Microfiber towels are very handy when it comes to cleaning the car, kitchen, wiping windows, and many other similar chores around the house where they prove to be very useful.
Just like any other tool, it is important that you maintain the good condition of your microfiber towels so they remain in good condition and it functions appropriately. To help you do so, we have compiled a guide to how to clean and wash microfiber towels, so you can maintain your cleaning towels for the upcoming years.
What is Microfiber Towel?
Microfiber is an incredible human invention as it is a synthetic fiber slimmer than a silk strand and five times narrower than an average human hair. Isn’t that amazing? The overall properties are determined by the nature of these fibers, so the term ‘microfiber’ is actually used to define a range of materials with different uses.
Having very versatile properties, microfiber is used to produce a number of items from towels and clothes to bedsheets, mops, and sportswear. Polyester is used to make the most popular type of microfiber, as the size and lengths of fiber used are controlled to make variations in terms of softness and absorbency properties.
Benefits of Using Microfiber Towels To Wash Cars
Microfiber is popularly used to produce towels as the fabric is well suited for them, given its various properties:
1. High Absorbency
Microfibers can hold around seven times its own weight in water, thus making the work on wet surfaces short.
2. Can Pick Almost Anything
The microfibers produced for the purpose of cleaning are ‘split weave’, which means they are split during the production process increases the surface area of the cloth largely. This allows the cloth to work in the tiniest gaps, picking up any small or large fragments of dirt, bacteria, and dust. Since they are usually made using inorganic fibers, there is nothing to feed the bacteria growing, and hence they eventually die.
3. Non-Abrasive
Microfiber is absolutely non-abrasive which means no scratches will be left on your car’s paintwork, making it very suitable to be used for the purpose of cleaning cars.
4. Cost Effective
Nevertheless, the upfront cost of microfibers is more than any other fabric but the longevity of the fabric is great which ultimately means it is more cost-effective. The fabric has a large surface area enabling it to spread small amounts of cleaning agent to a greater area.
5. Environment Friendly
If you care for your towels properly, you can expect them to last a much longer time than what your cotton towels do. The material is effective in cleaning, is anti-bacterial and reduce the amount of cleaning product needed, the chemical runoff from your car is also minimized.
Uses for Microfiber Towels Around the Garage
To help you understand the uses of microfiber towels, we have listed them here for you:
- Easy and hygienic cleaning of dirt and dust from the car’s interior,
- Wiping workbenches and similar surfaces,
- Cleaning the car headlights,
- Quick car cleanse with water only
- Rapid drying of a car without any scratch marks
There are plenty of other uses of microfiber towels as well around the kitchen, in the bathroom, and in your living areas as well. They are a great thing to have for places where traditional cleaning may cause damage, and hence they are great for interiors. They are an excellent choice for cleaning items like monitors and keyboards as well. Hence, they are a very versatile item to add to your collection.
How to Properly Clean Your Microfiber Towels
Having read about all the benefits and uses of microfiber towels, you must now be thinking about how to keep them in mint condition. You need to go one step ahead in taking care of those compared to your other fabric towels, but a few simple steps will last them for a long time to come.
1. Use Only Water to Wash Them
This is a very important point to remember as microfiber works the best with water only, even when they are being cleaned. Never use any chemical-based items like a detergent or fabric softener when washing them, as their ability to sweep away grime and dirt will be impeded by those due to the effect on fiber structures. However, you may purchase cleaners designed specifically for microfibers, but water alone is also sufficient enough.
2. Wash Them Alone
It is best to avoid washing microfibers with any other fabric especially cotton. This is due to the fact that microfibers easily pick up lint from these fabrics and clogs them up, reducing their ability to pick up dirt further.
3. Use Low Heat Only
The fiber structure of microfibers can be altered if they are exposed to too much heat, and hence their ability to clean and pick small fragments will also be impeded. When hand washing the towels, just soak them in some warm to cool water before rubbing them to release dust and dirt. When using a washing machine, do not go beyond a cool or warm setting.
Similarly, when drying them, use the lowers the possible temperature in your tumble drier, though air drying is the best option if you have time as tumble driers usually have lint pieces that the cloth can pick.
4. Do Not Iron
The worst thing to do to your microfiber towel is exposing it to high iron temperatures. You do not need to iron them once they are dried.
5. Appropriate Storage
Since microfibers are great at picking up dust and dirt, it is also essential that you store them in a clean space where dust won’t affect their quality and properties. You may go for storing them in a clean box to protect them until your next use.
