How to Wash Microfiber Towels at Home or at Camp

Here is how to wash microfiber towels: shake out loose dirt, wash them apart from other laundry in warm water with a small amount of mild liquid detergent, and leave out fabric softener. Rinse well, then air dry or tumble dry on low heat. The same steps work in a home machine, a bucket or a portable washer at camp.

Microfiber is made of very fine synthetic fibers that grab dirt and dust. Those fibers lose their grip when they are coated with softener, wax or lint, so the washing routine matters as much as the towel itself.

What to Prepare Before You Wash

A few minutes of sorting makes the wash itself straightforward. Gather the towels and sort them by how dirty they are.

• Shake each towel outdoors to knock off loose dirt and dust.
• Set aside heavily soiled towels (grease, mud, wax) to wash on their own.
• Keep camp or gym towels apart from car-detailing cloths.
• Pick a liquid detergent without softener, bleach or heavy fragrance.
• Check the care label for the temperature limit.

How to Wash Microfiber Towels in a Washing Machine

Yes, you can machine wash microfiber towels. Follow the care label on your towels and the manual for your machine.

1. Wash microfiber separately. Cotton sheds lint that clings to the fibers, and towels with lint leave streaks.
2. Do not crowd the drum. Towels need room to move so the water can flow through the fabric.
3. Add a small amount of liquid detergent. Too much leaves residue in the fibers.
4. Choose warm water and a gentle or normal cycle.
5. Add an extra rinse if the water still looks soapy.

Detergent, softener and vinegar

Fabric softener coats the fibers, and a coated towel picks up less dirt, so leave it out. Skip bleach too. Some people add a splash of white vinegar to the rinse to help clear detergent residue; if you try it, use a small amount.

A tiny amount of plain liquid dish soap can work for a greasy towel washed by hand, but rinse thoroughly because suds are hard to clear from the fibers. For regular loads, a mild laundry detergent is the better fit.

Water Temperature and Drying Settings

A dryer is fine if you keep it on low heat and dry the towels alone. Remove them when dry and do not add dryer sheets, which leave a coating similar to softener.

How to Wash Microfiber Towels by Hand

Hand washing suits a few towels, a sink or a campsite. You need a bucket, tub or sink, water and a little detergent.

1. Shake out the towels and rinse off loose dirt with plain water.
2. Fill the container with warm water and add a small amount of liquid detergent.
3. Submerge the towels and massage them, squeezing the soapy water through the fabric.
4. Soak heavily soiled towels a while longer, then massage again.
5. Drain, refill with clean water and rinse until no suds remain.
6. Wring gently and hang to dry.

For more on the basics of washing without a machine, see How to Hand Wash Clothes at Camp, on the Road or at Home.

Washing Microfiber Towels at Camp or on the Road

A towel used on a trip picks up sweat, sunscreen, sand and campfire smoke. A bucket works, but a compact washer keeps the process contained.

VerdaWash is an electric portable washing machine for RVs, dorms and campsites with a power outlet. You fill the 8L (about 2.1 gal) drum with water, towels and a little biodegradable detergent, close the lid, plug it in and set the 10 or 15 minute wash timer.

Washing a towel in the portable drum

1. Shake the towels out and add water to the 8L drum.
2. Add a small amount of biodegradable detergent, then the towels. Keep the load small so the water can move through the fabric.
3. Close the lid, plug the washer in and set the 10 or 15 minute wash timer.
4. Open the bottom valve and drain the water where the campsite rules allow.
5. Refill with clean water and repeat to rinse until the water runs clear.
6. Wring out, hang to dry, then fold the TPE drum flat and pack it away.

The bottom valve lets you choose where the water goes, which helps when you are washing at a campsite. For more gear of this kind, browse the Portable Laundry & Sun Protection collection.

What Ruins Microfiber Towels

A few habits shorten the life of a towel. Avoid them and your towels keep absorbing and wiping as intended.

• Fabric softener and dryer sheets, which coat the fibers.
• Washing with cotton, fleece or anything that sheds lint.
• High heat in the washer or dryer.
• Bleach and strongly scented additives.
• Too much detergent, which leaves residue.
• Storing towels damp in a closed bag, which can leave a musty smell.

How Often to Wash and How to Store Towels

Store dry towels in a clean bin or bag, apart from lint-shedding fabrics. If a towel starts to repel water or leave streaks, wash it again with a small amount of detergent and an extra rinse.

For general background on why microfiber cleans well, see a fact sheet on microfiber cleaning.