How we pick our products
Welcome to our big microfibre cloth test 2023. Here we present all the microfibre cloths we have tested in detail. We have compiled detailed background information and added a summary of customer reviews on the web.
We would like to make your purchase decision easier and help you find the best microfibre cloth for you.
You will also find answers to frequently asked questions in our guide. If available, we also offer interesting test videos. Furthermore, you will also find some important information on this page that you should definitely pay attention to if you want to buy a microfibre cloth.
Summary
- Microfibre cloths are very suitable for cleaning smooth surfaces. The fine fibres prevent sensitive surfaces from being scratched.
- Some cloths are made of high-tech fibres or non-woven fabric. These can be used to clean very sensitive surfaces such as screens and spectacle lenses without any problems.
- Other microfibre cloths are made of polyester or microfilament yarn. Since these materials are somewhat harder, they are more commonly used for removing dirt from window panes and cars.
The Best Microfibre Cloth: Our Picks
Guide: Questions you should ask yourself before buying a microfibre cloth
What is a microfibre cloth made of and how does it work?
In addition to the original non-woven cloths, cloths made of high-tech fibres, multifilament yarn or polyester are increasingly being sold today. These materials are then processed into knitted, warp-knitted or woven fabrics with a high number of stitches.
Microfilament yarns, microfibres made of polyester and microfibres made of non-woven or high-tech fibres are only half as thick as cotton fibres and 60 times thinner than a human hair.
All microfibre cloths therefore consist of a high number of meshes, which makes it possible to touch the surface to be cleaned in very many places at the same time. This means that the surface is cleaned very regularly and thoroughly.
The cavities between the meshes and within the fibres also facilitate cleaning. Dust fluff in particular is easily removed by the large thread surface.
What advantages does a microfibre cloth offer in contrast to a household roll or conventional cleaning cloths?
- Many materials, such as paper fibres, are harder and thus increase the risk of making scratches in the glass. In the worst case, these can degrade the scan quality.
- While other cleaning cloths often smear fingerprints etcetera, microfibre cloths reliably pick up all greasy prints and lint when dry.
- Kitchen rolls and sponge cloths often leave smear marks on the glass when wet. Since microfibre cloths absorb eight times their own weight, they very rarely leave unsightly streaks.
What kind of microfibre cloth should I use and how should I clean a glass surface?
If there are dust fibres, fingerprints or other dirt on the glass surface of, for example, your scanner, these can reduce the scanning quality.
To clean the glass, you should only moisten the microfibre cloth with a little water. The cloth should not be pressed too firmly onto the glass, as there is then a risk of damaging the sensitive surface.
Special care must be taken with microfibre cloths made of polyester and microfilament yarn, as these threads are somewhat harder than those made of non-woven and high-tech fibres.
How much do microfibre cloths cost?
Many microfibre cloths in electronics shops, drugstores or supermarkets cost between two and three euros, although they can be somewhat more expensive depending on size, material and, of course, brand.
It should be noted that genuine microfibres, i.e. those made of non-woven fabric, are more expensive than those made of polyester or microfilament yarn. Some manufacturers charge around ten euros for individual pieces of non-woven fabric.
Since you can usually buy sets of several microfibre cloths on the internet, there is often a quantity discount. The average price per piece is no more than 60 cents.
Decision: What types of microfibre cloths are there and what are their advantages and disadvantages?
Basically, you can distinguish between three different types of microfibre cloths:
- Microfibre cloth made of fleece
- Microfibre cloth made of high-tech fibre
- Microfibre cloth made of polyester
Due to the different materials and processing, the respective purpose of the cloth is different. Therefore, there are advantages and disadvantages for each of these types. Depending on the purpose and preference, a particular cleaning cloth is best suited for you and your glasses or electrical appliances.
In the following section, we will briefly explain the differences between the various materials so that you can decide for yourself which microfibre cloth is right for you. In addition, we will clearly compare the advantages and disadvantages of each type to make your purchase decision easier.
How to use a non-woven microfibre cloth and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
A non-woven microfibre cloth is a cloth made of non-woven fabric that is mainly used for the precise and gentle cleaning of sensitive surfaces. The fibres of a microfibre cloth are about five micrometres in average diameter, half the thickness of cotton fibres. The risk of scratching is thus very low and unlikely.
A nonwoven fabric is an assembly of fibres of different origins. This layer of fibres is a flexible textile or woven fabric that is produced by so-called fleece formation or fleece bonding. In the meantime, however, there are also numerous manufacturers who work with a combination of these two types of production.
One of the most common uses is for the production of cleaning products in the household and contract sector. Non-woven microfibre cloths can be used to remove dirt and dust particles from glasses and technical surfaces.
How do you use a microfibre cloth made of high-tech fibre and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
A microfibre cloth made of high-tech fibres is a cloth made of man-made fibres that is mainly used for the precise and gentle cleaning of high-maintenance surfaces. The properties of these fibres, such as high temperature resistance, are usually best suited for technical applications.
Both when dry and wet, these high-tech cloths are very tear-resistant and retain their shape. Polypropylene and gel-spun polyethylene fibres, aramid, fluoro, polybenzimidazole, polycarbonate, polyamideimide, polyetherimide, polyetherketone, polyimide and polyphenylene sulphide fibres are among the most commonly used fibres.
In contrast to non-woven fabrics, microfibre cloths made of high-tech fibres are easier to care for and do not need to be cleaned or washed as often. Only the price is a major disadvantage. Cleaning cloths made of high-tech fibre are usually more expensive than microfibre cloths made of fleece or polyester.
How do you use a polyester microfibre cloth and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
A polyester microfibre cloth is a fibre cloth made of a synthetic material that is mainly used for removing dust and dirt particles in the household. However, these polymers are not actually processed into fibres, as the name might suggest, but into multifilament yarn.
The high cleaning effect achieved with these cloths compared to conventional cleaning cloths is due to the increased number of contact points with the contact surface. A major advantage is that no cleaning agent is usually necessary. Sensitive wooden furniture can therefore be cleaned easily and without worry.
However, the processing is best suited for cleaning furniture and dusting the home. The processing of polyester microfibre cloths is very coarse compared to cloths made of non-woven or high-tech fibre, which can cause scratches more quickly on sensitive and technical surfaces.
Buying criteria: You can use these factors to compare and evaluate microfibre cloths
The following article presents criteria that you can use to choose the microfibre cloth that best suits your wishes and needs.
The following factors will be discussed:
- Material
- Dimensions and weight of the microfibre cloth
- Colour
- Scope of delivery
In the following paragraphs, we will explain the important differences between microfibre cloths to make your purchase decision easier.
Material
The material of your microfibre cloth is important because different compositions are better suited for different surfaces.
| Type of microfibre cloth | Area of application |
|---|---|
| Non-woven fabric | For sensitive surfaces such as displays and glass surfaces |
| High-tech fibres | For sensitive surfaces such as displays and glass surfaces |
| Polyester | With care: For sensitive surfaces such as displays and glass surfaces |
| Microfilament yarns | With care: For sensitive surfaces such as displays and glass surfaces |
| Coarser fibres | Removal of coarse dirt and car polish residues |
As you can see, most microfibre cloths are made for cleaning high-tech equipment. When cleaning sensitive surfaces with polyester cloths or microfibre cloths made of microfilament yarns, however, you should be careful, as these can also cause scratches. Their fibres are somewhat larger and thus cloths made of polyester and microfilament yarns are not quite as soft.
Cloths with even coarser meshes should not be used for cleaning screens, glass surfaces or lenses, as they can damage the smooth surface.
Dimensions and weight of the microfibre cloth
Microfibre cloths for cleaning glass surfaces and displays measure between 15 x 18 and 40 x 40 centimetres. Those intended for cleaning cars can also be somewhat larger. A microfibre cloth rarely weighs more than 15 grams. Those for cars, however, reach a higher weight.
Since microfibre cloths used for cars have to clean a larger area, the cloth is also correspondingly larger.
With a gossamer diameter of three to ten micrometres (µm), it is more than five times thinner than a human hair and thinner than silk. In the textile processing industry, one speaks of a fineness of less than 1dtex for microfibres.
This means: 10,000 metres of this fibre weigh a maximum of one gram.
Because the threads of a microfibre cloth are very fine, they also weigh very little. Unfortunately, only the total weight of the cloth set including the packaging is usually given on the internet. Therefore, you will rarely find out exactly how much a single cloth weighs.
Colour
Another purchase criterion can be the colour of the microfibre cloth. The lighter the cloth, the easier it is to wash in the washing machine.
Dark microfibre cloths tend to discolour more than light ones and therefore usually have to be washed separately. Light-coloured ones can easily be washed with the rest of the laundry, but in a wash bag.
Scope of delivery
Microfibre cloths are often sold in sets on the internet. With high-quality cloths, very large sets are unnecessary, as a single such cloth can be reused for several years, often even decades. Depending on the intended use, microfibre cloths do not have to be washed immediately after each use.
Since microfibre cloths made of artificial materials should not be used for as long as high-quality ones, it is, however, advantageous to have several available. Depending on the quality of the microfibre cloth, a greater or lesser number of cloths is therefore recommended.
Facts worth knowing about microfibre cloths
How can I clean microfibre cloths?
Microfibre cloths can be washed in the washing machine at 40 to 60 degrees Celsius. However, do not use fabric softener.
You can use any laundry detergent. It is recommended to wash the cloth at 40 to 60 degrees Celsius, as this is most likely to preserve the long life of the cloth.
In addition, you should not use fabric softener to avoid damaging the fibres and the cloth should be washed either separately or in a wash bag with your normal laundry.
How often do I need to change a microfibre cloth?
Since microfibre cloths are very easy to wash, you can use the same one for several years and only need to change it very rarely.
However, the absorbency and water absorption capacity of lower quality cloths will deteriorate more quickly. When this happens, microfibre cloths no longer clean reliably.
High-quality microfibre cloths, such as those made of non-woven fabric, have an almost unlimited lifespan. Their effectiveness is only minimally reduced by washing in a washing machine.
Do I need cleaning products in addition to a microfibre cloth?
Basically, you do not need any cleaning agent to clean with a microfibre cloth. However, you can use an additional cleaning agent for stubborn dirt without any problems.
The microfibre already absorbs a lot of dirt and water. However, this effect can be increased by diluting the cleaning agent with water.
The cleaning quality of a microfibre cloth is not impaired by the addition of cleaning agents, but doing without them is much more environmentally friendly.
If the microfibre cloth is made dripping wet, it cannot develop its positive property of absorbing a lot of water. In this case, a conventional cleaning cloth can also be used.
What else are microfibre cloths used for?
Most microfibre cloths can be used universally as cleaning cloths. However, special types of effect due to their surface type or composition are more suitable for certain surfaces and types of dirt than others.
- Some microfibre products are particularly suitable for cleaning glass, as they clean lint-free and streak-free. This type of microfibre cloth is therefore suitable for all kinds of glass surfaces or mirrors.
- Eyeglass lenses can also be cleaned with this type of microfibre cloth without any problems. However, if there is a lot of dirt on the lenses, it is recommended to wash them with water before using a microfibre cloth. This can prevent scratches from forming.
- Microfibre cloths with a high basis weight are often used to remove coarse dirt or car polish residues. This is because the absorption capacity of moisture and dirt particles of such a cloth is higher than that of glass-cleaning microfibre cloths.
- Microfibres are also used in sportswear or towels. The advantage of this is that sweat or water is not stored in it, but is conducted from the inside to the outside without the textile getting really wet.
Picture credits:
51171759 – ©bialasiewicz/123RF
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