What sort of cloths do you use and how do you keep them clean?

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Washing Microfiber Cloths

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. Lightly dusty or dirty microfiber cloths can be hand-washed.

Hand-Washed:

• Shake out the fabric outdoors or into a trash bag to release excess dirt.
• Run a basin of cool or warm water.
• Add cloths and agitate by hand. Hand scrub any heavily stained areas.
• Soak the cloths for 15 to 20 minutes, then agitate again.
• Rinse the towels thoroughly under running water.
• Wring out excess water.

Microfiber cloths can be machine-washed for convenience or if the fabric is excessively dirty or stained. Do not wash microfiber cleaning cloths with other types of fabric. Other fabrics can ruin the fibers of your microfiber cleaning cloths, abrading the fibers and leaving lint on the microfiber surface. In particular, avoid mixing cotton fabrics with microfiber.

Machine-Washed:

• Shake the microfiber cloths outdoors or into a trash can to release excess dirt.
• 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.
• If the microfiber towels have an odor that needs to be eliminated, add a tablespoon of white vinegar to the machine load.
• Allow the machine to complete half of the agitation cycle, then stop the cycle and allow the load to soak for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Resume the wash cycle and allow it to complete.

Tip: Unscented detergent may contain additives to cover the scents of soap ingredients, while “free” detergents are generally free of additives such as color, scent or fabric-conditioning ingredients.

It is not a secret that I am a big fan of using cloth when it comes to cleaning. I use microfiber for many cleaning tasks and prefer using cloth over paper whenever possible. I’m often asked how I care for microfiber cloths and how I launder kitchen towels and rags to keep them clean and performing their best. Today, I’m here to help!

Microfiber Cloth Care:

If you were to take a peek in to my laundry room, you would see a bucket with my microfiber cloths in it. After using them, I drape them over the side until they are completely dry to prevent mildew and/or or stinky odors. When they are dry, in the bucket they go. I wash them on a weekly basis or when the bucket is looking a bit full.

Microfiber is a real workhorse in the cleaning supply world. It’s durable, very efficient at cleaning all sorts of things and environmentally friendly. It also is very good at picking up the fibers of anything it is washed with. Here’s how I launder microfiber to keep it performing at its best:

1. Wash microfiber all by itself. If you wash it with other rags or towels, the fibers from other cloths will transfer and stick to the microfiber.
2. Wash on hot with detergent and no fabric softener. Fabric softener will coat the cloth and render it far less absorbent. Stick to detergent only.
3. Dry on hot with no dryer sheets. Just like fabric softener, the chemicals in the dryer sheets will put a thin layer of on the fibers and make them less efficient.

Looking for the best microfiber? Check out Clean Mama Home!

Bar Mop Towels, Rags and Kitchen Towels:

As a general rule, I prefer using white towels and rags as much as possible. I love their clean, bright look, that they match with anything, are easy to clean and non-fading. I also love using cute patterned dish towels to add a little fancy to the kitchen.

If you have followed me awhile, you’ve probably seen the glass canister on my kitchen counter with rolled up white bar mop towels in it. I love bar mop towels (come see the Clean Mama Home bar mop towels here) over rags in the kitchen for several reasons. They are larger in size than the typical kitchen rag and are more absorbent. I use them for cleaning up drips and spills, wiping down counters and general kitchen cleanup. I prefer using sponges for washing dishes as it is easier for me to just put it in the dishwasher nightly rather than having to launder another item. I have a hook hanging in the interior under my kitchen sink that I hang damp items on until they are dry. This method keeps any stink away.

As for laundering kitchen towels and rags, it doesn’t look too much different than how I care for microfiber. Unless it is a brand new colorful kitchen towel, I wash all my kitchen towels and rags together.

1. Wash using just hot water and detergent. Using fabric softener might help add some scent, but it also leaves behind a residue that causes towels to get dingier, be less absorbent and have a shorter life span.
2. Dry on hot or high with no dryer sheets.

Have stains or need some general brightening? I like to add a scoop of oxygen safe bleach. You can use Oxi-Clean or a similar product. For a powdered version, I especially like The Laundress All-Purpose Bleach Alternative or if you prefer liquid, Seventh Generation’s Bleach Alternative.

What’s your method for laundering your kitchen towels and cleaning cloths?