Stop! You’re Ruining Your Norwex (Clean Them THIS Way)

Are you making critical mistakes with your Norwex microfiber cloths? If you’re washing your Norwex products incorrectly, you could be destroying their antimicrobial properties, reducing their effectiveness, and wasting money on expensive cleaning cloths that no longer work. This comprehensive Norwex cleaning guide will show you exactly how to clean Norwex cloths properly, maintain their silver antibacterial technology, and extend their lifespan for years to come.

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The set included the Norwex Envirocloth, the Norwex Kitchen cloths, the Norwex Dusting mitt, Norwex EnviroScrub, the Norwex Window cloth, and the Norwex Mop System which included the Norwex Superior Dry Mop Pad and the Norwex Wet Mop Pad. Like I said, very generous!

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After learning about Norwex’s cleaning philosophy, I was a bit skeptical. Really? You can clean with just water alone? This doesn’t feel right.

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Why Proper Norwex Care Matters

Norwex microfiber cloths are premium cleaning products featuring BacLock technology with embedded silver microfibers that self-purify and inhibit bacterial growth. However, improper washing methods can damage these specialized fibers, rendering your investment useless. Many Norwex users unknowingly ruin their cloths by using the wrong detergents, fabric softeners, or washing temperatures.

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What makes Norwex Microfiber Cloths different?

The Norwex company practices a different form of cleaning. They educate their customers about the two most common cleaning methods – chemical and mechanical.

Most households practice the chemical cleaning method through the help of cleaning products. Norwex rejects the use of harmful chemicals. Instead, the company encourages the practice of mechanical cleaning.

Norwex ensures that with their microfiber science, water, and a little bit of elbow grease, any surface can be cleaned.

What is Microfiber Science?

Microfiber rags and cloths are made of just that, microfibers or very fine strands of fibers! Most microfiber clothes use fibers as small as 1/6th the size of human hair. Norwex microfibers, however, are even smaller – 1/200th the size of human hair, to be exact.

What’s the benefit of having smaller fibers? The smaller the fiber, the more absorbent it becomes. When Norwex rags are wet, each cloth has millions of small pockets that lift and trap household debris and bacteria. Norwex Microfiber rags are so absorbent that they can hold onto 7 times their weight in water.

When using a dry cloth, Norwex microfibers rub together, creating a charge to magnetically grab onto negatively charged dust, dog hair, dander, mold, or pollen spores.

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What are the Benefits of Cleaning with Norwex Rags?

1. Save money on cleaning products: All you need to start cleaning your home is a Norwex rag and some water. Just think of all the cleaners under your kitchen sink that can all be removed from your future shopping lists!
2. Save money on paper towels: Norwex Microfiber cloths are reusable and can be used for years to come with the proper care and appropriate laundering.
3. Reduce exposure to harmful substances. This is a huge benefit for anyone with allergies or chemical sensitivities.
4. Norwex’s Baclock technology comes with self-purifying properties. So less laundering for your cleaning rags and everyday products? Yes, please!

What is Norwex’s Baclock Technology?

Norwex’s Baclock technology is a self-cleansing property included in some of their microfiber clothes. Each microfiber is embedded with silver antibacterial agents that are designed to inhibit odor, mold, and/or mildew growth on the rag.

After a light cleaning, all you need to do is a little rinse, rub it with soap and hang it to dry. Baclock will rid of 65-70% of bacteria after drying for 24 hours!

When is it Time to Clean My Norwex?

Product	How Often	How to Clean
Norwex  Microfiber – Low Bacteria	After each use	Hand wash with dish soap and warm water, rinse well, and hang to dry Launder weekly Deep clean every 6-12 months
Norwex Face Cloths (Body Pack cloths or makeup removal cloths)	After each use	Hand wash with dish soap and warm water, rinse well, and hang to dry Launder weekly Deep clean every 6-12 months
Norwex Kitchen Cloths or Counter Cloths	After each use	Hand wash with dish soap and warm water, rinse well, and hang to dry Launder every 2-3 days Deep clean every 6-12 months
Norwex Microfiber – High Bacteria	Immediately after use	Launder immediately
Norwex Dusting Mitt or Cloths for dusting	After each use	Use a rubber brush or hit on the deck rail after each use to rid of dust bunnies Launder every 2-3 months
Stinky & Smelly	When needed	Deep Clean
Dirty & Stained	When needed	Launder or Deep Clean

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How to Clean Norwex Rags:

Daily Cleanings:

Just finished some light cleaning around the house? No need to launder! With the help of Norwex’s BacLock technology, all you need to do is a little rinse, rub, and dry before your next use.

How to Clean Norwex Rags By Hand:

Norwex Cloths / Face Cloths:

1. Rinse with warm running water and put a drop of dish soap, like Dawn, onto the cloth.
2. Use a little friction to agitate the fibers. This will release some of the dirt and debris.
3. Thoroughly rinse again with warm water and ring out any excess water.
4. Lastly, hang to dry until the next use.

Norwex Dusting Mitt / Dry Mop Pad:

1. Take the Norwex Rubber Brush and brush away dust bunnies. (This will also recharge the fibers!)
2. If you don’t have the rubber brush like me, hit the mitt or pad against the deck rail. This will get the job done!

Launder Cleanings:

After a week’s worth of cleaning, it is time to launder your Norwex cleaning products. A few rules when it comes to cleaning your Norwex rags in the washing machine.

1. No fabric softener or dryer sheets
2. No bleach
3. No linty loads (no to terry towels)

Now you may be asking, why? Let me explain.

1. Fabric softeners and dryer sheets are not recommended because they leave a coating on the fibers. This inhibits the fibers to trap as much dirt and grim.
2. Bleach is also not recommended because it can damage the microfibers, also reducing their ability to effectively clean.
3. Norwex Microfibers are very good at collecting lint, especially when dry. Dry your Norwex rags in a lint-free laundry load to avoid a plethora of lint on your rags.

How to Clean Norwex Rags in the Washing Machine:

1. Pour an eco-friendly, non-filler, non-fragrance laundry detergent into the washer drum.
   • Norwex liquid laundry detergent: 2 pumps for high efficiency / 3 pumps for regular washer
   • Norwex powder laundry detergent: 1 tsp in high efficiency / 1 scoop for regular washer
2. Add Norwex cleaning products into the washer and run the cycle on hot like normal.
3. After the rags have been washed, dry them in the dryer with dryer balls.

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Can I use regular laundry detergent?

That depends. If you are using a top-selling liquid detergent, powder, or pod, then the answer is most likely no. Most of those are full of fillers and chemicals that clog the fibers.

Instead, Norwex recommends using a laundry detergent that doesn’t contain fillers, is highly concentrated, dissolves easily, and rinses out fully. Conveniently, Norwex sells its own laundry detergent, Ultra Power Plus, that meets all of these needs.

Some great substitutes are Seventh Generation Ultra Power Plus, Rosey’s by Thrive Market, and Molly’s Suds. I have been using Molly’s Suds since our daughter was born and have been so impressed! Our clothes are so clean and her skin has never had a reaction. Plus, I love the mission behind the company.

Deep Cleanings:

Deep cleaning for Norwex rags should be done every 6 months, or after a dirty job, like washing outdoor windows or outdoor furniture, or if your rags become stained.

Think of it like your teeth. We brush every day, but we go to the dentist 2x a year for a deep clean. The same is needed for your Norwex cleaning products.

Doing a deep clean extends the life of your Norwex products.

How to Deep Clean Norwex Rags:

1. Bring a large pot of water just before boiling (where you can see tiny bubbles on the bottom of the pot).
2. Plug up 1 or both sides of your sink. I would only soak 10-15 items per sink. (You could do this in a bucket or the bathtub as well!)
3. Pour 1 scoop of enzyme powder into the sink, like Norwex’s Microfiber Cleaner Laundry Booster.
4. Carefully add the pot of hot water to the sink. Mix with a wooden spoon until combined.
5. Drop all Norwex cleaning cloths, face cloths, and mop pads into the hot water.
6. Take a wooden spoon to mix and move the clothes in the hot water. This helps the enzymes to start breaking down some of that gunk.
7. Soak the dirty rags for at least 30 minutes.
8. After 30 minutes, ring out each item really well and put it in a bowl (The water will stink and look very dirty – lots of dirt and debris – one step close to cleaner rags! You can do the above steps a second time if needed)

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Next, you have 2 options:

Option 1: Machine wash, then dry.

1. Scoop about 1-2tsp (depending on how many items you are washing) of Norwex Ultra Power Plus laundry detergent, into the drum of the washer.
2. Place Norwex cloths in the washer on top of the powder.
3. Run on high efficiency on hot.
4. After, put the Norwex Microfiber rags into the dryer on high.

Option 2: Skip the machine wash and head straight to the dryer.

1. Put Norwex cleaning products in the dryer straight away on high.

How to Clean Norwex Rags with Hard Water:

1. Use a spray bottle of distilled water for cleaning (rather than using your tap water)
2. Add 1/4 cup of white vinegar to your microfiber loads
3. If you have a standard washing machine, the Norwex Magnet Ball can help decrease the effects of hard water. The magnetic ball pulls all the calcium deposits and minerals toward the center of the ball during the wash cycle.

What Can I Use to Clean Norwex Rags?

Dawn dish soap	Yes	But use sparingly and rise out well. If left on, the silver’s effectiveness will reduce at killing bacteria.
Vinegar	Yes
Baking soda	Yes
Bleach	No!	Bleach degrades the fibers, causing the cloth to not clean as efficiently.
Fabric softener	No!	Fabric softener leaves a coating on the fibers. Use vinegar instead.
Laundry Detergent	Depends	Laundry detergent full of fill, fragrances, and dies will leave a coating on the fibers. Instead, use a laundry detergent without fillers, fragrances, or dies.
Dryer Sheets	No!	Dryer sheets leave a coating on the fibers. Use a dryer ball instead.
Tide Pods	No!	Laundry detergent pods leave a coating on the fibers.

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The Biggest Norwex Cleaning Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

Mistake #1: Using Fabric Softener on Norwex Cloths

This is the number one way people destroy their Norwex microfiber products. Fabric softener, dryer sheets, and any products containing fabric softening agents coat the microfibers, clogging them and preventing them from effectively picking up dirt and bacteria. The coating also interferes with the BacLock antimicrobial silver agent embedded in the fibers.

Solution: Never use fabric softener, dryer sheets, or detergents with built-in softeners when washing Norwex products.

Mistake #2: Washing Norwex with Regular Laundry Detergent

Traditional laundry detergents often contain fillers, dyes, fragrances, and additives that leave residue on microfiber cloths. These residues build up over time, reducing the cloths’ absorbency and cleaning power.

Solution: Use Norwex Ultra Power Plus laundry detergent or another low-residue, additive-free detergent specifically designed for microfiber cleaning cloths.

Mistake #3: Using Hot Water and High Heat Drying

While hot water kills bacteria, excessive heat can damage the microfiber structure and melt the silver BacLock technology woven into Norwex products.

Solution: Wash Norwex cloths in warm or hot water (not exceeding 140°F/60°C) and tumble dry on low to medium heat or air dry.

Mistake #4: Using Bleach or Chlorine Products

Bleach and chlorine-based cleaners break down the silver antimicrobial agent in Norwex microfiber, permanently damaging the BacLock technology that makes these cloths special.

Solution: Never use bleach, chlorine bleach, or whitening agents on Norwex products. For deep cleaning and sanitizing, use Norwex’s recommended boiling method instead.

Mistake #5: Washing Norwex Cloths with Lint-Producing Fabrics

Cotton towels, fleece, and other lint-producing materials shed fibers that clog microfiber cloths, reducing their effectiveness and lifespan.

Solution: Wash Norwex microfiber products separately or only with other microfiber items.

The Correct Way to Clean Norwex Cloths: Step-by-Step Guide

Daily Norwex Care After Each Use

After using your Norwex EnviroCloth, window cloth, or kitchen towel:

1. Rinse thoroughly under warm running water
2. Wring out excess water completely
3. Hang to air dry or lay flat
4. Ensure proper air circulation to allow the BacLock technology to self-purify

Weekly Norwex Washing Instructions

Materials Needed:

• Norwex Ultra Power Plus detergent or microfiber-safe detergent
• Washing machine
• No fabric softener
• No dryer sheets

Step-by-Step Norwex Washing Process:

1. Pre-rinse heavily soiled Norwex cloths under warm water to remove excess dirt and debris
2. Load the washing machine with Norwex microfiber products only (separate from regular laundry)
3. Add detergent – Use only 1-2 tablespoons of Norwex Ultra Power Plus or microfiber-safe detergent (less is more with microfiber)
4. Select wash settings – Use warm or hot water (not exceeding 140°F/60°C) with a regular or heavy-duty cycle
5. Skip fabric softener – Do not add any softening agents to the rinse cycle
6. Dry properly – Tumble dry on low to medium heat, or air dry by hanging or laying flat
7. Remove promptly – Take cloths out of the dryer while slightly damp to prevent heat damage

Monthly Deep Cleaning for Norwex Products

For deep cleaning and restoring your Norwex microfiber cloths, use the boiling method once a month or as needed:

Norwex Boiling Method:

1. Fill a large pot with enough water to submerge your Norwex cloths
2. Bring water to a rolling boil
3. Add Norwex cloths to boiling water (no detergent needed)
4. Boil for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally
5. Remove carefully with tongs and allow to cool
6. Rinse with cool water
7. Air dry or tumble dry on low heat

This deep cleaning method removes built-up residue, kills bacteria, and refreshes the microfibers without damaging the BacLock silver technology.

Best Detergents for Washing Norwex Microfiber Cloths

Recommended Norwex-Safe Detergents:

Top Choice:

• Norwex Ultra Power Plus Laundry Detergent – Specifically formulated for microfiber products, eco-friendly, ultra-concentrated

Alternative Options:

• All Free Clear (no dyes or fragrances)
• Seventh Generation Free & Clear
• Tide Free & Gentle
• Method Free + Clear
• Charlie’s Soap Laundry Powder

Detergents to Avoid:

• Any detergent with fabric softener built-in
• Products with added fragrances or dyes
• Detergents with bleach or whitening agents
• Liquid fabric softeners
• Powder detergents with heavy fillers

How to Restore Norwex Cloths That Have Been Damaged

If you’ve accidentally washed your Norwex microfiber cloths with fabric softener or regular detergent and they’ve lost their effectiveness, don’t panic. Try this Norwex restoration method:

Norwex Cloth Restoration Process:

1. Wash the affected cloths 2-3 times using only water (no detergent)
2. Perform the boiling method described above
3. Wash once more with a small amount of Norwex Ultra Power Plus
4. Dry on low heat or air dry
5. Test the cloth’s effectiveness by cleaning a surface with just water

This process can remove built-up residue and restore much of the cloth’s original cleaning power, though severely damaged cloths may not fully recover.

Norwex Cleaning Schedule for Maximum Longevity

Following a consistent cleaning schedule ensures your Norwex products remain effective:

• After each use: Rinse and hang to dry
• Every 3-4 uses: Light wash in washing machine
• Weekly: Full wash cycle with proper detergent
• Monthly: Deep clean using boiling method
• As needed: Restoration wash if cloths seem less effective

Signs Your Norwex Cloths Need Replacing

Even with proper care, Norwex microfiber cloths eventually wear out. Replace your cloths when you notice:

• Visible tears, holes, or fraying edges
• Persistent odors even after deep cleaning
• Reduced absorbency that doesn’t improve with boiling
• Loss of cleaning effectiveness
• Discoloration that won’t wash out
• Microfibers feel rough or scratchy instead of soft

Most Norwex cloths last 2-5 years with proper care, and many come with a 2-year warranty.

Specific Care Instructions for Different Norwex Products

Norwex EnviroCloth Care

The EnviroCloth is Norwex’s most popular all-purpose cleaning cloth. Wash every 3-4 uses, rinse thoroughly after cleaning kitchen surfaces, and perform monthly deep cleaning.

Norwex Window Cloth Care

Window cloths should be washed separately from heavily soiled items. Avoid using them on greasy surfaces, and wash after every 5-6 uses for streak-free shine.

Norwex Kitchen Cloth and Towel Care

Kitchen products require more frequent washing due to food contact. Wash after each use or daily, and deep clean weekly using the boiling method. Speaking of kitchen cleaning, maintaining your appliances is just as crucial. Learn how to clean a Ninja blender for spotless kitchen equipment, and don’t forget to check out our guide on how to clean a Frigidaire oven to keep your entire kitchen in top condition.

Norwex Mop Pad Cleaning

Mop pads collect more dirt and require special care. Pre-rinse thoroughly, wash after each use on warm setting, and deep clean monthly.

Norwex Body Cloth Care

Body and face cloths need gentle care. Wash after 3-4 uses, use delicate cycle if available, and air dry to maintain softness.

Money-Saving Tips for Norwex Owners

Proper Norwex care saves money by extending cloth lifespan:

1. Buy Norwex Ultra Power Plus in bulk for better value
2. Rotate multiple cloths to reduce wear on individual pieces
3. Use the boiling method instead of replacing cloths prematurely
4. Follow the care instructions exactly to maintain warranty coverage
5. Air dry when possible to reduce energy costs and extend cloth life

The Bottom Line: Proper Norwex Cleaning Extends Your Investment

Norwex microfiber cleaning cloths represent a significant investment in eco-friendly, chemical-free cleaning. By avoiding fabric softener, using the right detergent, washing at proper temperatures, and performing monthly deep cleaning, you’ll preserve the BacLock antimicrobial technology and keep your Norwex products working effectively for years.

Remember the golden rules of Norwex care: no fabric softener ever, use minimal low-residue detergent, wash separately from lint-producing fabrics, and deep clean monthly with the boiling method. Follow these Norwex cleaning instructions, and your microfiber cloths will continue delivering superior cleaning performance while saving you money on chemical cleaners and paper towels.

For more detailed information, check out our comprehensive guide on. And while you’re maintaining a clean home, don’t miss our other essential cleaning guides including how to clean a Ninja blender and how to clean a Frigidaire oven.

Ready to get the most from your Norwex investment? Start implementing these proper cleaning techniques today and experience the difference that well-maintained microfiber products can make in your chemical-free cleaning routine.

What Can I Use to Clean Norwex Rags?

Dawn dish soap	Yes	But use sparingly and rise out well. If left on, the silver’s effectiveness will reduce at killing bacteria.
Vinegar	Yes
Baking soda	Yes
Bleach	No!	Bleach degrades the fibers, causing the cloth to not clean as efficiently.
Fabric softener	No!	Fabric softener leaves a coating on the fibers. Use vinegar instead.
Laundry Detergent	Depends	Laundry detergent full of fill, fragrances, and dies will leave a coating on the fibers. Instead, use a laundry detergent without fillers, fragrances, or dies.
Dryer Sheets	No!	Dryer sheets leave a coating on the fibers. Use a dryer ball instead.
Tide Pods	No!	Laundry detergent pods leave a coating on the fibers.

FAQs

Happy Norwexing!

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