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The best microfiber cleaning cloth is like a magnet. The fabric has a slight positive charge, which means it attracts negatively charged gunk—like dust and grime tend to be—making them a great alternative to chemical-y cleaning solutions. Some data from UC Davis Health System also indicate that the material is three times better than its competitors at trapping baddies. Microfibers are also incredibly fine, measuring about 1/100th of the width of a strand of hair, so the cleaning cloths can wipe down the delicate surfaces of electronics, monitors, glasses, and car exteriors without scratching them. With so many readymade rags on the market, picking the best microfiber cleaning cloths can be overwhelming. Choosing the right set for the task at hand means taking a deeper look at key features that make subtle but important differences in how well they work.
- Best overall: E-Cloth Reusable Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
- Best for cars: Chemical Guys Professional Grade Microfiber Towels
- Best for electronics: MagicFiber Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
- Best for kitchens: Zwipes 735 Microfiber Towel Cleaning Cloths
- Best for glasses: Koala Kloth Glasses Cleaning Cloth
How we picked the best microfiber cleaning cloths
Our curated selection was developed based on several years of experience testing and reviewing home products as well as extensive research. We weighed a number of practical considerations when making our recommendations, including the makeup of the fabric itself and its durability. We looked for cloths with at least 100,000 fibers per square inch—the greater the density the better the grip on gunky stuff—and that can withstand at least 300 washes before going into the bin. We also looked for a decent percentage of polyamide, an indicator of a good cloth. After considering more than 20 potential options of varying styles and sizes, we narrowed down our choices to five top products.
The best microfiber cleaning cloths: Reviews & recommendations
Best overall: E-Cloth Reusable Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
Best Microfiber Cleaning Cloths Overall
Housekeeping Hero
Specs:
- Intended Use: Housekeeping
- Dimensions: 12.5 x 12.5, 15.5 x 15.5, 16 x 20 inches
- Number of Cloths: 8
Pros:
- Includes a variety of cloths for different purposes
- Ultrafine weave
- Can withstand 300 washes
Cons:
- Not great for electronics
It can be difficult to choose the best microfiber cleaning cloths for housekeeping because different parts of your home require different weaves. E-Cloth created this eight-piece set to provide an option to clean every surface in your home—from your stainless steel fridge to your glass windows. Each cloth has an ultra-fine weave of 3.1 million fibers per square inch.
This set comes with a variety of different microfiber cloths, each of which has its own intended use—from mopping to polishing. For example, the window cloth has a large waffle-like-weave, which helps it better grab onto gunk. And the dedicated dusting cloth is made of 100 percent polyester, which is an usual recommendation for a microfiber cloth (normally we like a good portion of the material polyamide), but helps it hang onto those bigger bunnies. The brand also guarantees that their cloths can stand up to 300 washes, so you won’t have to replace them any time soon.
Best for cars: Chemical Guys Professional Grade Microfiber Towels
Best Microfiber Cleaning Cloths for Cars
Crafted for Cars
Specs:
- Intended Use: Automotive
- Dimensions: 16 x 16 inches
- Number of Cloths: 3
Pros:
- Specifically designed for automotive cleaning
- Effective when wet or dry
- Dual-sided with different fibers on each side
- Silk edging to prevent scratches
Cons:
- Must be washed separately from other laundry
While you can invest in having your car professionally detailed, it’s also possible to do a lot of the work yourself as long as you have the right tools. Pros use the best microfiber cleaning cloths for cars to clean and polish the interior and exterior surfaces of your car because they can gently clean without risking scratches. This three-pack of cloths from Chemical Guys is crafted specifically for your automotive needs.
Each cloth is dual-sided for added functionality. One side features long fibers which work well for wiping away dust, while the other features short fibers which are designed for buffing, polishing, and window cleaning. The cloths feature silk edging, which unlike inexpensive nylon edging is designed to prevent scratches. These wipers are also effective whether they’re wet or dry. They’re made with 70 percent polyester and 30 percent polyamide, indicating a high-quality construction.
Best for electronics: MagicFiber Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
Best Microfiber Cleaning Cloths for Electronics
Excellent for Electronics
Specs:
- Intended Use: Electronics, glasses
- Dimensions: 6 x 7 inches
- Number of Cloths: 6
Pros:
- Compact size makes them easy to transport
- Can withstand up to 500 washes
- Compatible with ultra-delicate surfaces
Cons:
- The black color doesn’t show dirt
- Must be hand washed
When it comes to cleaning ultra-delicate surfaces, these MagicFiber cloths are considered the best microfiber cleaning cloths for electronics by many experts. The fine fibers remove fingerprints, smudges, dust, and dirt without leaving lint or streaks behind.
The teeny, soft weave also makes the cloths safe to use on screens, including those of your best tablets, TVs, computers, and smartphones. (They’re also excellent for cleaning your smaller shiny things like eyeglasses, glassware, camera lenses, and watch faces). They’re thin and small—just 6 by 7 inches—and each comes in its own reusable bag, making sure they stay clean in your purse, wallet, or bag.
According to the manufacturer, they can be washed and reused up to 500 times. One downside is that these cloths are not machine washable, so hand washing will become part of your reality—especially considering that the black ones won’t readily show you how dirty they are.
Best for kitchens: Zwipes 735 Microfiber Towel Cleaning Cloths
Best Microfiber Cleaning Cloths for Kitchens
Quick Kitchen Cleane
Specs:
- Intended Use: Housekeeping
- Dimensions: 16 x 12 inches
- Number of Cloths: 12
Pros:
- Large surface area
- 12 cloths included
- Ultra-absorbent
Cons:
- Polymide content unknown
The best microfiber cleaning cloths for kitchens come in handy when cleaning a number of surfaces, from countertops to cabinet faces and sinks to appliances. This 12-pack is affordable and each cloth features over 110,000 fibers per square inch for a fine weave of short, fluffy fibers. That relative puffiness makes them extremely absorbent—ideal for wiping up spills and other messes. The set includes three cloth colors so users can differentiate ones that are used for different tasks.
At 16 by 12 inches, they’re large enough for most standard kitchen cleaning tasks. These cloths are machine washable and the manufacturer recommends washing in cold or warm water and drying on low. When following these instructions, the cloths should last for as many as 500 washes. While they’re our top pick for kitchens, they’re also appropriate for most other household cleaning tasks.
Best for glasses: Koala Kloth Glasses Cleaning Cloth
Best Microfiber Cleaning Cloths for Glasses
Great for Glasses
Specs:
- Intended Use: Glasses, electronics
- Dimensions: 6 x 7 inches
- Number of Cloths: 6
Pros:
- Specifically designed for glasses
- Unique honeycomb weave
- Can be washed 500 times
Cons:
- Must be hand washed
While all microfiber cloths share some similarities, they’re not all designed to serve the same purpose. When it comes to cleaning your glasses, for example, you need the best microfiber cleaning cloth for glasses. This means it has very finely woven so that there’s no chance it will damage your expensive prescription lenses. These cloths from Koala Kloth feature a proprietary honeycomb pattern that offers an even gentler clean than other brands.
You will, however, need to take care of the cloths so that they’ll take care of your valuables: They must be washed by hand in cold water with a mild soap and then sit in the air to dry. By following these instructions, though, you’ll get as many as 500 washes out of each cloth.
Things to consider before buying microfiber cleaning cloths
Choosing a scrubber mat might seem like a simple decision, but there are actually a number of considerations to weigh before you make a purchase.
Intended Use
Microfiber cloths have either a loop weave or a waffle weave, which is what helps determine their best uses. Loop weave cloths are incredibly gentle and are ideal for cleaning delicate surfaces like glass, electronics, and automotive surfaces. Waffle weave cloths, on the other hand, are better for household cleaning because they’re slightly more abrasive.
Fabric Makeup and Density
Microfiber used for cleaning cloths is made up of a combination of polyester and polyamide. The highest-quality microfiber has a high percentage of polyamide (20 percent or more), while cheaper microfiber will have a higher portion of polyester. The quality of a microfiber cloth can also be determined by the number of fibers per square inch; while not all manufacturers list this specification, look for cloths with at least 100,000 fibers per square inch, if the information is available.
Size
Microfiber cloths vary widely in size depending on their intended use. Cloths for house cleaning or automotive care are larger, typically measuring 12 by 16 inches or 16 by 20 inches. Cloths for cleaning electronics and eyeglasses, on the other hand, tend to measure just 6 by 7 inches.
Durability
Many brands measure their product’s durability by the number of washes they can withstand. This can range from 50 to 500.
FAQs
After each use, rinse the cloth with warm water. Many microfiber cloths are machine-washable so you can toss ‘em in with the rest of your laundry. Avoid using bleach or fabric softener, both of which could damage the fibers. Tumble dry on low for the best results. A lot of manufacturers do recommend hand washing to prolong effectiveness and durability, so be sure to check their instructions.
Microfiber cloths do a good job of removing bacteria from a number of different surfaces. It’s important to note, though, that unlike chemical cleaning agents, microfiber cloths remove those baddies but don’t kill them.
Vinegar doesn’t pair well with microfiber because its high acidity level will degrade the quality of the material.
Final thoughts on the best microfiber cleaning cloths
- Best overall: E-Cloth Reusable Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
- Best for cars: Chemical Guys Professional Grade Microfiber Towels
- Best for electronics: MagicFiber Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
- Best for kitchens: Zwipes 735 Microfiber Towel Cleaning Cloths
- Best for glasses: Koala Kloth Glasses Cleaning Cloth
The best microfiber cleaning cloths are not a one-size-fits-all affair. The best arsenal will include rags catered to various surfaces and tasks, from wiping down the car to polishing a camera lens. That’s why, if you’re looking to make one catch-all purchase, we recommend a diverse multipack like the E-Cloth Reusable Microfiber Cleaning Cloths.
