They say that a workman is only as good as his tools, and I believe that the same principle applies to cleaning! You can do an okay job using any old cleaning tool, but with the right tool, you’ll not only be able to do a great job but do it faster and with less effort. (I don’t think any of us would mind saving time and effort on cleaning tasks, right?)
And while there are a lot of cleaning tools that excel at certain tasks, today I want to focus on one tool in particular: microfiber cloths. Microfiber cloths are gentle enough for delicate surfaces, yet they have the grip and absorbency to trap messes like few other tools can.
Today I’m sharing 7 different cleaning tasks that I only trust to microfiber cloths. And by the end of this post, I think you’ll understand exactly why!
7 Things You Should Clean With Microfiber Cloths
1. Shower Walls
Not only are microfiber cloths great for cleaning your shower, but they can help you keep it clean too. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe down your shower walls after each use. It’ll pick up any soapy residue and moisture lingering on the walls, helping to prevent soap scum and mildew from taking hold. Use microfiber cloths along with my daily shower cleaner spray to keep your shower looking beautifully clean for weeks.
These microfiber kitchen towels are absolutely the best. So absorbent and quick drying as well. I even use them to dry my shower now. Works better than my squeegee! I have given them to 5 people and they are equally impressed. Please do not hesitate to try these. You will be writing a review like I am!
Gaylene G.
2. Windows & Mirrors
Cleaning your windows and mirrors with microfiber will leave them super shiny and streak-free. Add equal parts water and vinegar to a spray bottle, spray it onto your cloth, and use it to wipe down your mirrors and windows.
I’ll never use anything else! I bought and have been using your microfiber cloths for washing and drying dishes. They work great for that, but recently, I bought more and used them for drying my just-washed windows. I was amazed.
Debbie P.
3. Granite, Stainless Steel, & Other Kitchen Surfaces
Microfiber is great for cleaning and shining up any surface in your kitchen. It will leave your stone countertops gleaming, and remove smudges and smears from stainless steel. My homemade granite cleaner works great on both stone and stainless steel, and you can learn how to make it here.
Shine, shine, shine! I am shocked at how well these cloths shine my stainless steel appliances. I used to use paper towels for cleaning, but not anymore!
Teresa A.
4. Eyeglasses
Use a dry microfiber cloth to clean everyday smears and smudges off your glasses and sunglasses. And for those rare occasions when you need a bit of extra cleaning power to clean really smeared lenses, you can make a great lens and screen cleaning solution at home—get the instructions here.
Great for cleaning my glasses. I use these smaller cloths to clean my glasses. I don’t know how they get so dirty just sitting on my face but smudgy glasses drive me crazy. These cloths are soft enough that there is no worry of any damage to the lens but they clean without streaking and I don’t need any additional cleaner.
Laurene S.
5. Glassware
Sick of water spots on your glasses and stemware? Just buff them with a microfiber cloth! The cloth will pick up any residue or mineral deposits without the need for additional cleaners.
These are the best towels for drying drinking glasses. Doesn’t leave any threads behind. Love them!!
Susie D.
6. Dusting
Microfiber cloths are excellent for dusting. You can use a dry cloth to pick up light dust and dirt or use a damp cloth to power through thicker dust and grime. And since microfiber is so effective at trapping dirt, you don’t have to worry about spreading the dust around like you do with other types of dusters.
I love these cloths! They’re kind of a miracle. I mean to say, it’s true. I picked one up to wipe off a pretty dusty table, using it totally dry with no product of any kind, and that table was shining. I’m not lying! They are awesome!
Sherry S.
7. Spills
Use a dry microfiber cloth to absorb spilled liquids—one cloth can absorb as much as a whole can of soda! You can also use a damp microfiber cloth to clean up spilled dry ingredients, like flour, salt, etc. The wet fibers grab onto even the tiniest particles to make cleaning up spills a breeze.
Very absorbent! They have been very handy for accidental liquid spills where the liquid is immediately captured in the towel, preventing further cleanup!
Joanne
Which Microfiber Cleaning Cloths Should I Buy?
Wondering which microfiber cloths I trust in my own home? I won’t pretend I’m not biased—but only because I spent a long time searching for cloths that checked all my boxes for quality, durability, and performance. And I’m thrilled to say these waffle weave microfiber cloths do exactly that!
Whether you’re drying dishes, wiping down countertops, shining up stainless steel, or cleaning up spills, there’s a cloth in my lineup that’s made for the job:
- Microfiber Kitchen Towels (16” x 23”), set of 2: Perfect for drying dishes, and hands, and soaking up big spills.
- Microfiber Cleaning Cloths (13” x 13”), set of 4: Great for dusting, polishing, and wiping down mirrors and countertops.
- Microfiber Dishcloths (10” x 10”), set of 4: Ideal for scrubbing dishes and keeping the sink area clean.
All three varieties are available in grey, cream, blue, and pink.
Why You’ll Love Them
- Quick-Drying & Odor-Free: No more musty-smelling towels—just fresh and ready when you need them.
- Super Absorbent: Holds up to six times its weight in water for effortless drying.
- Built to Last: Machine washable and resistant to fraying, these towels are in it for the long haul.
- Lint-Free Shine: Waffle weave texture leaves glass, stainless steel, and counters streak- and lint-free.
- Soft & Fluffy: They’re as satisfying to use as they are effective—luxuriously soft and ready to tackle any mess.
Several years ago an optometrist gave me important tips for cleaning eyeglasses. Wiping them can damage them — the coating, the lens– because of tiny particles we can’t see. And those particles stick to the cloth, so next time you wipe, your doing more damage.
The first step is to rinse them under water to remove any solids. Then use a little soap and water to wash by hand. Dry with tissue, wiping in only one direction. I’ve been doing this ever since and my well used prescription sunglasses are still in perfect shape 9 years later.
A bonus to this method is not needing to carry anything around because everything is available in any bathroom.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Please reconsider your support of microfiber, Jillee. Microfiber is badly polluting our oceans. Each time you rinse or wash microfiber the tiny fibers make their way through our water and dumped into the ocea. Many things pollute not just microfiber, but microfiber pollution is at an all time high. The only way we can stop it is to not buy it or use it.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I completely understand your concern. My team and I have the same one about the environmental impact of microfiber. It’s a complex issue, because they do help us cut back on disposable products like paper towels, but they’re not a perfect solution. When you wash microfiber cloths, they shed microfibers into the water, which is a concern because they aren’t biodegradable the way natural fibers are. However, you can minimize the amount of shedding from your microfiber cloths by handwashing or washing them only as needed on a delicate, cold-water cycle.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I agree. I don’t understand why microfiber cloth is pushed on us like it’s solving some great problem. We use cotton rags for exciting in this article and more and always have.
And if you’re going to say they are better than paper towels (which we don’t use ourselves) do the math to justify it. Compare them cradle to grave and see how it pans out. Don’t just assume something disposable is worse.
Don’t forget the car: they’re absolutely terrific for removing / soaking up the water drops after washing or rain.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Try to use a Brillo or SOS pad, but use it with care, it worked for me.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.PS. Be sure to rinse that Corning Ware item, to be sure there is no residual pieces of that Brillo or SOS pad.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I find that 100% cotton cloths, from an old shirt belonging to my husband, along with vinegar does a great job cleaning the inside of windows and any glass tables that you might have.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.For the outside of the windows there is a spray that you attach to your hose so you can wash the outside of the windows. There is a other spray that will clean your vinyl siding, but be sure to clean the siding before you use the spray for windows. Be sure to rinse the siding and windows with plain water to finish the jobs.
Same here. There are many things better than microfiber for cleaning. And in the end, when the cotton rag is finally spent, it will decompose while microfibers will always linger in the environment, causing problems essentially forever.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi Jillie! I was kind of expecting using microfiber cloths to be listed as a good way to clean your flat screen tv screen. I have little fingerprints all over mine from my granddaughters. What would you recommend using to clean your tv screen?
Thank you!
Kim
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’m amazed that Barkeeper’s Friend didn’t work for you – I might give it another go. You could try letting the BKF sit on the dishes for 10 minutes or soo :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Have you tried magic eraser?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I wash my microfiber cloths by hand in a bucket and keep the bucket outside so the water evaporates. No water going down drains.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The best product on the market. Great for the environment because no cleaning products are needed, water only.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.can you tell me how to clean the older type of double windows that you can not take out, there is only about an inch between the window pane and they are really getting bad, they slide side to side and im 75 yrs old so I need a really easy way . thank you so much and I love to read your post on things I write them down in a spiral notebook where I can go back to look at them when I forget. you are really doing a great job at helping us all out.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you Kay! I actually have never had double paned windows before, so I don’t know much about them. I did find some information about cleaning them here: https://jillee.co/2FuXtdH
I hope it helps!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Been using them for years. We have a motorcycle conversion shop out back behind our house so we use a lot of them to wipe down the trikes. We buy them in bulk so I always bring some up to the house for my cleaning. I also buy them at Wal-Mart in the automotive section I get 30 for 10bucks.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have used microfiber cloths for many years to clean with but just this week discovered a new way to use them. Have been painting my kitchen and I spilled paint on my new laminate floor. While I usually have a wet cloth ready for accidents and edges I sometimes need to crisp up I didn’t have one in my hand when the paint hit the floor. I grabbed a microfiber cloth that I had on the counter and was amazed at how well it picked the paint up from the floor, didn’t smear at all like regular rags do! It picked up the paint so amazingly that that’s all I’m ever going to use again when I’m painting! Plus it cleaned out of the cloth really easy too!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.That’s great!
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