What to Do When It’s Time to Clean the Cleaning Rags

Supplying rags to customers for more than a century will teach you a thing or two about rags. 

For example, did you know there’s a right and a wrong way to clean your washing rags? 

It’s true. And washing your dirty rags the right way will make them last longer.

Why Cleaning Methods for Dirty Rags Matter

They do dirty work, so cleaning rags pick up a lot of bacteria per square inch, much more than an average piece of cloth picks up. Then, since they’re in and around so much water, cleaning rags become an ideal place for bacteria to thrive.

In short, rags get really germy. Most of us know how to manage the health risks dirty rags create for people. Thorough hand washing, and keeping dirty rags in their place, away from clean surfaces, should keep everybody safe from dirty rag germs.

But what about the rags themselves? All the bacteria they’re carrying around can eventually start to affect the health of the rags, making them more brittle and less absorbent, or even breaking down the structure of the fabric prematurely.

The Wrong Way to Wash Cleaning Rags

So, first, here’s what not to do: Try not to let dirty rags collect in a closed space for too long. This may not smell the best, but storing dirty rags in an open-to-air container helps keep rags healthier. Closed containers trap the moisture that feeds bacteria.

Then, avoid tossing all types of rags into the same wash load. Different types of rags need different types of wash cycles, as we’ll discuss below. Also, avoid tossing rags in with other types of fabric like aprons, coveralls, or tablecloths.

We know these two pieces of advice can be counterproductive: Washing only one type of rag at a time will make dirty rags pile up for longer, right? We get it. Washing smaller loads, or investing in a smaller capacity washer, can help alleviate this.

If you have no other choice but to store dirty rags until you build up a full load, consider sanitizing the dirty rags by boiling them in water for 15 minutes. This works especially well with cotton rags. Then store the dirty-but-sanitized rags in another bin until it’s time for the actual wash. 

The Right Way to Clean Washing Rags

How you should wash rags depends, in part, on their material.

Cleaning cotton rags

Like we said above, try not to let your rags pile up for days and days. If there’s no other way, you can sanitize rags every day or two to kill germs by boiling them. Once you’re ready to launder a load of cotton rags:

• Use hot water
• Use regular laundry detergent
• Avoid detergents with fabric softener
• Don’t use a separate fabric softener either
• Dry on medium-high or high heat
• Don’t use a dryer sheet

Cleaning microfiber rags

The dense, synthetic fibers that create microfiber cloths require a different washing and drying process. Before storing dirty microfiber cloths, you should rinse them in a sink to loosen up the dirt and debris that’s lodged between the fibers.

Once you have a load of microfiber ready for the wash:

• Wash only with other microfiber fabrics
• Use a cold water setting
• Avoid all bleaches and softeners
• Use unscented, dye-free detergent
• Dry on low to medium heat
• It’s OK to use a dryer sheet

When Is It Time to Replace Cleaning Rags?

Taking care while washing your cleaning rags will extend their life, saving your business money and helping the environment by reducing the demand for new textile material. But even the best-cared-for rags will need to be replaced eventually. 

The expiration date for rags varies by industry. Our high-end hospitality customers, for example, tend to replace their rags that start looking too frayed or faded. We understand. These types of rags give their guests the wrong impression. 

But the cleaning crew at an auto shop or fast-food restaurant might think the very same rags are “just getting broken in.” These are our customers who also love buying recycled rags which cost less and arrive “already broken in.”

For all customers, we recommend replacing a rag once it’s too thin, too soft, or too rigid to do its job effectively. Using rags for too long creates a germy environment without the benefit of effectively cleaning surfaces and spills.     

Using the Right Rags for the Job Extends Their Life, Too

Along with proper washing techniques, keeping rags in their wheelhouse will extend their life. 

For example, microfiber works much better in dry or damp applications. Cotton works better after being fully immersed in water and cleaning solution. Disposable paper rags excel at gathering up thick or bulky messes and transporting them directly into the trash. 

Using a microfiber or cotton rag, for example, to gather up solid debris like spilled food wastes the rag’s potential and requires an unnecessary washing. Disposable cloths could have done a better job, saving the microfiber or cotton for desanitizing and polishing the area.

This is one reason we stock so many different types of rags at All Rags — to make sure our customers have the product they need when they need it.

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