I get questions every day from someone asking how to clean Norwex microfiber.
Some common misconceptions out there include:
- I need to boil my Norwex cloths (NOT true)
- I should never wash my Norwex cloths…after all, they are BacLock™, right? (again…NOT true)
- I should microwave my Norwex microfiber (I’m not even sure where this rumor came from)
- I can’t ever dry my Norwex microfiber in my clothes dryer (not necessarily true…see below)
That brings us to the question at hand… What ARE the proper laundering / washing and care instructions for Norwex microfiber?
To be as environmentally friendly as possible (and save you time and money!), we suggest that slightly dirty cloths and mops be washed with a few drops of Norwex Dishwashing Liquid under warm running water and used again before laundering.
We recommend that you launder your cloths in your washing machine approximately once each week if they are being used regularly. Some tips to remember:
- Launder microfiber with other lint-free laundry.
- Use only Norwex Ultra Power Plus or another environmentally friendly detergent without fillers or bleach to clean our products.
- Do not use bleach or fabric softener on microfiber. Bleach and fabric softeners destroy the product’s ability to clean effectively.
That last statement about fabric softener seems to trip some people up, so let me clarify. “No fabric softener” means:
- No liquid fabric softener in the washing machine
- No dryer sheets or other fabric softener in the dryer
- NO DRYER SHEET RESIDUE – This is the one that always trips people up. If you EVER use dryer sheets, you would want to air dry your Norwex microfiber. If you have used dryer sheets in the past but plan to stop (and switch to our Norwex Dryer Balls of course!), you will want to scrub out the inside of your dryer with hot soapy water and an old (NOT Norwex microfiber) rag. You will also want to take your lint trap out and clean that under running water to fully remove any fabric softener residue that can build up and cause problems with dryer performance.
What happens if I accidentally use fabric softener or some other conditioning agent, or what if my cloths seem stinky?
This usually means that you have something ‘clogging’ the microfiber and it needs to be deep cleaned to eliminate that residue. It may be fabric softener residue, soaps, or mineral content from your water.
To deep clean microfiber:
- Fill sink or one-gallon bucket with hot (not boiling) water and dissolve a full scoop (30 ml) of Microfiber Cleaner Laundry Booster.
- Add up to 10 heavily soiled microfiber cloths and soak for 30 minutes. Rinse well and tumble or air dry.
- Or, after soaking, place in washing machine and launder on normal cycle using a Norwex laundry detergent.
- Do not use bleach, fabric softeners or dryer sheets. Launder dark colors separately. Dry as usual.
If the water is quite dirty after the 30 minutes, you might want to do a few more cycles in the Microfiber Booster until the water isn’t opaque.
After a deep cleaning, your cloths will be refreshed and ready for more action! The rules to clean Norwex microfiber are simple, but stop back anytime you need a refresher course!
Happy cleaning!!
A lot of the instruction here is like laundering cloth diapers. When you use fabric softener on those, it makes it not as absorbent. I love the idea of using reusable cleaning towels.
Great post. I like the fact that I don’t have near as much trash these days. I went through 2-4 rolls of paper towels a week with my two messy kiddos.
I like the fact that doing this fits right in with my regular laundry schedule of just doing one load a day, and it’s so nice to clean with a cloth that’s been hung in the sun.
Thanks for the tips! I used to get confused, so this cleared things up for me! I love that I can just throw it in the laundry with safe detergent and no harmful chemicals, and viola! Its clean and working great!
Great post.
question: what is considered “lint-free laundry”? does this mean i should not wash my norwex cloths with other regular towels like bath and hand towels? what about socks? thanks for your help!
Hi Lexee. “Lint free laundry” would be items like sheets, t-shirts, jeans etc. We do not recommend laundering Norwex microfiber with towels because the microfiber tends to pull lint off the towels. It doesn’t hurt the microfiber, just leaves you picking lint off of it. We want to make your life easier, not make you pick lint off of your cloths. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Hi there. I made the terrible mistake of inadvertently leaving an enviro cloth in the dryer and put in my towels. Is there a way to get all that lint out of the cloth?
I would recommend just re-washing it. Thanks!
Can I wash Norwex with oxiclean?
Hi Sharon. I would not recommend using Oxiclean with our cloths. We recommend that all Norwex microfiber be laundered with a natural detergent that does not contain fabric softener or bleach additives. Thanks for stopping by!
Can you wash the Norwex towels and cloths with the green
washer balls? I don’t mean the dryer balls but the green balls
you can use in the washer in place of laundry detergent?
Yes; you can use the Norwex Magnet Ball in your washing machine when laundering the Norwex microfiber.
I am confused about washing the Norwex Antibac cloth as I have been unable to find a detergent without fillers or some sort of bleach (such as peroxide). Could the Norwex Antibac cloth be washed in a vinegar/baking soda solution? Thank you for your help!
Vinegar would not hurt our cloths. You may want to try the Norwex Ultra Power Plus laundry detergent. It is one of our top selling items. Thanks.
What about baking soda? Can they be cleaned with baking soda? I’m worried about the smell of the vinegar for the Enviro Cloth.
Hi Melissa. I suppose you could, but I really prefer to launder them in the washing machine with Ultra Power Plus and water. Thanks for stopping by!
I understand completely. I’m just making sure I have options since I did not order the laundry detergent this go round and my budget is tight until the end of October.
Norwex soap is the only stuff that gets my cloths clean. I always put hot water almost boiling to my cloths with it before washing. I use to use the other stuff and see a big difference in clean.
Can I rinse my enviro cloths in dawn dish detergent or castille soap?
Yes; you can rinse with a tiny bit of dish liquid. Thanks.
question – at what point do we use the mesh dryer bag – can we wash with any kind of laundry provided we are using the bag – or should we always wash with lint free laundry? what are the benefits of the mesh bag ?
thank you in advance
You can either use the mesh laundry bag with your Norwex cloths, or just wash the microfiber with “lint free” laundry (not towels). I like using the mesh laundry bag for anything with straps or items that may get tangled up with other things in the washer or dryer.
So can all norwex cloths be dried if done properly or are there some hat should not be dried? Thx
They can all be dried as long as you never use fabric softener or dryer sheets in the dryer.
So glad I found this post, albeit a few months late. I’ve been washing ALL my Norwex products with other “cloths” … face, towels, kitchen, etc. And then I’ve wondered why they just don’t seem to work as well as they did in the beginning. I’m going to try the boiling in vinegar trick you mention above first thing in the morning. does this apply to the facial cloths as well? (body pack)
Yes; you can do this with the body pack cloths as well. I’m so glad the post was helpful!
I boiled each of my cloths, then ran them through just a rinse and spin cycle. However I still found they will not pick up hair and dust like they did. 🙁
Try soaking overnight in HOT water with one scoop of Norwex Ultra Power Plus and then dry in a hot dryer. That should help.
So what is considered a filler in laundry soap? I use Era and never very much since I wash them alone! Just confused on that part!!!
Thanks
Hi Shaylynn. There are many fillers that are put in laundry detergent…things that are placed there to bulk it up but don’t aid in the cleaning process. It can even include things like sheetrock! I would not consider Era to be a ‘natural detergent,’ but don’t know exactly what its ingredients are. Thanks for stopping by!
Do you launder the dust mitt and the polishing cloth the same 6way as the the other cloths? Thank you.
Yes; you can launder them all the same way. Thanks for stopping by!
I have used my mop on a floor that had salt residue from the salt use on sidewalks. The mop now leaves a film after it dries. I have boil the mop and still leaves a film. Any thing I can do?
I would recommend soaking it overnight in hot water and a scoop of Norwex Ultra Power Plus and then launder as usual and dry in your dryer.
How do you use the laundry detergent in a front load washer?
Hi Lindsay. Use 1/2 to 1 teaspoon in a front loader, depending on how soft your water is. We find that some people like to dilute it with a bit of water so that it is a liquid when they put it in the machine. Thanks for stopping by!!
Ok thank you, so I have hard water do I use more or less? And that’s teaspoon right seems like so little detergent. Again thank you for your help always!
One teaspoon with hard water in a HE. Trust me; it will be enough.
Hi Suzanne, Right now due to a major surgery and having to stay close to a hospital, I brought 4 norwex enviro clothes with me to keep surfaces where we are staying more clean/sanitary. However two of my enviro clothes were put in dish soap in the sink by accident. Would you just deep clean them to get the debris/residue out or what might you suggest? Thanks for your help in advance, appreciate your time! Monica 🙂
Hi Monica. If it was just a little bit of soap, I think you can just launder them in your washing machine. If they don’t seem clean after that, try soaking in one scoop of Norwex laundry detergent and hot water overnight and then laundering as usual. Best wishes for a swift recovery!
Thanks Suzanne for the response!! Much appreciated! Have a great day!
Is it ok to wash the envirocloth, window polisher, dust mitt, and kitchen cloth and towel together?
That’s a great question Patty. Yes; all of our microfiber can be washed together. Have a great day!
Hi, I see you say to rinse the enviro cloth with a little dish detergent in hot water after using and between washing.. Is there any particular brand to use, or any ingredients or brands to stay away from? Also, if I am not using the Norwex laundry detergent when washing in machine, is there a particular brand you could suggest? I see you say a “natural” detergent, but honestly I’m not sure what to use and don’t want to ruin my cloths. One last question.. when using my cloth in the kitchen, say if I clean up raw chicken from countertops, is it ok to rinse with a little soap in hot water and hang to dry and then reuse, or should I immediately launder before using again? Thank you so much!
Hi Regina. I can’t really comment on any brands other than Norwex, but I recommend researching what you are using and trying to find something that is as natural as possible with no fillers. You can rinse the cloth in-between uses without having to launder each time. Thanks for stopping by!
All free & clear has no dyes or perfumes. I have used it on my norwex cloths with no issues. I wash in hot and hang to dry. I wash my norwex cloths by themselves.
Be careful when boiling norwex cloths. I accidentally forgot about my cloths while boiling and I placed all my cloths together. All the colors transferred onto each other. I ruined all my expensive, beautiful cloths. Lesson learned 🙁
I am so sorry that happened to you. You have a good point. It is always important to keep a close eye on them when boiling. We use a vegetable based dye, so unfortunately the colors sometimes can bleed from too much boiling. Thanks for stopping by. Please let me know if I can do anything to help you.
Hello there,
I am loving the info on your blog. I have a question, can I use vinegar to clean with the mop and enviro cloths? What about essential oils (lemon)? I know it says to just use water. Before I got my Norwex stuff. I cleaned with a mixture of blue dawn, vinegar and some lemon essential oil….I have t used anything on them yet.
I Rahel. Thanks for getting in touch! We do recommend just water with the mops. Vinegar isn’t necessary, but it shouldn’t hurt the mop or enviro cloth. I do know people that use essential oils, but my concern would be the amount. Too much oil could clog the cloth, so I would use it quite sparingly. Thanks for stopping by!
Hi, I read that the vinegar can dissolve the silver in the cloths and should not be used. Do you know if there is any truth to this? Thanks.
Hi Melissa. I’ve never heard that claim before, and I’ve been with Norwex for 6 1/2 years. We have people that do deep cleans on their cloths and they use vinegar without it harming the cloth. With that said, there’s no need to use vinegar when cleaning with the cloths. They clean just fine on their own. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
How do you know when your cloths are no longer effective? Some of mine are 2 years old now and I wonder if they are still effective in removing chicken residue from countertops.
Hi Judy. The cloths last many years; you should be able to launder them in your washing machine several hundred times. After a two or three years, many people like to get fresh ones for their everyday cleaning and safe the older ones for more grungy jobs like the bathroom. Thanks for stopping by!
I have several kitchen cloths, towels, and face cloths that don’t seem to work as well as they used to and start to smell faster than they should. I know they need to be boiled for 10 minutes to release all the stuff clogging the microfibers. Can all the anti-bac products be boiled, or just enviro cloths? Thanks!
Hi Amber. Can you email me a phone number I can call you to troubleshoot? There can be variables like the type of laundry detergent, minerals in your water, or fabric softener exposure. Let’s get it fixed for you though!
Same here. I only use norwex soap and do the soaking over night. I haven’t boiled in a while though so I might try that. I have very hard water. I live in fridley MN were there has been known for contaminated water, and cancers from water. I wonder if that has anything to do with it. That’s why I was browsing here.
Appreciate all the info on correctly cleaning the Norwex cloths. I was wondering how often you suggest laundering the bathroom towels…I have the hand towels as well as bath towels and they are used daily. And should they be regularly boiled, say once every six months? Thanks again.
Hi Joann. Thanks for stopping by! I would probably launder the towels once a week, but boiling really isn’t necessary. We have used ours for almost six years and have never boiled them. Have a great day!
I have an HE washing machine that doesn’t have a spot for powder detergent. I know I need to use 1 tsp of the Norwex detergent, but how much water do I need to mix it with? Also, what cycle should I wash on and should I use hot water? Thanks in advance for your help:)
Hi Michelle. Most people tell me they just mix it with enough water for the detergent to dissolve. I would use whatever setting the item you are washing recommends; our detergent works in cold, warm or hot water. Thanks for stopping by!
ok i have wahed my norwex clothes in the washer. i find they stick to the top. anyway without checking this i put in a new load to be washed…say darks but used fabric softener in that load. so took them ou dryer it and saw that it was in the middle of the clones after i dryer it. is by cloth ruined? they do stick to top . i forget to check sometimes as i am busy i think i even did a load with towels and used bleach………thanks nancy
The bleach may have ruined them depending on how much bleach got on them. If they start to small bad, that would indicate that the fabric softener did stick to them. You may want to try our laundry detergent and dryer balls sometime. That would eliminate the need for bleach or fabric softener. Let me know if I can help further.
Just wondering why my body pack and enviro cloths are going ‘hard’. I do wash them separately and I do use Norwex detergent.
Hi. Thanks for getting in touch with me. My guess would be that you have hard water and that the minerals are building up in them. Try the following: Get some distilled water and boil it. Put your cloths in a bucket with a scoop of Norwex laundry detergent. Pour the boiling water over the cloths and let them sit for a few hours. Then launder them as usual. I think that may work for you.
Is Ecos laundry detergent safe to use with Norwex cloths? It is all natural but has a soy based softener in it. Thanks!
I’m not familiar with that brand, so I really can’t say. We don’t, however, recommend any softening agents when laundering our cloths.
Thank you! Are there any drug store brands that are okay? Woolite maybe?
I’m sorry, but I really can’t comment on other brands because I’m not familiar with them. We recommend that you use a filler-free detergent with no bleach or fabric softener. Thanks.
May I make a suggestion to the people who sell Norwex products. Enclose instructions on how to clean AND use the product the customer has purchased. Based on the number of questions on this website, it is obvious, verbal instructions at a “show” are insufficient. The brief list of instructions that DID come with my norwex product did NOT answer these questions. Just saying….
Hi Sue. I’m so sorry you didn’t get adequate instructions with your product. I checked my records and it doesn’t look like you purchased them from me, but I’d be more than happy to get instructions to you. Please use the ‘contact me’ area on this site to let me know what products you have, and we would be happy to send out some use and care instructions. Thanks for stopping by!
So after boiling for 10 minutes do I then rinse with tap water? Thanks!
Yes; I would rinse them well.
Thank-you. I went ahead earlier & rinsed them, let them dry & tried them on my windows. Seem to work a little better. I ordered a new set today & will keep the others for my camper. Thanks again!
Do the polishing clothes loose their polishing ability with time? Mine seem to leave streaks or a dust type residue.
Hi Peggy. They should last for up to 500 launderings in your washing machine. If they are leaving streaks, I would ask how you are laundering them. There may be something we can improve on with that process to make them work more effectively.
Can you email me the care instructions you offered to send to someone else in the comments. I’d like that as well. thank you!
Hi Jill. We will email it to you. Thanks for stopping by!
Can you dry your microfiber cloths?
You can dry the cloths Rebecca as long as you don’t use dryer sheets or fabric softener, and as long as there is no dryer sheet residue in your dryer. So…you can’t use dryer sheets on all other loads and then throw in your Norwex cloths without a dryer sheet because there would still be residue all over your dryer. Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks for these great tips! It is hard to change previous mindsets about laundering regular cleaning cloths after switching to Norwex!! I’m starting to get it and these tips have also helped. However I also have a question. I used some dryer sheets a long time ago, probably a year at least, and not very regularly (not on Norwex products). Would it be safe to put my Norwex in my dryer without washing it after a year of no dryer sheets or not?? I have been line drying my Norwex outside but with Ohio weather, that will be hard soon. 🙂
Hi Amy. It sounds like enough time has gone by that you would be fine putting the cloths in the dryer, but it wouldn’t hurt to run an old rag and hot soapy water over the inside of the dryer just to be safe. Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks for these helpful tips. It is hard to change your regular way of washing old cleaning cloths after switching to Norwex, but I am starting to understand. I do have a question though: at least a year ago, I occasionally used dryer sheets (long before I had purchased Norwex). Do I still need to clean my dryer since it’s been that long? I like to line dry my Norwex but that will be a little harder with Ohio weather changes 🙂 Thank you!
I have ordered the window blue and purple cloths. I haven’t received them yet. I was given the Norwex name and I went on line to learn more. I have watched a few videos. The make up cloth looks interesting. I tried to take a few notes, but instructions would be nice as well as a catalog. I am sure I will have more questions when I use mine. The demonstration of the cleaning of the toilet with micro fiber mitts and then continued use doesn’t seem sanitary. Please advise. Thanks Judy
Hi Judy. Thanks for stopping by! Please send me an email if you’d like any info on your products; I’m happy to send them. I’m not sure which video you’re referencing about the toilet, but there are both approved an unapproved videos out there online. If you send me the one you’re thinking of, I can take a look and give you some feedback. Thank you! Have a great day.
Hello. Thank you for providing such great information. I am new to Norwex products and I would love to receive instructions for the care and use of the products. Can you please email them to me?
I have ordered some body cloths and I am anxiously awaiting their delivery. I just want to be sure that I use them properly.
Thanks Chris. I just sent you an email. Stop by again sometime!
Need info on how to wash the “Burt” and “Ernie” and make – up cloths
Need help with how to wash makeup cloths and Bert and Ernie cloths
Hi Anne. You can wash them just like all of our other cloths; you can find the laundering instructions here: https://littlegreencloth.com/cleaning-norwex-microfiber-is-easier-than-you-may-have-been-told/
Hi Anne. You can wash them just like all of our other cloths; you can find laundering instructions here: https://littlegreencloth.com/cleaning-norwex-microfiber-is-easier-than-you-may-have-been-told/
Hello I just got the norwex enviro. Cloth. Is this something I could use with essential oils? I use a water and vinegar spray with doterra essential oils as a countertop cleaner. Is this something I could use with my emviro cloth as well or is it not safe for the cloth? Thank you!
Hi Heidi. It’s not necessary to use anything other than water with the enviro cloth, however Norwex does tell us that a little essential oil will not damage the cloth. Thanks for stopping by!
Hi,
What temperature water is recommended for washing the enviro clothes? Is this true for all the microfiber products?
Thank you!
Hi Vicki. Hot water is best, but I personally wash mine in cold and they turn out just as well.
I have several cloths which have become stained. I have soaked them with a little of the Norwex detergent and hot water, but the stains do not seem to be going away. I love the cloths, but am embarrassed to have them sitting out because of the stains. Any solutions?
Hi Shawna. Yes; the Norwex cloths are ultimately cleaning cloths, so they may get stained with use depending on what you are cleaning. It shouldn’t affect their cleaning ability at all. Just go ahead and keep using them. Our stain remover may be one other option that you could try. Thanks for stopping by!!
Will citrus acid harm Norwex rags
I have issues with these clothes being made in china. We just went thru stuff with lumber liquidators and chemicals china was using. How can we be sure the clothes are safe? Also, I was mine with baby shampoo in the shower Works great
I’ve personally been to our factory in China. Norwex owns our factory and it is run by Europeans. You should check out my “Why China” series. I think you would enjoy it.
Can I heat the cloths in the microwave?
I don’t think I would recommend that. Is there a reason that you want to? Laundering in the washing machine should work just fine.
Help!! I have accidentally washed my wife’s New Norwex Body rag in our normal laundry. The washed had bleach in the water. Is there ANYTHING I can do with this for her to help restore its usefulness?
I have read many posts about a deep cleaning restoring the functionally of the cloths. So if I do a deep cleaning will this undo any part of the harm that I have caused? I just did not realize that it was in the wash as I thought it to be just a microfiber cloth.
Please help me. Thanks
Hi Norman. Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do to fix bleach. It’s about the only thing I can think of that a deep clean won’t help. Bleach causes any fabric to wear down faster, so it’s reduced the life of the cloth. Depending on how much bleach, it may still work, or it may not. If it starts to smell or seems to not be cleaning as well, I recommend replacing the cloth.
Hello 🙂 I have a “steam/sanitize” option on my washing machine. If I want to wash all my microfiber together (kitchen cloths, bathroom cloths, body cloths, baby cloths, mop pads) and then just use this setting every time, do you think it would prematurely wear out the microfiber or be okay?
I don’t see why that would be a problem, but I don’t know that it’s necessary each time. Regular laundering should be fine.
Okay, thank you!
Good to know. I feel much more confident now knowing that I can dry it in my dryer with my hand towels as we never use dryer sheets. I was skeptical at first but now I feel like it will not be the end of the world! Thank you!