How to Care for your Norwex Cloths!

How to Care for your Norwex Cloths!

by | Nov 14, 2017 | Care Tips, Microfiber Cloths

So you made a great decision to invest in Norwex! I call it an investment because they will change the way you clean your home… eco-friendly, non-toxic, environmentally-friendly, quick and easy cleaning methods. They are also an investment because they can seem expensive when starting your collection.  I’m Dutch… I know.  Lastly, they are an investment because they last for a LONG time… so you want to protect them!
An important part of my job is to teach you how to use and care for your product properly, so that they clean the way they are intended and so that the products will last as long as possible. The number one way you can protect your Norwex investment is to launder them properly! Let me share the strategies I have discovered through my years of using Norwex products to maximize your enjoyment of your Norwex products for many years to come!
 .
It is important to launder them in the washer and dryer on a regular basis.  The agitation cycle in the washer agitates the cloth which releases the dirt, grime and grease that has collected in the cloth when cleaning.  The dryer works to “perk up” the spokes in the microfibers and allows them to be statically charged to clean dry or wet.
Launder Norwex Microfiber in Washer and Dryer
 .
Wash in the washing machine weekly, ideally the Hot/Cold, Wash/Rinse option.  Hot water relaxes the microfibers allowing them to release the dirt that has been collected in the cloth and does a better job cleaning the cloth. By using scent-free detergent, you ensure that the microfibers in the cloth will not be coated by the fragrances or chemicals that are often found in regular detergent.  Norwex has two great scent-free laundry detergents to choose from: Ultra Power Plus Laundry Detergent and a Liquid Laundry Detergent.  I also add one cap full of the Norwex Odour Eliminator as well, to every load (not just Norwex) we launder at our home.

Washing with only lint-free fabrics is important to maintain the integrity of the microfibers.  If you wash your Norwex cloths with your favourite fluffy beach towels, the microfibers will collect all the lint from the towel and clog the microfibers… making the cloth unable to collect dirt and debris the next time you use it to clean. Think of the fibers as spokes on a bicycle wheel… they collect debris… but if there are loose towel fibers within reach, they will collect those too, clogging the cloths ability clean.

how norwex microfibers work

If you use fabric softeners, dryer sheets or bleach with your Norwex cloths, you will coat all the microfibers making them unable to their job. Fabric softeners and dryer sheets work to reduce static because they coat the fibers in our clothes, but they are full of chemicals and fragrances as well as being hard on the environment. Because they are designed to coat fibers, they destroy Norwex microfiber cloths. Use Norwex Dryer Balls or Fluff and Tumble Dryer Balls to create space between your cloths in the dryer to allow the microfibers to “perk up” and be able to clean the surfaces in your home.  Wondering why there are two different of types of dryer balls and which one you should buy?  Read Norwex Dryer Balls FAQ.

A Few Notes: 

Avoid Submerging your Cloths into Soapy Water.  I’m referring to the soapy water in your kitchen sink.  I am often asked… “If the cloths can’t go in soapy water… do I launder them without detergent in my machine?”  You want to use laundry detergent in your washing machine, that is an important part of cleaning your cloths.  Your washer’s spin cycle ensures all the soap is removed.

Change your Cloths Regularly. If you are accustom to using your kitchen cloth (whether it is Grandma’s croqueted cloth or a cotton rag) until it is smelly…. you don’t want to do that with your Norwex cloths!  People also often think, well Norwex has Baclock™ the micro silver antibacterial agent that goes to work to self-purify and inhibit odors from bacteria, mold and mildew growth within the cloth, so I rarely have to switch out my cloth. The Baclock™ agent does not have magical powers, Norwex cloths can get oversaturated with bacteria. What you are smelling is the growth of bacteria in your cloth.  Don’t wait until it is smelly!  Have a regular laundering routine.

I have followed Delores’ laundering instructions since 2006 and my cloths have always smelled fresh and clean.  No smelly cloths at my house.  ~ Michelle Kool, Edmonton, Alberta

Here is what I suggest:

Enviro & Kitchen Cloths: 1 cloth, every 2-3 days… hang to dry and launder

Body Pack Cloths (used for face or body): 1 cloth for 2 days… a three pack is to last one person for a week.

Everything Else: Launder once per week. I literally walk around my house and collect cloths from the bathrooms, kitchen, garage, our four hair turbans and spa wraps, face cloths, chenille hand towels, kitchen cloths and towels, the bath mats and hand towels, Bentley’s (our dog) mitts and towel… everything and launder them once a week.

Colour Code your Cloths. The EnviroCloth comes in four different colours. In my house, I  colour codes our EnviroCloths for different jobs.  It works like a dream.

Grey EnviroCloth: Kitchen jobs.

Blue EnviroCloth: For “blue” jobs.  The jobs that will stain the cloth get done with the blue cloth.  I don’t want all my cloths stained so I colour code.  These jobs include: cleaning the bbq, outside furniture and windows and anything in the garage.

Pink EnviroCloth: For the Toilets. Think ‘Pink is for Pee’. I literally hang them on the plumbing under the sink so they are handy if need be … like when young nephews come to visit 🙂

Green EnviroCloth: Bathroom jobs, like: wiping down the shower, tub, sinks and counters.

For Best Results use Norwex Ultra Power Plus Laundry Detergent or Norwex Liquid Laundry Detergent.  I often remind my clients that when you buy a good pair of leather boots, they always ask you if you have spray to protect your new footwear (your investment)?  The same is true for Norwex Microfiber cloths.  Do you have the laundry supplies required to protect your investment? Both of Norwex’s laundry soaps are fantastic… both require very little, UPP is powder, the Liquid detergent is enzyme-powered to help remove odor and stains.

Norwex Laundry Detergent

 

So, let’s say… your Norwex cloths smell… they were used for too long or they weren’t laundered frequently… now what?   Read this blog “How to Deep Clean your Microfiber Cloths” for all the details.

Norwex products are an investment!  They are going to reduce the chemicals in your home, while providing a superior way to clean.  Please leave a comment to let me know how these tips helped you get the most out of your Norwex cloths.

********************

Delores VandenBoogaard is an Independent Norwex Sales Consultant from Edmonton, Alberta Canada with customers and consultants throughout Canada and the United States including; New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, North West Territories and Ontario. She also has customers and team members in; Michigan, Texas, California, Massachusetts, Florida, Arizona, Missouri, Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina, Idaho, Washington, New Hampshire, Iowa and Maine.

Share
Norwex Kitchen Cloth vs. EnviroCloth

Norwex Kitchen Cloth vs. EnviroCloth

by | Apr 12, 2016 | Favourite Top 10, Kitchen, Microfiber Cloths

Norwex has lots of great products!!! Some of them are similar and can create confusion about how to properly care for them and when to use them.  The Kitchen Cloth and EnviroCloth are two of awesome products that can often get confused.  This post is designed to remove any confusion and answer any questions you may have.

How are the Kitchen Cloth and the EnviroCloth the same?

  • Both cloths have the ability to remove up to 99% of bacteria from a surface when following proper care and use instructions.
  • Both cloths are woven from microfiber that is 1/200th the size of a human hair.
  • These tiny microfibers, that are woven together, pick up even the tiniest particles and trap them between the tiny microscopic spaces between the fibers.
  • Both cloths are embedded with micro silver called BacLock™ which is an antibacterial agent for self-purifying purposes only. The Baclock™ agent inhibits odors from bacteria, mold and mildew growth within the cloth.
  • I have sold Norwex since 2006, this is prior to the launch of both the Baclock™ agent and the Kitchen Cloths.  The Enviro cloth stood alone.  Back then, without Baclock™, the Enviro cloth certainly remove up to 99% of bacteria from a surface when following proper care and use instructions.  The incredible microfiber cleans the surface, the Baclock™ agent inhibits odors from bacteria, mold and mildew growth within the cloth.
  • Just by using water, surfaces will be streak-free, polished and shiny!
  • They both hold up to seven times its weight in liquid and grime.kitchen

How are the Kitchen Cloth and the EnviroCloth different?

The weight and density of the amount of woven fiber woven in these cloths is different.

  • One EnviroCloth has 10 million feet or 3 million meters of microfiber in one cloth.  If unravelled, one cloth would reach from Winnipeg, Canada into the Gulf of Mexico.  The EnviroCloth is woven tighter and is 35% more dense.
  • The Kitchen Cloth does not have the same amount of microfiber and is not woven as densely as the EnviroCloth.
    • As the weight of the EnviroCloth is heavier, it absorbs much more than a Kitchen Cloth.
    • As less fiber is woven into the Kitchen Cloth, the EnviroCloth can clean and pick up more particles… for a longer period of time and off a greater amount of surface area.
    • More Microfiber, means more fibers to pick up dirt, grease and moisture giving more cleaning power.
  • The EnviroCloth comes in 4 great colours, including: grey, red, blue & green.  The Kitchen Cloth is available in an assortment of 7 trendy colours, including: pomegranate, latte, sea mist, salmon, blue, graphite & orchid, plus they have matching Kitchen Towels to complement any home decor.
  • Some homeowners like to colour code their home with the tea towels, using one colour for drying hands and another complementary colour for drying dishes.
  • Use the Kitchen Cloth for light cleaning around your home.  Give your surfaces, including; stainless steel, enamel, ceramic, glass, chrome, granite, marble, quartz tile, wood and china, a streak-free polish with just a Kitchen Cloth!
  • For heavier cleaning, or as a chemical replacement around your home, I exclusively recommend the EnviroCloth!Screen Shot 2016-04-07 at 11.53.20 AM

Mistaken Identity:

  • Given the name, Kitchen Cloth, many homeowners assume this cloth is intended for washing their dishes in soapy water.  That is not the case.  For the best performance and care, I recommend you exclusively use it with water.  Unfortunately, if you regularly submerge the Kitchen Cloth in soapy water, the soap will coat the microfiber and micro silver Backlock™ agent embedded within the cloth, making it ineffective to inhibits odors from bacteria and your cloth may start to smell.  When customers reach out to me, because their cloths smell… this is over 90% of the problem.

How long are the cloths good for?

This has been the riddle I’ve said to my customers since 2006…

When you get a new cloth, write the date on the tag.  When the cloth is two years old, cut off the tag, the cloth is now a rag!

  • Norwex cloths can be reused around your home for up to 10 years. After two years, the EnviroCloth is still effective for detailing the inside of your vehicle, wiping your patio furniture and dusting around the home. But if you want to know for sure that the cloth is being used to its full capability as a chemical replacement and that it still has the ability to remove up to 99% of bacteria from a surface when following the proper care and use instructions, I recommend you use a cloth that is less than two years old.

Care Instruction:

  • Launder in the washing machine and dryer regularly.
  • Launder with lint-free laundry.
  • Avoid fabric softeners, bleach and other chemical cleaning products.
  • Wash in hot water.
  • For best results use scent-free laundry detergent.

Deep Cleaning Cloths:

  • Put all of your microfiber cloths in a sink or a large pot.
  • Sprinkle a scoop of Norwex UPP Ultra Plus Power Laundry Detergent over the cloths.
  • Pour boiling hot water over the product.
  • Stir a couple times and allow it to soak.
  • Repeat this process until your water stays clean after soaking.

How long does the micro silver last?

The micro silver is embedded into the cloth.  It can not be laundered out and it can not separate from the Microfiber.  Read this post:  How is Silver Embedded?

********************

Delores VandenBoogaard is an Independent Norwex Sales Consultant from Edmonton, Alberta Canada with customers and consultants throughout Canada and the United States including; New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, North West Territories and Ontario. She also has customers and team members in; Michigan, Texas, California, Massachusetts, Florida, Arizona, Missouri, Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina, Idaho, Washington, New Hampshire, Iowa and Maine.

Share
Share