There are dozens of great uses for microfiber cloths, from standard microfiber cloth uses you might be familiar with to less conventional (though no less useful!) applications. If you’ve ever wondered how to use microfiber cloths or towels around the house, you’ve come to the right place for answers!
Microfiber cloths have been a mainstay in my cleaning arsenal for several years now. The impressive absorbency of these cloths makes nearly every cleaning task easier, and they’re more cost-effective (and more environmentally friendly!) than disposable wipes and paper towels.
Microfiber cloths may be gentle enough for delicate surfaces, but they can handle serious messes too! You can use them dry to pick up and trap loose dust and dirt, dampen them with water to wipe down countertops and coffee tables, or use them with your favorite store-bought and homemade cleaning products to deep-clean grimy kitchen and bathroom surfaces.
This post is focused on exploring the many uses of microfiber cloths, but I encourage you to check out how to care for microfiber cloths and the best ways to clean with microfiber cloths to learn more about these marvels!
22 Ways To Use Microfiber Cloths
1. Wash Your Face
You can use microfiber cloths to cleanse your skin with makeup remover, cleanser, or water alone. Just dampen the cloth with warm water and use it to gently wipe your face to remove dirt and makeup. (My microfiber makeup remover cloths are a perennial bestseller in my shop for a reason!)
You can also wash your body with microfiber towels or cloths. A microfiber cloth provides gentle exfoliation and leaves your skin feeling soft and smooth.
2. Remove Stains
Use a wet microfiber cloth to prevent spills from turning into stains on upholstery, carpet, and clothing. Just dab the area with a wet cloth to draw the stain out of the material. If you get to it right away, a microfiber cloth may be the only tool you need to remove the mark completely.
3. Wash And Dry Dishes
I absolutely love my waffle-weave dishcloths for washing and drying dishes. The absorbent microfiber allows me to use less dish soap and still get my china and stemware sparkling clean. They never leave streaks, and the towels dry glasses lint-free. When I’m done washing up, I can rinse the cloth, wring it out, and use it to wipe the sink, stove, and countertop, too
4. Shine Wood Floors
If you have hard floors, you haven’t seen them really shine until you’ve cleaned them with microfiber! You can attach a regular microfiber cloth to the bottom of a Swiffer-type sweeper or dry mop or buy a dedicated microfiber mop with reusable cloths or mop pads. Either way, you’ll love how effectively microfiber picks up grime and cleaner residue while leaving nothing behind but clean, shiny floors.
5. Keep Cars Clean
Keep a few microfiber cloths in your glove box and use them to keep your car clean! Whether you use them to clean up spilled coffee, dust your dashboard, or wipe that grimy film off the inside of your windshield, microfiber cloths are really handy for cleaning up inside your car.
You can also use microfiber to wash and dry the exterior of your car. It leaves glass sparkling clean without any lint or residue, and microfiber is super soft, so you don’t have to worry about damage to your paint job.
6. Clean Baseboards
Microfiber cloths are the perfect cleaning tool for baseboards — they make short work of stubborn dust and grime that tends to collect on them over time. Just wipe down your baseboards with a damp microfiber cloth, rinsing it out as needed.
7. Clean Jewelry & Watches
A clean microfiber cloth makes a great tool for cleaning delicate jewelry and watches. Just buff them with your microfiber cloth to remove dirt, dust, and grime, and leave them clean and shiny.
8. Dry Your Hair
Use a microfiber cloth to dry your hair! These super absorbent cloths can draw out much more water than a standard towel, so your hair will dry faster and look less frizzy! Just squeeze your damp hair with the towel or wrap it around your head. You can use any type of microfiber cloth to dry your hair, or you can find special microfiber hair towels and wraps online.
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9. Scrub Showers And Bathrooms
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 to prevent soap scum and mildew from taking hold. Use microfiber cloths and my daily shower cleaner spray to keep your shower looking beautifully clean for weeks!
Nobody enjoys cleaning the bathroom, but with an all-purpose spray, toilet brush, a microfiber cloth, and a few paper towels, you can clean your entire bathroom in just 15 minutes. (When disinfecting surfaces to eliminate germs, avoid using microfiber cloths with bleach or cleaning solutions that contain bleach, as they can damage the fibers.)
10. Remove Smudges From Eyeglasses
Use a dry microfiber cloth to clean your glasses and erase everyday smears and smudges from the lenses. (Need a bit of extra cleaning power for really smeared lenses? You can make a great DIY lens and screen cleaning solution for pennies!)
11. Clean Windows & Polish 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 mirrors and windows.
12. Wipe Electronics
Use microfiber cloths to clean fingerprints and dust off your TV screen, computer monitor, phone, and other electronics. Grab a microfiber cloth and use it dry to pick up dust or damp to wipe away smears and smudges.
Keep in mind that different screens have different needs when it comes to cleaning, so it’s important to know what kind of screen you’re dealing with before using water to clean it (or any other cleaning solution, for that matter). Learn more about cleaning electronics screens to safely get rid of the grime!
13. Clean Granite, Stainless Steel, & Other Kitchen Surfaces
Microfiber is great for cleaning and shining just about any surface in your kitchen. It leaves stone countertops gleaming and makes short work of smudges and smears on stainless steel, especially when used in tandem with my homemade granite cleaner.
14. Keep Pests At Bay
With the way their tiny fibers grab onto even the smallest particles, microfiber cloths are a great ally when it comes to pest control. Crumbs and other food residues attract all manner of pests, but wiping out your pantry and cupboards with a microfiber cloth will keep them clean and crumb-free and thus less attractive to pests!
15. Erase Spots From Glass
Sick of water spots on your glasses and stemware? Buff them with a dry (or slightly damp) microfiber cloth to remove residues and mineral deposits without the need for additional cleaners. I also like to keep a microfiber towel handy when emptying the dishwasher to dry off any lingering drips before they can leave water spots on my clean glass.
16. Clean Delicate Items Gently
Use a microfiber cloth to gently clean delicate decor items. Whether you use them dry or dampened with a bit of water, they make it easy to remove dust and grime without damaging fragile items and surfaces.
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17. Pick Up Dust
Microfiber cloths are excellent for dusting! You can use a dry cloth to pick up light dust and dirt or 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 dust around like you do with other types of dusters.
18. Clean Pets & Pick Up Pet Hair
Not only can you use a dry microfiber cloth to swipe pet hair off the sofa, but a damp cloth is perfect for wiping down pups covered in dry grass, leaves, and mud before they come back inside. You can also use a damp microfiber cloth to gently clean your dog’s ears clean!
19. Mop Up Spills
Use a dry microfiber cloth to absorb spilled liquids — a single cloth can absorb as much as a whole can of soda! You can also use a damp microfiber cloth to wipe up spilled flour, salt, and other dry ingredients. The wet fibers grab onto even the tiniest particles to make cleaning up spills a breeze.
20. Clean Bathroom Floors
A Cuban mop and a microfiber cloth work wonders on the tile floor in my kitchen — I can get into tight spots with ease and have no trouble getting the leverage I need to cut through greasy or sticky spots.
(Never heard of a Cuban mop? It’s basically a long mop handle with a short section attached to one end in a T-shape. Just wrap a cloth around the T, and you’ve got yourself a simple but incredibly effective tool for cleaning floors!)
21. Save Energy
Because microfiber towels can be used a few times before you need to wash them, you can save energy using them versus using standard cleaning rags. After each use, rinse your microfiber cloths clean and hang them to dry. Then when they need a more thorough cleaning, either hand wash them or toss them in your washing machine (only with other microfiber cloths). Use a gentle liquid laundry detergent, then air dry or tumble dry with no heat.
Concerned about the environmental impact of microfiber? It’s a complex issue because while they’re less wasteful than disposable products like paper towels, they can also shed non-biodegradable microfibers when you wash them. You can minimize the amount of shedding from your microfiber cloths by washing them as needed on a delicate, cold-water cycle.
22. Use Them Outdoors
In the great outdoors, microfiber cloths are ideal for wiping down camping dishes, drying hair after a dunk in the lake, and cleaning up after a picnic. My husband even uses a microfiber cleaning cloth to wipe down his knife and board after cleaning fish!
Closer to home, I use microfiber cloths in the garden to wipe off my trowel and other tools after rinsing them off with the hose. (I also keep a big jar of my homemade gardeners’ hand scrub out there so I can scrub my hands clean before coming into the house!)
Which Microfiber Cloths Should I Buy?
Looking for the most amazing microfiber cloths? I know how you feel! I tested and evaluated dozens of different microfiber cloths before I found the perfect waffle-weave microfiber cloths to offer in my shop.
These incredibly absorbent waffle-weave cloths come in three convenient sizes:
- Microfiber Kitchen Towels (16” x 23”), set of 2
- Microfiber Cleaning Cloths (13” x 13”), set of 4
- Microfiber Dishcloths (10” x 10”), set of 4
All three varieties are available in grey, cream, blue, and pink.
I’m far from the only one who loves these microfiber cloths! Take a look at what reviewers have had to say:
These are the best quality microfiber cloths I have ever purchased! In my kitchen when there is a spill this cloth picks it up SO QUICK! On top of that, they dry SO QUICKLY! I’VE NEVER HAD A BETTER QUALITY CLOTH of any kind in my kitchen!
Eileen M.
I got two of these towels to try and found them to be the most absorbent, soft towels I have ever used! I have used white cotton microfiber kitchen towels before that would not absorb anything. I threw them away! But these towels are a keeper. I have ordered 4 more and they arrived today. I highly recommend these kitchen towels.
Martha W.
These are the best towels I have ever used! I bought two and started using them as dish towels in my kitchen. It is TRULY AMAZING how quickly they dry my hands or any water that may be on the counter, yet the towel feels completely dry! I immediately purchased two more.
Jacqueline D.
When you buy three sets of towels, you’ll get one free! Just be sure to choose the “Buy 3, Get 1 Free” option on any of the respective product pages.
What are your favorite ways to use microfiber cloths?
I love my micro towels so much, am at son and daughter-in-law, in Fl. and just bought for them to use and enjoy. Also got them the wool dryer balls, luv mine. Thanks Jillee, all your hints are the best
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I also keep a travel size spray bottle with water in the car to clean with my micro fiber cloth. BB&B also has small rectangular pads that are micro pads with a thin layer of sponge in the middle. Great in the kitchen. They suck up the water with one swipe!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great for cleaning glasses too.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Bought a special set to clean makeup off my face, then I wash my face.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.To clean all electronic screens, TV, phone, tablets, etc. and mirrors.
To dry my curly hair by squeezing in sections, never rubbing.
I have never met anyone who like microfiber cloth. Personally I hate them. I hate the way they feel and snag on dry skin.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I like them and everyone I know likes them, too. They are a good indicator of dry skin. Try some coconut oil.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.me too. plain old cotton like mom used works best for every household task
Please log in or create a free account to comment.If you care about our environment, then please google dangers of microfiber cloths. Everytime you wash them, gobs of microscopic fibers are released that end up in our oceans, contributing to ocean pollution.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.That’s not good. Thanks for sharing this.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yes the cheaper ones will do that but if you get a really good one like from Norwex they will not shed. Norwex cloths also have silver embedded in them and they will choke bacteria, leaving the cloths clean and smelling good when you have hung them to dry. They also carry a 2 year guarantee. If you dont want to pay for Norwex then invest in a Coraball which will trap fibers in your washer. All fabrics shed tiny fibers.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Why on earth is your septic water emptying into the ocean? In the country we have private septic systems……no leaking into any oceans. In the city waste water goes directly to the water treatment plant……not the ocean.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have microfiber dish cloths I use. But I find that when I wash them, they end up with my hair tangled up in their weave. I have tried washing them in a lingerie bag to keep them separate, but it still happens….
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Any suggestions to stop this from happening? Other than shaving my head?
Don’t dry them in the dryer. Hang them for a quick air dry, even in the winter!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Whoops—the winter!
I would suggest washing them in their own small load, if you can :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use the super fine mesh laundry bags. I buy the multi-pack from Amazon and place them under the sinks that I use my Norwex Microfiber. As they get dirty I place them in the bags until I’m ready to wash them. That way they don’t accidentally end up in with linty fabrics. It keeps them from collecting lint, hair, etc. while in the washer and dryer.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great tip Kathleen!
You’re not supposed to put microfiber cloths in the dryer. Also don’t use bleach or fabric
softener.
You’re only supposed to wash them together with other microfiber cloths. Never mix other clothes & you won’t have the problem of hair tangling up in their weave. Before putting in the wash take a paper towel & give your washer barrel a good wipe down to see if there is any residue from the previous wash. If there is perhaps you need to run a cleaner through your washer by itself to clean out your washer to maintain & clean it making it last longer. If you feel you must wash them with something the only other clothes I’ve felt safe washing them with are jeans because they won’t wear them down like they will other fabrics. They will literally destroy other clothes. Good luck, remember, no fabric softeners & no high heat dryers.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use microfiber for basically everything you listed in both posts. I also use them when grooming my cats. It’s super useful to catch the extra fur after brushing.
I have a set of the 36 AmazonBasics microfiber cloths. They come in 3 colors, so I too use different colors for different tasks.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have a small one I use for cleaning my glasses for the occasional days I have to wear them. I’ve had a microfiber cloth towel.. I got it from the auto section at Walmart for less than the Amazon price. I use it when I wash my hair. It helps my hair to air dry faster so I can dry it and style .Also when my mom uses her Norwex microfiber cloths. She just lets them air dry after washing.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use microfiber cloths every day and purchase the 36 towel pack from Costco. Microfiber should
Please log in or create a free account to comment.always be washed separately from other laundry, so we keep a bucket in our laundry room and when we are down to just a few cloths, we wash a load. I especially like them for cleaning my kitchen counters. Combined with a disinfectant spray, you will leave no germs behind.
Why must they be washed alone.? I just throw them in any cold wash.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I haven’t heard they need to be washed *alone*, but I have heard you’re not supposed to use fabric softener on them as it will reduce their absorbency over time.
I use tons of microfiber cloths. I just wash them with my other towels (my towels are always done separate from other laundry).
They don’t have to be washed alone, but it does help prevent lint and hair clinging to them. :-)
They should be washed alone to prevent them from “picking up” lint and fibres from other items. I was involved in a trial conducted by Education QLD quite a few years ago to decide if a whole range of microfiber cloths, mops etc., should replace the old cleaning system. As result, they were implemented in all QLD schools as they not only cleaned better, but also removed more bacteria with just water than the disinfectants and old cloths did. Several hospitals made the change over to microfiber (after rigorous scientific testing.)
I think that they pick up lint from other towels. I wash them with my dish towels, which are also lint free.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.yes, Melissa Maker (Clean my Space) has a YouTube on how to wash them, and I also saw a very good one by a gent who does car detailing with them. I do the same as Anita- save up until I have a load. In the past, I washed with cotton/poly blend towels, which ended up all full of “pills” because the microfiber towels glommed onto them in the wash. Bleach degrades microfiber, too.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.So, wash in warm water only with other microfibers, no bleach, no fabric softener and dry on warm or cool or hang to dry.
I cut a new microfibre duster into 16 squares and use them to apply toner to my face instead of cotton rounds. I put them in a lingerie bag after using and wash them with the towels. Saves money and waste!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great idea!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Brilliant
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have shingles, and can not sleep, early this morning (4am) the gauze pad that was covering the rash on my back fell off. I couldn’t stand my top rubbing against the rash. My husband and our dogs were sleeping upstairs and I couldn’t disturb them trying to retrieve and new pad and tape. I suddenly remembered I had a new, never been used pad, in the drawer with the dish towels. I found it opened it up vertically, put one end under the elastic of my pj’s and my top over and tucked it in too. I am happy to say that it is sitting softly against my skin and my top isn’t rubbing against my rash.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Can be used to make nursing pads also.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I heard that there is a certain way that microfiber clothes need to be cleaned. Is this true? If so, what do YOU recommend?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I just toss mine in the washer on warm with liquid detergent and no fabric softener. Then into the dryer for a few minutes on low heat. They come out fine!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I am a Norwex consultant and we recommend using hot water to wash. Hot water swells our fibers and releases what is trapped. Never use bleach, fabric softener or dryer sheets. Beside being full of chemicals and not good for your skin, they coat the microfiber and it can’t work like it was made to work. Wash with non-linty items—otherwise the microfiber will attract the lint and you’ll have a mess on your cloth! While not all microfiber is the same, this method should work on any microfiber.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I suggest washing microfiber cloths in warm or hot water with a mild detergent. Never use fabric softener or bleach. Tumble dry on low heat, or air dry if possible. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.What is the solution to keep the tiny Microfibers from infestating 0ur ocean life? I have read many solutions but don’t know which is most effective. Please help.
Hi Ouida! All of these tips will help, and combining them all is the best you can do:
Use a liquid laundry detergent.
Use cold water.
Hang cloths to dry.
Wash synthetic materials as infrequently as possible.
Don’t buy microfiber anything! All such products shed (some profusely) nearly microscopic fibers — which a nothing but plastic, as is polyester (all of which derive from fossil fuels). I don’t think they’re absorbent at all. Might be good for dusting, but then what (cleaning them)? Microfiber is an environmental hazard to sea life of all kinds, & much of the microfiber fibers end up there over time, & has been found in the intestinal tracts of any number of aquatic & bird species. Please do the planet a favor & avoid microfiber as much as possible. Thanx for ‘listening.’