Welcome to this installment of Works-For-Me-Wednesday. It is my favorite day of the week and I love to share my solutions and read everyone else’s great solutions for their families. Please visit Shannon’s blog for some amazing ideas for your family.
Today I wanted to discuss my true obsession with microfiber cloths. I have been using these for about three years now, for just about everything around our house. Microfiber is one of God’s great gifts because it can be used for so many things.
I originally started using microfiber cloths just for cleaning the house. Dry, they are amazing dust cloths. Wet, they can be used to wipe down counters, mirrors, and showers.
After using those for just those reasons, I started to expand my list of uses. I then started to put a microfiber cloth on the end of my Swiffer and used that to dry dust my floors. I could also attach a dry cloth and use my Swiffer to reach up into the corners of the rooms, where all those dreaded cobwebs take over, without pulling a muscle. Wet, attached to the Swiffer, they can be used much like the expensive wet cloths you buy, but these babies can be reused.
More recently, I have used them as cloth diaper stuffers. They sell a variety of diaper doublers and stuffers that are made from microfiber. The problem with these is that they are usually sewn into a long strip, with many layers in between to capture odor. I just trifold these into a diaper and they help to keep my daughter nice and dry. When she was small, this was our only diaper stuffer. Now that she is bigger and a super soaker, we just use this to double up on her regular inserts.
When I was chatting with my best girlfriend, she had told me about her dilemma with getting her daughter’s hair dry in the morning. Who has time to wait for a 3 yr old’s hair to dry or have an hour to blow dry it dry? I suggested a microfiber cloth…guess what? It works like a dream! Microfiber is highly absorbent and for tiny heads, these little cloths are the perfect size. For wavy & crazy curly hair like mine, microfiber is great to keep my curls from getting the frizzy ugly look (that only curly haired women seem to get!) I just use my microfiber cloth to scrunch my hair and it keeps my curl looking….um, curly!
Caring for microcloth is easy as pie. Simply throw these in your washer with a teeny tiny amount of soap. You do not need to use a lot of product when cleaning with these or when washing them, it reduces the absorbency. I usually throw them in with a load of towels (a load that doesn’t produce a ton of lint is good) and omit the fabric softener. It isn’t good for your towels and it isn’t good for microfiber.
I purchase these at our local wholesale club- you will find them in the automotive section. They are very inexpensive, and worth every dime! If you don’t have a membership to a wholesale club, these can also be purchased at Dollar Tree, Target, or Walmart.
That is it for me- please let me know if you have other uses for your microfiber cloths! I am always inspired by you all!
Here are a few other links to some of my past ideas-Sand Between Your Toes Blues Giving the Gift of Magazines (Frugally) Solution for Cheap Trash Bags Programming Your Cell Phone Free Up Pantry Space: Make a Snack Weeding Through Your Child’s Art Work Creatively Using the Coffee Maker With Ease Making Your Spice Rack Usable Maximizing Space
I never thought of a microfiber cloth for those reasons. Thanks for the tip!
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I need to get myself some new ones. I had one and lost it–and I loved that thing! It’s especially great for cleaning fingerprints off the black appliances in my kitchen. They really do work!
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I’ve never used microfiber cloths, I should definately try them after that post.
thanx for stopping by my site.
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Yes, I love these cloths as well! Great tip!
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I’m impressed that you’ve found so many uses for the microfiber cloth. I may have to go to COSTCO and look for them.
Thanks for sharing!
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I think I need to get a pack of these!
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Thanks for posting at my blog. Wish I could help you with plastic wrap, LOL! I heard if you keep it in the fridge, it doesn’t stick to itself, but I’ve never tried that.
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Great idea. I’m going to have to try these.
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I love Microfiber!!! I was thinking about diaper liners (I still have 6 months until I need them
Also, I’ve heard that you shouldn’t wash them in Hot water, it weaekens the fibers or something, so I wash mine in warm or cold usually. Also, I’ve gotten them on clearance at Wal-Mart in the automotive section when they put car wash stuff on sale. so you may want to check there too.
ps- LOVE the SITE, keep up the great work!
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I have been using microfiber cloths for years, and I love them. All you need is water to clean all kinds of stuff. They really work great. I got mine at simplygoodstuff.com. They have many different kinds there.
Microfiber Cloths
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I love microfiber too, it is great for cleaning just about anything. I like it because of it’s “green” qualities as well. There isn’t any need for all those chemical cleaners when you use microfiber!
I am glad you have used it for diaper inserts, my daughter has used them on our granddaughter too. Microfiber makes great bath products too; soft, absorbent bath towels, facial/wash cloths, sport towels, hand towels and even microfiber headbands.
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Microfiber cloths are good, but there is an alternative product on the market that is just as good if not better; also available in the automotive section of a store. This magical product is called SCOTT SHOP TOWELS on a ROLL. Before anyone gets upset about using a paper product on a roll, let me stress that not only are these strong towels and soft to the touch, but they are hand washable and re-useable too !! These SCOTT towels are great to use dry or wet. I have used them in my home for at least two years now and always finding new uses for them. I use them to clean and polish my furniture, clean my copper, stainless steel, glassware, mirrors and floors. Instead of buying those epensive replacement towels to use with those cleaning handles that you apply a paper cloth to, I use SCOTT SHOP TOWELS on a ROLL instead. I just tuck the corners in each corner location on the mop or broom head. The great thing about using The SCOTT SHOP TOWELS on a ROLL for this purpose is that, instead of tossing them after you clean the floor or other use; they can be rinsed out and then washed using a mild dishwashing detergent, then hung to dry. I use a wooden sweater rack in my launry room to hang my towels on to dry. Anyway, not to burst anyone’s bubble on using mircofiber towels, using these Scott Towels are a nice, clean alternative, a pretty blue color, and are environmentally friendly becasue you can re-use them. When it does come time to dispose of them; they easily break down in a compost pile and make a nice water absorbing material when used in a garden, that will help reduce watering time, because they retain moisture so well.
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Great article on microfiber, I have short hair, so I use a microfiber facial cloth to “wash” my hair, it picks up the dirt and it gives it a fresher look without having to totally wash it. If you are camping, take one with; that way you can still spruce up with just a limited amount of water. If you have camera and computers clean them without scratching with a microfiber suede cloth. I like to dampen mine and “dust” with it. When it fills up with dirt just rinse in hot water and maybe alittle soap. Yes, microfiber loves hot water, but it doesn’t like high heat when drying. The hot water causes the fibers to swell pushing out the dirt, high dryer heat can fry the fibers. If you have stainless steel appliances clean them with a microfiber dish cloth, and you can throw the stainless steel cleaner away. Got a small pet, use a microfiber cloth to give them a quick bath too. Looking for a new bath or beach towel, try a microfiber bath towel, they are soft, supeabsorbent and dry out faster between uses.
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They also work great on smooth-top stoves. Just spray with glass cleaner and wipe with a microfiber cloth. Shines like new!
Deanne Adams – Tallahassee
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I stopped by somewhere to sit down & study in between classes. the only available table was dirty. I sat down anyways when a friend of mine walked by & noticed the table. She returned with a pail of Steaming soapy water. She pulled out a White 16 X 24 Microfiber Towel & began wiping the table. As she was cleaning, I noticed a sticky spot on the table edge. She soaped up the soapy towel & started wiping the table edge. I started trying to brush it loose with my thumb & got sticky stuff all on my thumb & hand. She noticed the dirty area. She unfolded the towel & began wiping that table area. Before i could move my thumb, she brushed the soapy towel over my thumb a number of times getting it pretty wet. The towel was realy warm, very soft & had an almost soothing texture to it. She then soaped up the towel once More. Then she voluntarily wiped both my hands clean.
I agree with “Birdie” These would make great washcloths, because they are so very soft & gentle to the touch.
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