Microfiber cloths lose all absorbency when washed with liquid fabric softener

We’ve all been there: you grab a freshly washed microfiber cloth to wipe up a spill, but instead of soaking it up, the cloth just pushes the liquid around like a waterproof tarp. If your cleaning towels have suddenly lost their magic, you might be making a critical mistake in the laundry room.

The Fabric Softener Trap

• Borax powder eliminates persistent laundry mildew odors from front loading machines
• Microfiber cloths lose all absorbency when washed with liquid fabric softener
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• Baking soda neutralizes stubborn carpet odors without expensive steam cleaning machines

It’s a natural habit to pour a little liquid fabric softener into the wash to keep your towels smelling fresh and feeling fluffy. But when it comes to microfiber cloths, fabric softener is their absolute worst enemy. Microfiber is engineered from synthetic materials—usually a blend of polyester and polyamide. The magic of these cloths lies in the microscopic splits in the fibers, which create millions of tiny spaces to trap dirt, grease, and liquid.

When you wash them with liquid fabric softener, the conditioning agents coat these synthetic fibers in a waxy residue. This essentially acts like a microscopic melting effect, clogging all the tiny crevices and completely waterproofing the cloth. Your fluffy cleaning towel is now completely useless.

The Boiling Water Reset Trick

Don’t throw away those ruined cloths just yet! You can easily strip away the waxy coating and restore their absorbency with a simple kitchen trick.

To reset your microfiber cloths, grab a large pot and bring water to a rolling boil. Carefully drop the coated cloths into the boiling water and let them simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. The intense heat will melt away the trapped fabric softener and detergent buildup without damaging the synthetic fibers. For extra cleaning power, add a splash of plain white vinegar to the water. Once boiled, carefully remove them with tongs, let them cool, and run them through a normal wash cycle with a mild detergent—and absolutely no fabric softener!