistant items, and synthetic fabrics like polyester or anything containing elastane and nylon (think skinny jeans or leggings).
Microfiber towels and cloths can become stiff after many uses due to soap and hard water residue. To make them soft again, add 1 cup of vinegar to your washing machine, and then run a short cycle. Then, run another short cycle using 1 cup of baking soda.
There is a valid reason manufacturers put this on the label. Both liquid softener and dryer sheets "coat" fabrics and diminish the wicking (moisture-moving) ability of the fabric, even 100 percent cotton. Use minimal detergent so the soap rinses out well, and tumble dry.
Can you dry microfiber cloths in the dryer? Yes, but not often. Frequent drying will loosen fabric strands and make them prone to fabric pilling. If you do machine dry, use a low heat setting and skip dryer sheets.
For starters, microfiber towels should be washed in cold or warm water, advises Sweeney, noting that the temperature should never exceed around 105 degrees Fahrenheit. When it comes to soap, Gartland states no detergent would be best, although it's impractical.
The tiny fibers that make microfiber attract and lock in dust, dirt, and moisture. While microfiber is relatively durable, it becomes pretty useless once the fibers absorb the waxy residue fabric softener and dryer sheets leave behind.
All those extra ingredients, lubricants, and fragrances from fabric softener and dryer sheets actually coat the teeny tiny microfibers. And this isn't a good thing. If you've ever used fabric softener or dryer sheets on microfiber, you may have noticed that your microfiber becomes waxy-feeling.
Ideally, microfiber towels should be washed after every use to remove the dirt and grease picked up while cleaning so you don't transfer the grime to the next surface.
Try cleaning with microfiber and water! 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.
Prep a separate bucket with VERY HOT clean water and add blue dawn dish soap along with gentle tide. Add towels. Soak towels for roughly 2 hours. If a towel ever becomes so contaminated that it doesn't wash clean, it may be time to retire it to a new job.
I used original tide to wash my microfibers. It doesn't have any dyes, perfumes or fabric softeners however it does have a scent.
Waxy buildup from softeners can deteriorate the towel fibers over time and reduce their absorbency. No one wants a towel that's not fluffy, so be careful when using fabric softener with towels.
The simple answer to this question is: no. You don't need to use fabric softener in your wash. Fabric softeners don't contribute to the washing and cleaning of your clothes, so you don't need to worry about stain removal or lingering odors if you leave it out.
That depends on your personal preference. If you want your clothes to be softer and smell nice, then fabric softener is a good choice. If you want to protect your clothes and make them easier to iron, then fabric conditioner is a better choice.