Most kitchens have a cloth doing a job it was never meant for. A paper towel falls apart on a greasy stove, a sponge pushes crumbs around the counter, and a damp dish towel gets used for everything. A good microfiber cloth handles a lot of those small chores, and it goes through the wash and comes back for more.
Not all of them are made for the kitchen, though. Many are sold for car detailing, and the makers’ words differ on what you can use them on and how to wash them. This guide covers eight cloths and packs, says which surfaces each maker names, and explains how to look after them. For cotton, see our guide to the best dish towels.
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Quick verdict: which microfiber cloth to buy
For most kitchens, the best microfiber cloths are the MR.SIGA Microfiber Cleaning Cloths: Food Network Kitchen named them best overall after hand-drying, counter and laundry checks, and the maker names kitchen jobs directly. To clean with water and no sprays, choose the E-Cloth General Purpose Cloth. If you want one cloth for each job, the Full Circle Water-Works set labels them for you.
Five cloths for five kitchen habits
Our five standout picks side by side, with the details each maker or listing states. All eight are reviewed in full below.
| Cloth | Best for | Pack and size | Use it with | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
MR.SIGA Microfiber Cleaning Cloths, 12 PackBest overall
|
Everyday kitchen wiping | 12 cloths, 12.6 x 12.6 in | With or without water | View on Amazon |
E-Cloth General Purpose Cloth, 4 PackBest with water alone
|
Cleaning with no sprays | 4 cloths; size not stated | Water alone | View on Amazon |
Full Circle Water-Works Cleaning Cloths, Set of 5Best variety set
|
One cloth per job | 5 cloths; size not stated | Water | View on Amazon |
Rubbermaid Commercial HYGEN Microfiber Cloths, 24 PackBest commercial
|
Busy kitchens, frequent laundry | 24 cloths, 12 x 12 in | Wet or dry | View on Amazon |
| Lots of cloths for less fuss | 24 cloths, 16 x 12 in (title) | Dry or liquid cleaners | View on Amazon |
Product images from Amazon. Details are as stated by each maker or listing; check the listing before you buy.
Our picks for the best microfiber cloths
These eight cover everyday wiping, water-only cleaning, a labeled set, commercial cloths and big value packs. Each entry says which surfaces the maker names, and one honest reason to skip it.
1. MR.SIGA Microfiber Cleaning Cloths, 12 Pack – The All-Round Kitchen Cloth
This is the cloth to buy if you want one stack for the whole kitchen. Food Network Kitchen put eight popular brands through hand-drying, counter-wiping and machine-washing checks, then named Mr. Siga best overall. It called the 12.6-inch cloth just right: one cloth dried several pairs of hands, took a wet counter dry in a few swipes and left no lint behind.
The maker names a long list of kitchen jobs. It mentions worktops, appliances, windows and mirrors, and says the cloth lifts grease from a microwave, plates, pots and pans, and takes fingerprints off silverware and glasses. You can use it with or without water, and it comes in a pack of 12, enough to keep separate cloths for counters and dishes.
Mr. Siga is one of the two Amazon-first brands on this page. Food Network noticed a mild smell on new cloths that faded after a wash, so wash these before first use. The listing says they last hundreds of washes but gives no washing details, so follow the care tag.
Why we like it
- Named best overall by Food Network Kitchen
- Maker names plates, pots, pans and worktops
- Use with or without water
- Pack of 12 for separate jobs
Key specifications
| Model | SJ21808 |
|---|---|
| Count | 12 |
| Size | 12.6 x 12.6 in |
| Surfaces the maker names | Worktops, appliances, windows, mirrors, kitchenware, silverware, glasses |
| Use it with | Water, or dry |
| Washing | Not stated; follow the tag |
| Stated life | Hundreds of washes (maker) |
Why we recommend it
It suits most home cooks. It has the clearest independent support on this page, the maker talks about kitchen jobs directly, and 12 cloths let you keep one for the counter and another for glassware.
Skip it if you want full care directions in writing before you buy, since the listing does not give them.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Backed by a named independent test
- Good size for a counter
- Reinforced edges, per the maker
Cons
- Amazon-first brand
- No washing details on the listing
- Durability claim is the maker’s
2. E-Cloth General Purpose Cloth, 4 Pack – Made to Work With Just Water
E-Cloth’s whole pitch is that you can leave the spray bottle under the sink. The maker says these cloths clean with water alone, and names countertops, tile, appliances, glass, windows, mirrors and even screens among the surfaces.
E-Cloth states that the cloth removes 99 percent of grease, grime and microscopic particles. That is the maker’s own figure, and it does not tell you the cloth sanitizes anything. If a surface has touched raw chicken, follow your usual food-safety routine.
Popular Science named E-Cloth its best overall microfiber in a roundup built on research and earlier experience, without describing a test of these cloths. Care matters here. E-Cloth tells owners to use a small amount of detergent and to skip fabric softener, dryer sheets and bleach. Its guarantee on this listing reads one year or 100 washes.
Why we like it
- Maker says water alone does the job
- Countertops, tile and appliances named
- Popular Science’s best overall pick
- A stated guarantee of one year or 100 washes
Key specifications
| Model | 10602ABM4 |
|---|---|
| Count | 4 |
| Size | Not stated |
| Surfaces the maker names | Countertops, tile, appliances, glass, windows, screens, cars |
| Use it with | Water |
| Washing | Machine wash; little detergent, no softener or bleach (E-Cloth) |
| Stated life | 1 year or 100 washes (guarantee) |
Why we recommend it
It suits a cook who wants fewer bottles under the sink and will wash the cloths the way the maker asks. It is also the better choice if a written guarantee matters to you.
Skip it if you want a big stack for messy jobs. Four cloths go quickly in a working kitchen.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Clear maker care directions
- Stated guarantee
- No spray needed, per the maker
- Works across many surfaces, per the maker
Cons
- Small pack
- Listing gives no cloth size
- Fabric softener is out
3. Casabella All-Purpose Microfiber Cloth – A Tough Cloth for Sticky Counters
Casabella is an established housewares name. Food Network Kitchen named this bright magenta cloth another great pick, and said it held up on a very dirty, sticky counter with only a little water.
At 12 by 14 inches, per Food Network, it is a touch larger than the Mr. Siga. The listing names furniture, counter tops and windows, plus the home office and the car. It is machine washable. Food Network also suggests a two-pack as a starting point, but this listing’s count field says one, so check the count before you add it to your cart.
The strong color has a use. If your other cloths are gray or blue, a magenta one is easy to keep for one job, and a single-purpose cloth is a simple way to keep the counter cloth away from the dish cloth.
Why we like it
- Named a great pick by Food Network Kitchen
- Handled a sticky counter with little water, per the test
- Machine washable
- Bright color makes it easy to keep for one job
Key specifications
| Model | 8546102 |
|---|---|
| Count | 1 per listing field; check before buying |
| Size | 12 x 14 in (Food Network) |
| Surfaces the maker names | Furniture, counter tops, windows |
| Use it with | Water, per Food Network |
| Washing | Machine wash |
| Stated life | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
It suits someone who wants to try microfiber before buying a large pack, and who wipes up sticky messes more than they polish glass.
Skip it if you need a stack. You will pay for it one or two at a time, and a 12-pack goes further.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Independent test behind it
- Tough on sticky spots
- Machine washable
- Easy color coding
Cons
- Small count
- Thin listing details
- No stated wash life
4. Full Circle Water-Works Cleaning Cloths, Set of 5 – A Labeled Cloth for Each Job
Most packs give you one cloth repeated. This set gives you five different ones, each with a label so you remember what it is for: a dusting cloth, a bath and tile cloth, a glass cloth, a grease cloth and a stainless steel cloth.
That matters more in a kitchen than you might think. A grease cloth has a very different job from a cloth for polishing a steel refrigerator door, and labels and hanging loops make it easy to keep them apart.
Full Circle says the cloths are made with recycled microfiber and are GRS certified, and that they are machine washable. Sizes are not stated on the listing. The set includes one cloth you may not want at the sink, the bath and tile cloth, so plan on keeping that one out of the kitchen. This pick rests on the listing.
Why we like it
- Five cloths with five named jobs
- Labels and hanging loops
- Stainless and grease cloths included
- Recycled microfiber, GRS certified, per the maker
Key specifications
| Model | FC20204M |
|---|---|
| Count | 5, one each |
| Size | Not stated |
| Surfaces the maker names | Glass, grease, tile, stainless steel, dusting |
| Use it with | Water |
| Washing | Machine wash |
| Stated life | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
It suits a tidy kitchen where you want the right cloth for steel and glass without a laundry pile. It works best if you actually keep to the labels.
Skip it if you need several of the same cloth, since you get only one of each type.
Pros and cons
Pros
- True variety in one set
- Labels help you sort
- Machine washable
- Made with recycled material, per the maker
Cons
- Only one of each
- No sizes on the listing
- Rests on listing details
5. Rubbermaid Commercial HYGEN Microfiber Cloths, 24 Pack – Bleach-Safe and Built for Work
This is the commercial choice on the page, made for janitorial use and sold in a pack of 24. Rubbermaid says the cloths are bleach-safe and stand up to 100 launderings, and the bleach claim stands out, since many microfiber makers tell you to avoid it.
It also speaks to how a working kitchen thinks. Rubbermaid’s whole point with color is sorting: blue is meant to mark one kind of job, so staff can tell at a glance which cloth does what. At home, a blue stack can do the same thing, set apart from your dish towels.
The listing title names the home, appliances, cars and glass, and describes wet cleaning and dry dusting. Stick to that, and check the label before you use bleach on any other cloth in the load. This pack comes from a third-party seller, so look at the seller’s details when you order. This pick rests on Rubbermaid’s listing.
Why we like it
- Bleach-safe, per Rubbermaid
- Stated to last 100 launderings
- Color coding for one job
- Pack of 24
Key specifications
| Model | 1820579 |
|---|---|
| Count | 24 |
| Size | 12 x 12 in |
| Surfaces the maker names | Work surfaces, appliances, glass, cars |
| Use it with | Wet cleaning or dry dusting |
| Washing | Launder; bleach-safe (Rubbermaid) |
| Stated life | 100 launderings |
Why we recommend it
It suits a big family, a home baker or anyone who washes cloths with bleach and wants a cloth the maker says can take it.
Skip it if you want softer, plusher cloths for polishing or drying hands. This one is made for work.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Stated for bleach
- Commercial maker
- Big pack
- Color coding
Cons
- Only 100 launderings stated
- One color in this pack
- Third-party seller on this listing
6. Zwipes Microfiber Cleaning Cloths, 36 Pack – A Big Stack in Three Colors
Thirty-six cloths in three colors is a lot of cloth, and that is the point. Run one color on the counters, another on the stove and a third on the floor spills, and throw the used ones in the wash without worrying about running out.
Zwipes says each cloth has 110,000 fibers per square inch, absorbs eight times its weight in water and dries in half the time of a standard towel. Those are the maker’s figures. It also says you can clean with or without chemicals, that the cloths are non-abrasive and that they can be reused hundreds of times. The listing names the home, garage and office, and paints and clear coats.
Popular Science picked a Zwipes towel as best for kitchens, but that was a different model, the 735, in a smaller pack. We chose this 36-pack because the 735 was not plainly in stock. Popular Science’s care note for Zwipes is cold or warm machine wash and low heat to dry.
Why we like it
- 36 cloths in three colors
- Stated 110,000 fibers per square inch
- Absorbs eight times its weight, per Zwipes
- Use with or without chemicals, per the maker
Key specifications
| Model | 737P |
|---|---|
| Count | 36 |
| Size | Not stated |
| Surfaces the maker names | Home, garage, office surfaces, paints, clear coats |
| Use it with | With or without cleaners |
| Washing | Cold or warm machine wash, low dry (Popular Science, for the Zwipes 735) |
| Stated life | Hundreds of uses (maker) |
Why we recommend it
It suits a large household or anyone who likes a fresh cloth for every job. Color sorting is built in, which keeps kitchen cloths away from the garage ones.
Skip it if storage is tight. Thirty-six cloths need a shelf.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Large pack
- Three colors
- Reusable, per the maker
- Works with or without cleaners
Cons
- Maker figures, not independent ones
- Size not on this listing
- Colors are assorted, so you do not choose
7. Scotch-Brite Microfiber Cleaning Cloth – A Single Cloth for Drying Dishes
Scotch-Brite is the name most of us already have at the sink, and this is the simple way to try one cloth. The listing says it is perfect for drying dishes, kitchen cleaning, dusting and glass, and it measures 11.4 by 12.2 inches.
3M’s brand claims the cloth absorbs up to 50 percent more liquid than ordinary cotton dishcloths. The claim is marked with an asterisk on the listing, so treat it as the maker’s own comparison. It also says the cloth is non-scratch, cleans windows, glass and mirrors, and removes smudges, fingerprints and water spots without chemicals.
Care is easy: it is machine washable and dryer safe, and the maker says it lasts more than 100 washes. You buy one, the color varies among blue, teal and pink, and this listing comes from a third-party seller. If you want several, one of the packs above will make more sense.
Why we like it
- Maker names drying dishes directly
- Machine washable and dryer safe
- Lasts more than 100 washes, per the maker
- Familiar brand
Key specifications
| Model | 9070 |
|---|---|
| Count | 1 |
| Size | 11.4 x 12.2 in |
| Surfaces the maker names | Windows, glass, mirrors, dishes, kitchen surfaces |
| Use it with | Water; no chemicals needed |
| Washing | Machine wash, dryer safe |
| Stated life | More than 100 washes |
Why we recommend it
It suits a cook who wants a single dish-drying cloth to test against cotton before committing to a pack.
Skip it if you want value in numbers, since this listing is for one cloth.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Dish-drying use is on the label
- Easy care
- Established maker
- Stated 100-plus washes
Cons
- Only one cloth
- Color varies
- Third-party seller on this listing
8. Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths, 24 Pack – Plain Entry-Level Value
This is the plain bulk choice. You get 24 cloths in blue, white and yellow, and the title gives the size as 16 by 12 inches, which is the largest stated size on the page. One bullet on the listing says 40.6 by 30.5 inches, which looks like the centimeter figure mislabeled, so go by the title.
The listing says the cloths absorb eight times their weight, work dry or with liquid cleaners, and can be reused hundreds of times. It is written mostly with cars, trucks and boats in mind, and it names paint, vinyl, glass and finishes. It does not mention kitchen jobs directly, so treat countertop use as your own choice and test any cleaner first.
Care is simple. It is machine washable, and Amazon says to wash the cloths separately before first use and with like colors. Three colors help you keep tasks apart. This pick rests on the listing.
Why we like it
- 24 cloths in three colors
- Large size per the title
- Works dry or with cleaners, per the listing
- Machine washable
Key specifications
| Model | CW190423 |
|---|---|
| Count | 24 |
| Size | 16 x 12 in (title) |
| Surfaces the maker names | Paint, vinyl, glass, finishes; cars, trucks, boats |
| Use it with | Dry or liquid cleaners |
| Washing | Machine wash, like colors; wash before first use |
| Stated life | Hundreds of uses (listing) |
Why we recommend it
It suits a home that goes through cloths quickly and wants a large stack for spills, car jobs and the garage as well as the kitchen.
Skip it if you want a cloth written for kitchen use. Mr. Siga and E-Cloth name those surfaces and this one does not.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Generous pack
- Largest stated size here
- Three colors
- Easy machine wash
Cons
- Written for cars more than kitchens
- Size bullet on the listing looks wrong
- Amazon-first brand
How to choose microfiber cloths for kitchen use
Start with the surfaces. Read what the maker names. Mr. Siga and E-Cloth list worktops and appliances, Scotch-Brite lists drying dishes, and Amazon Basics writes mostly about cars and finishes. If your counter or appliance has its own care instructions, follow those first, and try a new cloth on a hidden spot.
Choose by count and size. A pack of 12 covers most homes. A big stack helps when you like a fresh cloth for each job. A cloth of about 12 inches square folds well in the hand, and a larger one can reach across a stove or island.
Sort by color. Commercial kitchens often separate their cloths by job, and a home can do the same. Rubbermaid uses color for this, and Zwipes and Amazon Basics give you three colors to work with. Pick one for counters, one for dishes and glassware, and one for the floor and the trash can.
Know what water alone can do. Several makers say their cloths clean with water alone. That means the cloth lifts the mess. It is a separate matter from sanitizing, and none of the picks here should replace the food-safety routine you follow after raw meat. If you use a cleaner, use one the cleaner’s own label allows on that surface.
Plan for the laundry. Wash before first use. Food Network Kitchen noticed a mild chemical smell in new cloths that faded after a wash, and Amazon also tells you to wash its cloths first. Food Network advises washing them away from clothes and other textiles, since microfiber picks up lint, and drying on low heat.
How we picked these eight cloths
We read each maker’s listing and two published roundups: Food Network Kitchen’s test of eight brands, and Popular Science’s list, which is based on research and earlier experience and does not describe a test of these cloths. Food Network tested the Mr. Siga and the Casabella. Popular Science named E-Cloth and a different Zwipes model. The Full Circle, Rubbermaid, Scotch-Brite and Amazon Basics picks rest on the listings.
We kept to identifiable makers, with no more than two Amazon-first brands, Mr. Siga and Amazon Basics. We left out Norwex, because the listings we found came from a reseller with thin details. We also searched the saferproducts.gov recall database for each brand and found no recall of a microfiber cloth. Our kitchen has not used these cloths, so this is a guide to specifications and published reports, not a test.
Microfiber cloth questions, answered
How do you wash microfiber cloths?
Machine wash them on their own or with other microfiber, and skip the fabric softener, which Food Network says clogs the fibers. E-Cloth also says to skip dryer sheets and use only a small amount of detergent. Dry on low heat. Then check the tag, because makers differ on the details.
Can you use bleach on microfiber?
Usually not. E-Cloth says to skip it, and Popular Science warns that bleach and fabric softener can damage the fibers. Rubbermaid Commercial is the exception here, since it describes its HYGEN cloths as bleach-safe. Follow the label for the cloth in your hand.
Are microfiber cloths good for drying dishes?
Some makers say so. Scotch-Brite names drying dishes on its listing, and Mr. Siga talks about plates, pots and pans. Keep a clean cloth just for this job, away from the one you use on the counter. Our guides to the best dish cloths and dish cloths versus sponges cover the other options.
How is microfiber different from a Swedish dish cloth?
Microfiber is a synthetic fabric and goes in the laundry. A Swedish cloth is a thin, stiff sponge cloth, closer to a reusable paper towel. We cover those in our guide to the best Swedish dish cloths.
How often should you replace them?
The makers’ figures range from 100 washes to hundreds. Replace a cloth once it stops soaking up water, starts to smell after washing, or begins to shed.
Our last word on microfiber for the kitchen
Buy the Mr. Siga pack if you want one answer. Choose E-Cloth to leave the sprays behind, Full Circle for a labeled cloth for each job, and the Rubbermaid HYGEN if you need a cloth that can go in with bleach. Then keep the cloths sorted and out of the fabric softener.
For the rest of the cleanup, see our guides to the best sink caddy and the best dish rack. And on the nights when nothing should need wiping, call to order at (346) 546-8283.