What is the Advantage and Disadvantage of Microfiber Cleaning Towel

Microfiber cloths are fantastic for cleaning various surfaces around your home, offering superior absorbency and versatility. However, they’re not a one-size-fits-all solution. Paper towels still have an important role to play in the home, and many people often ask when to use microfiber cloths versus paper towels. In this post, we’ll clear up this common confusion and provide definitive answers, so you’ll know exactly when to reach for a microfiber cloth and when to grab a paper towel.

For more information, please visit Jiuyuan.

The Pros and Cons of Paper Towels

Paper towels are incredibly convenient. They’re readily accessible, disposable, and perfect for quick cleanup tasks. The major advantage of paper towels is that once you use them, they’re gone. No need to worry about washing or reusing them—just toss them in the trash, and they’re out of sight, out of mind.

However, there are some downsides to using paper towels regularly. The cost can add up over time, and there’s a significant environmental impact from constantly using disposable paper products. Additionally, relying on paper towels can foster a habit of grabbing them for every small mess, which isn’t always the most efficient or eco-friendly choice.

The Benefits of Microfiber Cloths

Microfiber cloths, on the other hand, offer many benefits. The biggest advantage is that they are reusable. A single high-quality microfiber cloth (not the dollar store variety) can be washed and reused up to 500 times, making them an excellent long-term investment. Microfiber is also highly absorbent, and the cloths come in various weaves, textures, and colors, allowing you to color-code them for specific cleaning tasks. This makes them incredibly versatile, whether you're wiping counters, cleaning mirrors, or dusting surfaces.

That said, there are a couple of barriers to consider with microfiber cloths. First, there’s the upfront cost of purchasing good-quality cloths. High-quality microfiber can be pricey initially, but they pay off in the long run due to their durability. Second, microfiber requires special care when laundering. If not washed properly, the cloths can lose their effectiveness or even get damaged. To ensure your microfiber cloths last, it’s essential to follow proper care and washing instructions.

When to Use Paper Towels vs. Microfiber Cloths

To help you make the right choice, let’s explore some common cleaning scenarios and which option is best for each.

Grease and Oil

One of the most common questions we get is whether to use microfiber or paper towels for cleaning up grease and oil. For tasks like wiping down a greasy frying pan, such as after cooking bacon, it’s best to use paper towels. They are more effective at absorbing grease and are easy to dispose of after the task. If you're wiping up some bcaon splatter or salad dressing drips and drops, a microfiber cloth is a perfect choice.

If you do need to clean oil from a microfiber cloth, be sure to rinse it in hot, soapy water immediately after use and allow it to dry thoroughly. This will help remove the grease and keep the cloth functioning well.

General Stains and Spills

For everyday spills and stains around the house, an all-purpose microfiber cloth is usually your best option. It can easily tackle general messes on bathroom and kitchen counters, and it works well on a variety of surfaces. However, there are some exceptions. If you’re cleaning up something that could potentially stain the cloth—like a curry containing turmeric, hair dye, bleach, etc.—it’s best to use paper towels to avoid staining the microfiber cloth.

This is more of an aesthetic issue, but it’s still worth considering, as certain stains can be difficult to remove from microfiber.

Food Prep

Microfiber cloths are particularly useful in the kitchen, especially when it comes to food prep. For example, you can use a waffle weave cloth to wash and dry fruits and vegetables or even to press tofu. The unique texture of the waffle weave helps absorb moisture quickly without damaging the produce.

However, when it comes to patting down meat, poultry, or seafood, you should avoid using microfiber cloths. Instead, reach for a paper towel to handle these tasks.

Cleaning Products: Microfiber or Paper Towels?

When it comes to using cleaning products, the type of product you’re using will dictate whether you should use microfiber or paper towels. For cleaning products that contain bleach, wax, or oils, paper towels are the safer option. These products can damage microfiber or reduce its effectiveness.

On the other hand, if you’re using a general-purpose cleaner or a homemade DIY cleaner with ingredients like baking soda or essential oils, microfiber cloths work perfectly. They’re effective at lifting dirt and grime without leaving behind any residue, making them ideal for these kinds of cleaning tasks.

Now that you have a better understanding of when to use microfiber cloths and when to reach for paper towels, you’ll be able to make smarter decisions in your cleaning routine. The key is to choose the right tool for the job—microfiber cloths for most surfaces and general messes, and paper towels for greasy, oily, or stain-prone tasks.

Don’t forget—proper care of your microfiber cloths is essential for long-lasting performance. 

Thanks for reading, and happy cleaning!

I’m going to be upfront about this: I am a recent convert to microfiber for chemical free cleaning. And you know what converts are like…

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Microfiber Cleaning Towel.

But let me start by telling you why I had resisted for so long.

What are the cons?

There were two main reasons I held out against microfiber for so long. Firstly, microfiber is not a natural material. In fact, like other synthetics, it is made from petroleum oil, which of course means it is not a fully sustainable product. [November : Edited to add, although some microfibre – including some of the Norwex range – is now being made from recycled PET plastic, which is pretty awesome.]

The second reason was that I tried the cloths I could buy (quite cheaply) from my supermarket. Now, they did kinda work. I was actually quite impressed. But they didn’t last. In fact, they wore out really quickly.  And I could see bits of them washing away with the water (a blue film of tiny bits of microfibre would rub off onto my grout and then wash away).

So I figured, I can use my own, hand knitted cotton cloths (which do last), with my own frugal and sustainable non-toxic cleaning products (like my DIY spray ‘n’ wipe), so why bother?
BUT.

Firstly, I have to admit it takes me a bazillion years to knit each cotton cloth. I am a slow knitter.

Secondly, they don’t have anything like the cleaning power of the microfiber.

Thirdly, in fact, I use a lot of other cleaning paraphernalia like a scrubbing brush in my sink, toothbrush in my bathroom, and regular old scouring pads. Which, wait for it – are also completely synthetic and non-sustainable plastic products. That is, they are all made from petrochemicals too.

Fourthly, white vinegar? Made from petrochemicals. Oh, not always. If you buy the expensive stuff that is actually “distilled white vinegar”, it is probably distilled from a ferment of an actual grain. Though in America, that is likely to be corn, so probably GM (genetically modified), so… still not so sustainable.

I know, sometimes you just want to scratch your eyes out. Is *anything* sustainable these days?

In any case, I decided that not using microfiber cloths because they were made from petrochemicals was perhaps a little hypocritical. And with my sister visiting and cleaning my house with her Enjo products, and a good friend waxing lyrical about her Norwex cloths, I decided to try them out. I went with Norwex because a) they’re considerably cheaper, but a bit of a search online shows them to have a similar reputation in terms of efficacy and lifespan, and b) my friend is in Canberra, whereas my sister was then in Melbourne.

What are the pros?

So the cons are they are not truly sustainable [with the exception of those made from recycled plastic], in the sense that organically grown hemp is (cotton’s not the greatest example, because it takes so much water to grow, and if it’s not organic a LOT of pesticides as well). But, neither is almost anything else, and these do last. The Norwex clothes are guaranteed for two years, and most people seem to use them for much longer than that, even up to ten years. Enjo appears to be similar.

The pros are: they last a long time, they work – really, they do – and they make it really easy to say no to toxic chemicals, because they work just with water, and they save me money and packaging on vinegar and the like.

And – and this is a crucial plus for me, because despite what you might think based on this blog, I actually don’t like cleaning – they make cleaning EASIER and QUICKER!

Now Enjo and Norwex both have their consumable lines as well –a cream cleanser for when you need something a bit stronger, washing powder and so on. I haven’t tried any of those things, because I am perfectly happy with my homemade cleaning recipes. (Edited to add: Actually, see an update on this below.)

But when I combine my homemade cleaning products with the microfiber clothes, I find I am really ahead. I don’t need to use as much vinegar or bicarb anymore, which saves me money and more particularly saves a heap of packaging.

And when I spring cleaned my shower the other day, I found that my new cloths really did make cleaning easier than using vinegar etc alone. In fact, I have a post coming up on the exciting topic of the best way to clean your shower (with no nasties). That’s how inspired I was. (Spoiler alert – it doesn’t only include microfiber, but this stuff does get a mention).

The verdict

In summary, the downside of microfiber cleaning clothes are that they are made from petrochemicals. But, so are your scrubbing brushes, synthetic sponges and more than likely, your white vinegar. Additionally and perhaps more importantly the cheap ones wear out quickly, and wash down into the waterways. This is a real issue, leading to microplastics all through the food chain – albeit, the major cause of microplastics seems to be clothes, not cloths. So, if you are going to use microfibre, make sure you invest in a high quality brand.

The upside is really good ones last a long time, they work really well with nothing but water (most of the time), and consequently they make it easy to clean without harsh chemicals or even DIY cleaning products. So they can save you money and time, AND they reduce your rubbish and recycling loads.

Also, Norwex take their cloths back for recycling, and as I understand it, Enjo do too (though I have to admit this is hearsay, so feel free to correct me if I’m wrong).
 
Updated to add: Since writing this post I have become so gung ho about Microfibre that I’ve actually become a Norwex “Independent Consultant”. Consequently, the links to Norwex cloths in this post, now go to my own online store. Woohoo!

Edited to add – I have to admit that I *do* now use the Norwex cleaning paste (when necessary) and washing powder – it just works so well and is easier than making my own, plus, because both those products last a really long time, there’s way less packaging then my DIY methods. About the only thing I still make of my own is a disinfectant spray, with essential oils in white vinegar (if you want the recipe, you can get it along with all my other recipes here), which I use mostly for mould (and yes, white vinegar would probably be just as good on it’s own for that, lol).

Aside from that I don’t need it very often, but it’s useful sometimes (think, icky childhood vomiting style illnesses…). Oh, and I use the Norwex dishwashing liquid (I never did find a homemade dishwashing liquid recipe my husband would use), and the pre-wash stain remover – I still think my DIY one with ammonia might be more effective on some stains, but I like not having to have the ammonia.

Are you interested in learning more about Wholesale Golf Towels? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

Over to you: