How To Use Windex To Clean Microfiber Fabrics

If you have a microfiber upholstered couch, chair, or cushions, you may be curious to know how people are using Windex to clean these materials and whether this weird cleaning hack actually works. Well, let's take the mystery out of it straight away — it does! This awesome cleaning product has so many alternative uses, and cleaning your microfiber fabric is just one more example of this miracle product's varied ability to, erm, shine!

Microfiber fabric is composed of ultra-fine synthetic fibers such as polyester, polyamide, or polypropylene. It is prized for being breathable, moisture-wicking, soft, and durable. It also has some give, which could make this fabric a winning candidate for microfiber vs. cotton sheets (but we'll let you decide on that one). The material is perfect for many different uses — from furniture to clothing to cleaning supplies. Unfortunately, it does have a tendency to get marked up pretty badly, even with pure water. This is where your Windex comes in handy, especially for tricky things to clean, like upholstered furniture that can't be slung in the wash.

You will need a full bottle of Windex Glass Cleaner, especially when cleaning something like a large sofa. You'll also need a scrub brush from the dollar store and a pair of disposable gloves to protect and keep your hands clean.

Apply a generous amount of Windex onto the areas you want to scrub. If you're doing a whole piece of furniture, work section by section to ensure you don't miss any spots and the product stays wet while you work it in with the scrubber. You can keep adding more of the Windex spray as you go to keep the fabric damp. It's important to ensure the fibers are all worked on thoroughly, so scrub in every direction to achieve an even result. If you're working with cushions on a sofa, you can take them off to find easier angles to scrub, but keep the microfiber covers on the actual cushion inners as it will help to give the fabric structure, resulting in a more even finish.

Creating a regular routine to clean your microfiber upholstery will make the job less intimidating each time you have to do it. When you're done, open all windows to let fresh air circulate the room and help the microfiber fabric dry out.

The main reason Windex is an effective product for cleaning your microfiber is because it contains solvents. Most microfiber materials require a solvent-based cleaner rather than the standard soap and water. On top of this, the fabric is tough enough to withstand some serious scrubbing! You can really go to town on it with a scrubbing brush, and it won't damage the fabric. This is because of the way the fabric is made. Superfine filaments of microfiber are spun to create a thick yarn. The tightly-knit structure of the material makes it resistant to wear and tear.

And, of course, it's significantly cheaper to purchase a bottle of Windex and a scrubbing brush than to pay to get your upholstery professionally dry-cleaned. So, if any of your microfiber pieces look like they could use a refresh, try it out and watch them transform!