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How to Clean with a Microfiber Cloth?

Microfiber cloth has become a fan favorite of people around the world, as they can seemingly clean everything. They’re usually the most indispensable items in anyone’s cleaning toolkit. However, there are still many people who don’t use microfiber cloth. All microfiber is made up of super-fine synthetic fibers that have an asterisk-like structure. Microfiber cloth is extremely absorbent and it’s capable of absorbing up to six times its own weight in water.

How to Clean with a Microfiber Cloth
How to Clean with a Microfiber Cloth

Since the friction between the individual fibers creates static electricity, this acts as a magnet and attracts dust. However, interesting facts like this one are what really makes someone a good cleaner, and now – you’re going to learn exactly what you can clean with a microfiber cloth and how to clean it. In today’s article, we’ll be taking a look at microfiber cloths, learning how they function, what makes them so good, and what you can clean with them.

Let’s get started!

Benefits of Using Microfiber Cloth

Microfiber cloths are very effective – they can be used for shining up metal surfaces to remove dust and grime from spaces that are very hard to reach. Their versatility of use makes them a handy tool. Add to that the fact that they’re so effective – meaning that they clean up almost everything that they come in contact with – and you’re getting the picture of why they’re such amazing products.

They’re also environmental – you can use a microfiber cloth in any situation where you’d use a paper towel or a tissue. The only difference is – you won’t be throwing away the microfiber cloth. You’ll just wash it. This way, you’re taking care of the environment, not to mention that you’re not being wasteful.

This also makes the use of microfiber cloth cheaper. Even though they’re more expensive upfront (when compared to paper towels), they’re much less wasteful and you won’t be buying a new pack every two weeks. This makes them much, much cheaper in the long run. You’ll also be saving money on cleaning products – there are many things you don’t need cleaning products for when you have microfiber cloth, and you’ll see that you’re emptying those bottles much slower when you’re using a microfiber cloth. A dry or slightly damp microfiber cloth is all you need for a lot of different cleaning tasks, like dusting, cleaning windows and mirrors, and shining stainless steel.

However, even when you’re supposed to use a cleaning product for an area, for example, the bathroom, you’ll be using less of it because of microfiber cloth’s absorbent features.

They’re also very versatile, and you can use them for many different tasks. And in this versatility, we can find differences between microfiber cloths.

For example – Premium Microfiber Cleaning Cloth by VibraWipe is a great option for your everyday tasks, including wiping down countertops, walls, appliances, and more. They’re plush and fuzzy, and you’ll notice that they’re densely packed with microfibers. You can use them for dry dusting or you can dampen them.

You can also use a microfiber cloth for makeup removal – One Fresh Face Microfiber Makeup Remover Cloths are a great option if you’re looking for something that will help you remove your makeup. These clothes are quick, effective, and they’re definitely reusable. If you have sensitive facial skin – this will definitely leave you feeling fresh and you won’t have to worry about irritating your face.

How to Clean with a Microfiber Cloth

You can use your microfiber cloth for dusting, wiping down the shower, polishing counters, cleaning mirrors and windows, and pretty much everything else.

When you’re cleaning your countertops, you can basically get all the stains out of the countertop. They work just as well as paper towels to clean your countertop but remember that you won’t be wasting the cloth, so you don’t have to worry about throwing it away and losing money. You can just rinse the cloth after you’re done.

This fabric’s unique fiber structure picks up 99% of bacteria with just water. So, there’s no need for countertop spray.

Windows, metal, and other reflective surfaces can also be cleaned with this cloth. Since the finish is streak-free, microfiber cloths are genius to use on reflective surfaces. You can feel free to use them when you’re removing fingertips and cleaning grease.

The cloth is statically charged so they attract dirt, and other stuff like pet hair, dust balls, and microparticles. The dirt remains trapped in the grooves of the cloth itself, so you won’t be just spreading the particles around the room, as you would with other dust cleaners. You also do not need to wash the cloth after every dusting, so it’s actually reusable for a while before you need to wash it.

It’s recommended that you don’t get the microfiber cloth too wet. Since the microfibers do the actual cleaning – the water is there just to help the cloth lift up tough dirt and stains, but the microfibers are getting the greatest part of the job done. Just mist the area or dampen your cloth lightly before you start to clean with it. You can also use it with non-toxic or chemical cleansers that do not contain bleach.

Before you use the cloth damp for the first time, let it soak in hot water for ten minutes. This will ensure the best possible streak and lint-free surfaces.

Also, keep in mind that you can use just one cloth to clean and polish your entire home! Dampen one half of the cloth, while keeping the other half dry – this will allow you to dust with the dry side, and clean and polish your whole home with the other, damp side.

If you’re using a new cloth, try using it when it’s damp to wipe away filmy residue from fruits and vegetables – but only do that if you intend to use that cloth specifically for that purpose.

When you’re cleaning glass and mirrors, lightly sprinkle the cloth with water or use a spray bottle filled with water to mist the area, only then should you proceed with cleaning. You can also use the technique of dampening one side of the cloth while leaving the other side dry. Wipe your mirrors with the damp side of the cloth and then dry it with the dry side. This will ensure that no streaks are left behind.

You can also use this cloth to remove mild spots. Mild spots – not stains. These spots can often appear on carpets, rugs, sofas, furniture coverings, and even clothing, and all you have to do to clean it is take a wet cloth and blot the spot until it’s gone.

You can clean basically any bathroom surface with this cloth. Faucets, showerheads, counters, and everything else in the bathroom can get dirty very quickly and very easily. It’s important to keep a tool at hand to wipe that off quickly. You should keep a separate set of microfiber cloths for heavy-duty bathroom cleaning, just for hygienic reasons, and you should replace that set more often than you replace your regular set (once again, for hygienic reasons).

You can clean your shower (or bath) after each use, as the wet surfaces are dried thoroughly with a microfiber cloth, and it doesn’t even take too much effort. All the water droplets will wipe right off and you won’t be seeing any streaks on your shower door. You can also use a 50/50 hydrogen peroxide and water solution on the surfaces before you wipe them with your cloth, which will only enhance your cleaning.

Even if you let it go for a while and don’t wipe the shower door every time you take a shower, you can just sprinkle some baking soda and get the scum off.

You can also use it to wipe down the bathroom counter, grabbing all the dust, fuzzies, beard hair, and everything else that’s making the counter dirty. You can just hang a cloth behind the door or next to the counter so it’s at hands-reach. This doesn’t take long, and you can make a dirty counter look like it’s brand new – this can come in handy if you’re expecting company and don’t have the time to clean. You can also use the 50/50 hydrogen peroxide and water solution with your cloth for a deeper clean, and the polished faucet will look gorgeous.

We don’t recommend that you clean your toilets or your floors with a microfiber cloth, though. It’s not that this super cloth won’t do a good job, it’s just that you don’t want toilet bacteria on a cloth that you’ll be using to wipe your kitchen countertop with. We recommend that you keep separate sets of clothes – one for your kitchen, one for your living room and dining room, and a separate cloth for your bathroom.

When you’re cleaning your electronics, you also don’t need anything other than this cloth. Our smartphones and laptops can get dirty pretty easily, and people tend to overlook that. But, the truth is, these essential parts of our lives can sometimes get as dirty as our toilets (according to some research). Microfiber is soft enough to clean those fragile screens and you most often won’t need any cleaning solution.

There isn’t much that microfibers can’t clean, to be completely honest. They’re also very handy when you’re cleaning your car, especially the dashboard and the interior, and they’re just as applicable when you’re cleaning anything else. Stainless steel, cabinets, granite and marble counters, chrome fixtures, windows and mirrors, tubs and showers, dusty surfaces, electronics, there really isn’t an object that microfibers can’t clean.

However, after cleaning all that – you’re going to have to clean your microfiber cloth!

Washing the Microfiber Cloth

You’re going to need to keep your microfiber cloth clean if you want to keep it effectively cleaning surfaces in your home. However, most microfiber cloths are machine washable, so this isn’t a difficult task.

It’s best to put it in the washing machine, but you shouldn’t put it in a dryer. It’s common for the cloth to have abrasive and grippy properties after going through the dryer, so it’s best to hang them out to dry. You should separate your dishcloths from your microfiber cloth.

Dishcloths can be put in the dryer, and they actually need machine drying as they need the heat to smell better, and their texture is radically different than that of a microfiber cloth.

When you’re washing them, never wash them at high temperatures. Microfiber should not be washed on hot because they’re plastic, and they can actually melt (just a bit, but enough to ruin the cloth.

You also shouldn’t wash them with towels, because the lint from the towels tends to get in the nubby part of the microfiber cloth – this will affect their absorbency.

However, if you don’t have a washing machine (which is highly unlikely), or you don’t want to wash your microfibers in it for whatever reason – you can hand wash them in warm or hot water with detergent. In this instance, it’s okay to wash them in hot water, as you won’t be washing them for a long time. The microfiber cloth will expand, releasing trapped dirt and microparticles.

You can also wash your microfiber with the dishes in the dishwasher, which is something most people find odd, but it’s not impossible. Just lay your cloth flat on the top rack of the dishwasher and hang it over your faucet until it’s dry.

Something that’s even weirder is the fact that you can actually clean your microfiber cloth in the microwave. Just dampen your cloth and microwave it for 60 seconds and let it cool off before you remove it. Once it’s dry, it’s ready to clean again!

Alternatives to Microfiber Cloths

The other side of the coin is the fact that microfiber cloths are made largely from plastic, which doesn’t make them so green. Even though you can reuse them, almost to infinity, the materials used in the making of these clothes aren’t that green.

For this reason, many people look for alternatives to a microfiber cloth, and we have a few suggestions for you, as well.

Reusing some of your cotton cloth is an option everyone has. Old cotton t-shirts and socks will make for a great cleaning rag, and it will get the job done with most surfaces. It might take a bit more work than it alternatively would with a microfiber cloth, but it’s definitely more environmental. You can also use old burp cloths and baby blankets – you can use them in the size they are, or you can cut them up to a size you want.

Instead of donating fiber like this, you should feel free to reuse it like a cloth. Cotton, hemp, and wool can all be used in this regard, as all of us usually keep a whole hamper of these in our laundry rooms as a go-to paper towel or a cleaning rag for when you spill your drink or have a small flood in your home. They’ll get worn down eventually, and you can then use them as a natural weed block in the garden – they’ll break down naturally over time.

You can also make your cleaning cloth more effective by using an eco-friendly cleaning concentrate. Since a lot of cleaning products contain toxic chemicals that aren’t exactly good for the environment, you can make your own cleaning concentrate. There are many recipes for making your own cleaning detergents online, that are natural, biodegradable, non-GMO – mineral-based cleaners.

You can use them as an all-purpose cleaner, on laundry, to clean countertops, and on almost any surface in your home. The lower environmental impact that’s guaranteed with these substances assures that you won’t be leaving a trail on earth. Also, a single bottle can last for months and months and leave only one recyclable bottle as a result – this makes it both cost-effective and green.

You can also try using gauze diapers. These are usually about 3 dollars a pack, and they’re often more absorbent and larger than microfiber cloth, which makes them more useful. Since they’re so easy to wash, you can know that they won’t be losing effectiveness with washing, and they’re also more cost-effective since you don’t have to buy too many of them.

There are even more alternatives out there if you’re willing to look for them.

How to Clean with a Microfiber Cloth?
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