Maybe you are confused or a little skeptical about microfiber, or perhaps you just have some questions on how to use microfiber towels and mops. To try and get you the answers you need, we’ve put together a FAQ.

What is Microfiber?
Technically a microfiber is a fiber that is less than 1 denier. But what makes microfiber so special is that it is a blend of two types of fabrics (polyester and nylon) that when woven together in a specific way and the fibers are split, you get a super absorptive towel that has hundreds of uses.

Are microfiber towels better than cotton towels?
While better can be subjective, microfiber towels can definitely hold more water than a cotton towel of equivalent size. And microfiber towels tend to be thinner making them better for use as travel or camping towels. And some of the better known brand name microfiber towels such as Micronet and Aquis have developed extremely plush towels that are great as microfiber bath towels and hair towels.

Can You Reuse Microfiber Towels?
Absolutely. Nearly all microfiber towels are designed to be reused over and over and cleaning them up is pretty easy: just wash them in the washer with your other towels. Some microfiber towels have been designed to be “throw away” for particularly dirty jobs and are priced appropriately.

How to Clean Microfiber Cloths, Towels and Mops?
As we mentioned above, all microfiber materials are reusable and extremely easy to clean. The easiest way to clean microfiber mops, cloths and towels is to just throw them in to the washer with other laundry items. It’s important that you don’t use bleach or fabric softener! The bleach will eat the material while the fabric softener tends to bind to the fibers making them useless. This also includes the dryer sheets. You can dry them in the dryer just make sure not to use any dryer sheets; or you can let them air dry naturally.

How do You Clean with a Microfiber Cloth?
Microfiber cleaning cloths are a great way to clean you house. You can use them dry to absorb spills or do light work such as dusting. Or you can wet them by soaking the cloth and then wringing it out as best as possible to tackle tougher tasks like dried one foods or oils. You will want to keep turning the cloth to use the unexposed side frequently (especially for buffing your car) and you may need to have a couple on hand so that once one gets dirty you can switch to another one quickly.

Do You Have to Use a Chemical Cleaner with Microfiber Cloths
The great thing about microfiber is that it can clean without the use of harsh chemical cleaners helping to promote a cleaner, healthier atmosphere in your home. Using a damp microfiber cloth can pick up 97% of germs and bacteria making it unnecessary to use any cleaners. However, if you don’t feel comfortable giving up the chemicals just yet, you can use some chemicals (just don’t use bleach or anything that is labeled a “strong oxidizer”).

What Surfaces Can You Clean with a Microfiber Cloth
Nearly any surface can be dusted or cleaned by using a microfiber cloth. Everything from computer and TV screens, to end tables, to glasses and other lenses, to linoleum, glass, tile, porcelain, car finishes…you name it. The one thing to keep in mind is that while the cloth won’t scratch the surface, any large dirt or debris the cloth picks up has the potential to scratch the surface so make sure that you keep rotating the side of the cloth you are using.

How do You Know if You Have a Good Microfiber Towel
Probably the number one problem that people experience with microfiber towels is that they are poor quality or, in some cases, not even microfiber at all. Each company has their own proprietary formula for their blend of polyester and nylon as well as the splitting and weaving techniques. The problem is that the nylon component tends to be more expensive and the companies can save a lot of money by reducing the amount of nylon that they use. Unfortunately, the performance of the towel suffers and that’s why you’ll see cheap microfiber towels that don’t perform well.

So how do you know you have a good microfiber towel? The easiest way is to buy a brand you trust. Companies like Micronet, Aquis, Eurow, Zwipes, have spent years developing their blend and manufacturing processes and as a result have gained a reputation for making great microfiber towels. These towels also tend to cost more which would suggest that they are not skimping on material costs thereby making a better microfiber towel.