Wash microfiber towels in a load of their own with a mild, fragrance-free laundry detergent. Leave out fabric softener and dryer sheets, since both coat the fibers and clog them. Warm or hot water handles greasy, heavily soiled cloths, and a short dryer cycle or a drying rack finishes the job.
Key Takeaways:
- Wash microfiber apart from other laundry, since it pulls lint and hair out of the rest of the load.
- Use warm or hot water for heavy grime and cold water for lightly soiled cloths.
- Skip fabric softener, dryer sheets, and bleach.
- A tablespoon of white vinegar in the wash can help a cloth that smells.
Can you wash microfiber towels in a washing machine?
You can, and microfiber holds up to a lot of washing. It’s a synthetic fabric, usually polyester and nylon. A microfiber fact sheet from the EPA and California’s Department of Pesticide Regulation says it can be washed a thousand times before it loses its effectiveness.
Its fibers carry a charge that pulls in dirt and grease. In the washer, the same charge grabs hair and lint from everything else in the load. The fact sheet says lint makes the cloth less effective, so wash and dry microfiber apart from other laundry.
How to wash microfiber towels, step by step
These steps combine the EPA fact sheet with Whirlpool’s guide to washing microfiber towels.
- Sort microfiber into its own load, with no cotton towels or clothes mixed in.
- Shake each cloth out over a trash can to loosen trapped dirt and dust.
- Add a fragrance-free detergent at the dose on its label.
- Pick warm or hot water for greasy or heavily soiled cloths. Lightly soiled ones can go in cold on a gentle wash cycle.
- Leave out fabric softener, bleach, and fragranced detergents.
- Empty the lint trap, then dry on low heat with no dryer sheet, or hang the cloths up.
Drying microfiber doesn’t take long, so skip the full dryer cycle. Whirlpool says high heat may damage the fibers. If you air dry indoors, hang the cloths where air moves freely so moisture doesn’t get trapped in them.
What temperature to wash microfiber towels
Set the water temperature by how dirty the cloths are. Whirlpool says lightly soiled towels can go in cool water, and cloths from heavy-duty messes in warm water, on a gentle or delicate cycle. The EPA fact sheet puts heavily soiled cloths in warm or hot water. Industrial machines run too hot for microfiber, according to a UMass Lowell fact sheet on microfiber cleaning products, which says their high temperatures can damage the material. It calls for standard washers with mild detergents instead. If your cloth has a care label, go with the temperature it gives.
Why fabric softener and dryer sheets ruin microfiber
Fabric softener contains oils that clog microfibers, the fact sheet says, and clogged cleaning tools work worse the next time. Whirlpool puts fragranced detergents in the same group. Both can coat the fibers and reduce the cloth’s cleaning power.
Bleach is out too, since the fact sheet says it shortens the life of microfiber. UMass Lowell also rules out caustics and harsh cleaners. Our post on why you should ditch your fabric softener covers what to use on the rest of your laundry.
How to fix smelly or linty microfiber
Whirlpool’s guide has a few easy fixes for a cloth that smells or comes out covered in lint.
- Add a tablespoon of white vinegar to the wash when a cloth has a strong smell.
- Shake lint off, or go over the cloth with a lint roller or a soft-bristled brush.
- Between uses, store microfiber in a closed container away from other towels, sheets, and clothes to keep lint off it.
Cotton bath towels with build-up need another approach, and our guide to laundry stripping walks through the long soak.
Sending microfiber out with your laundry
Cleaning towels can ride along in your OrangeBag pickup. Pack them in their own bag and flag them as microfiber in the order notes, which have room for special care instructions.
At OrangeBag, wash and fold is $2.65 per pound, done by the bag, and your laundry comes back sorted and folded in 24 to 48 hours. The OrangeBag price list shows the per-order fees and the monthly plans that waive them. Our page on laundry pickup and delivery in Los Angeles lists the areas we cover.
Microfiber towel FAQ
Can you wash microfiber towels with regular detergent?
Regular detergent works if it’s mild and fragrance-free. Whirlpool says to skip fragranced formulas and fabric softener, since both can coat the fibers and cut the towel’s cleaning power. Measure it by the dose printed on the detergent label.
How do you wash microfiber towels for cars?
Car towels follow the same routine as any other microfiber, in a load of their own. Heavily soiled towels go in warm or hot water with detergent. Leave out softener and bleach, then dry microfiber towels on a short cycle or hang them up.
How often should you wash microfiber cloths?
According to the EPA fact sheet, microfiber cleaning cloths need a wash after every use. Whirlpool’s rule is looser: wash them after about three light uses, and more often when they’ve handled heavy-duty cleanups.
Can you wash microfiber towels by hand?
Hand washing works, and the EPA fact sheet lists it as one way to clean microfiber towels. For lightly soiled cloths, Whirlpool says to fill a bucket or sink with cool water, work the cloths by hand, and let them soak for 15 minutes. Wring each one out and hang it on a rack to dry, in the sun if you can.
Rather skip laundry day?
Leave the bag at your door, and we’ll take it from there. Everything comes back clean and folded in 24 to 48 hours.
