According to Microfiber Wholesale, an average microfiber cloth can last up to 5 years if washed 25 times per year. Ultimately, the longevity of your microfiber cloths depends on several factors like how often you use them, what you use them for, and how well you take care of them.
The problem that people run into is when they use microfiber cloths to clean up oil, grease, or use them for polishing. Unfortunately, these things can't be removed from the cloth. If you still prefer to use microfiber for greasy and dirty jobs, that's fine. Just know that you will have to dispose of them afterwards.
Microfiber towels should not be used on your car's paint after they have been used to remove a ceramic coating. The excess product will crystalize in the fibers of the towel once it cures. This can increase the chance of scratching your paint greatly. It isn't worth the risk to use them again.
How Long Do Microfiber Cloths Last? One of the benefits of cleaning with microfiber is that it lasts a long time. Many microfiber cloths can take up to 500 washings. That's up to two years in a typical household.
"Good microfiber towels are grippy. Easily picking up and holding onto dirt and dust." You want to make sure your microfiber towels have a "grippy" feel. The more "grippy" feel of the towel, the more dirt, dust, water, and even bacteria it will pick up!
An independent study done by the Environmental Protection Agency found that “extremely fine (. 37 micrometer diameter) microfiber was both laboratory and clinically tested and proven to remove up to 98 percent of bacteria and 93 percent of viruses from a surface using only water (no chemicals).”
Did you know? Every time you wash these synthetic fabrics, millions of microfibers are released into the water. Microfibers are too small to be filtered out by waste treatment plants, so they end up in our waterways and oceans, where they wreak havoc on marine animals and the environment.
Microfiber cloths are available in two forms — reusable or disposable — and each has its own set of pros and cons. Most common are reusable cloths, which must be laundered after every use. When handled correctly, these cloths can last 100 to 1,000 washings.
Microfiber cleaning cloths are a great alternative to cloth dusters as they generally last longer (and are better for the planet, too). Like any cloths, they also need to be cleaned regularly and should be popped into the washing machine once a week.
Once a week: Microfiber cloths that are used daily should be machine-washed every week. Rinse them first to flush dirt from the fibers, then toss them into the washer with your regular wash. Do not use bleach (it will damage fibers) or fabric softener (it will clog fibers).
Rub the palm of your hand across the cloth. If it catches slightly on the surface of your hand, it has been made with split yarns. Another way to tell is to push a water spill with it. A microfiber cloth that has been split will absorb the water, not push it.
Dirt and other particles stick to microfiber cloths. If you use a dirty microfiber item without washing it first, it can scratch and damage surfaces. Microfiber cloths may also smell bad after just one cleaning because they are holding on to moisture in their tiny fibers that also trap bacteria.
Microfiber can be rinsed and wrung out as your using it – don't just wipe once (unless it's toilets or something germs/dirty). Rinse, wring and continue using. Wash only with other microfiber cloths.
OxiClean can be used on most of your laundry including microfiber cloths and towels. It should not be used on delicate items such as wool and silk. For that, you will need a more gentle method such as soap flakes or a non-biological detergent.
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.
A: We do not recommend using dish soap on your microfiber towels. Even the free and clear products have fragrances and other chemicals in them that could harm or hinder the microfiber and what it's intended to do.
Wash in warm or hot water with mild detergent. No fabric softeners – they clog the open spaces in the microfiber, making the fabric useless. Be careful what you wash with your microfiber. Avoid anything made with cotton because the microfiber will grab on to the lint.
Drying your microfiber cloths on high heat will melt the fibers, making them ineffective the next time you try to trap and lock dirt and dust when you're cleaning. Since they also pick up lint, they'll become dirtier in the dryer by collecting lint left behind from a previous wash.
Microfiber can be toxic. It's made from polyester and other synthetic materials that can release chemicals, such as phthalates and formaldehyde, into the air.
Clothes can be made out of microfiber, but these pieces of clothing pose the same risk as cloths or towels. When laundered, clothes made from microfiber leak microplastics into the washing machine water; this water inevitably makes its way into local waterways and it brings these dangerous microplastics along with it.
The first important step is that the towels be washed before they are used. There is a finish on microfiber towels when they are sold, much like there is on clothing purchased at a store, and they should be washed before using to remove this finish.
The science behind why damp dusting is more efficient than a dry cloth comes from the fact that a damp cloth introduces capillary force to the dust particles. In short, the damp cloth draws the particles in and lifts dust from the area instead of moving them around.
Why should you not put microfiber cloths in the dryer? Drying your microfiber cloths on high heat will cause the fibers on the cloth to melt, making them ineffective the next time you try to trap and lock dirt and dust when you're cleaning.