Why NOT to Wash Microfiber Cloths with Fabric Softener

Whether you're a long-time microfiber enthusiast or a curious newcomer, there's a lot to know when it comes to washing microfiber cloths. I gave all of you Maker's Clean readers the low down on washing microfiber a couple weeks ago, but if you haven't seen that yet, be sure to read, How to Wash Microfiber Cloths.

Today, I want to talk about the don'ts. Specifically, I want to cover why it's an absolute no-no to wash your microfiber with fabric softener and/ or dryer sheets. So before you toss your microfiber into the wash, read this article!

Fabric Softener, Dryer Sheets, and Microfiber

If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times (and honestly, I probably have said this a thousand times); microfiber is amazing! The fibers in microfiber are so teeny tiny that they are 100 times finer than human hair.

Because of this, microfiber can pick up microscopic bits of dust, leaving your home absolutely, totally, and completely clean. These microfibers pick up everything, and that includes chemicals, harsh detergents, and fabric softeners.

Fabric softener and dryer sheets contain a lot of additives and extra ingredients. And dryer sheets are often composed partially of lubricants and fragrances along with additives that are coated onto a fabric sheet. How dryer sheets work is that when they are heated in the dryer, that coating is released.

All those extra ingredients, lubricants, and fragrances from fabric softener and dryer sheets actually coat the teeny tiny microfibers. And this isn't a good thing. If you've ever used fabric softener or dryer sheets on microfiber, you may have noticed that your microfiber becomes waxy-feeling.

This is because all those tiny fibers absorb the waxy residue that fabric softener and dryer sheets leave behind. Believe it or not, the woven fabric of your microfiber can actually become clogged with this waxy residue. And when this happens, your microfiber cloths stop being able to absorb and pick up dust and dirt. The fibers are too clogged!

So while there’s a time and place for fabric softener, dryer sheets, and scented laundry products (if that’s your thing), skip fabric softener and dryer sheets altogether when it comes to washing any microfiber product.