About a week ago, I was doing some shopping in Tescos when I spotted a pack of two microfibre cloths for £1. I vaguely recalled reading something about using them as face cloths, so I thought why not give them a try?

Now as far as I’m aware, these are bog standard cloths designed for cleaning your car. Basically, they are made up of microscopic fibres that capture dirt and grease without damaging the surface they are being used on. I discovered that there are several different formulations, the most common being an 80% polyester 20% polyamide mix which is what mine are comprised of.

It seems that many people find microfibre cloths work very effectively using just water. However, I recently invested in a pricey natural cleanser so I wanted to utilise that as well. My routine now involves application of said cleanser then I soak the cloth in water, squeeze out all the excess and wipe the cleanser off in small circular motions. I have found this to work very well, with no trace of cleanser left on my skin afterwards.

But onto the really important stuff - has it made any difference to my acne? I have to answer that question with a resounding yes! I have had maybe two tiny pimples since I started using it and no blackheads! The light exfoliating action of this cloth seems to be successfully removing whatever it is that clogs up my pores before they have any visible impact. I’m very interested in seeing how it deals with my hormonal acne when that time of the month comes around and will update this post accordingly.

For those that use the Oil Cleansing Method (OCM), these cloths are apparently wonderful for removing final traces of oil. I really wish I had known this when I was using the OCM as it might have made quite a difference for me.

The cloth is also very gentle on my sensitive skin. You might think it would be very harsh if it’s exfoliating so thoroughly, but it’s actually very soft with a slight sticky grip that doesn’t pull at the skin.

These cloths can last several months with daily use, but I wouldn’t mind having to replace them more often due to the low cost. Do be careful not to wash/dry them with other fabrics though - they have a tendency to pick up lint and coloured ones will also run very easily. The best method of care is to simply soak them in water, squeeze the excess out and allow to dry naturally. If necessary, use a gentle detergent, but never apply fabric softener which will clog the fibres.

When I start getting low on cleanser, I’m going to try the water-only method and see if this is as effective. By all accounts, it may work even better, but I don’t want to waste the products I’ve already bought.

I would heartily recommend giving one of these amazing cloths a try. Like any product, they don’t work for everyone but they are so cheap it’s really worth a try. Don’t worry that all the marketing says they’re for cars and other hard surfaces - it’s not what they’re used on, but how they work that matters. Many companies offer microfibre cloths especially for the face and body, but they are essentially the same thing. The only difference is that you will pay considerably more.

I’d love to hear readers thoughts and experiences (positive and negative) so please pop a note in the comment box if you have anything to say. :)

5 Comments

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  By Clara, September 13, 2008 @ 12:41 am

  Good idea about the microfiber (American spelling :)) cloths. I’ve been using them around the house for a while now because they get all the dust, but it makes sense that they would get all the cleanser too.
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  By The Skincare Lady, October 10, 2008 @ 12:22 am

  This is a fabulous idea! Just curious, how often do you wash the cloths? When I used to do the oil cleansing method, I was told to use a new washcloth every couple of times since the cloths build up bacteria so easily. Is it any different with the microfiber?
• 

  By Becky, October 10, 2008 @ 2:13 am

  Hi Skincare Lady,

  I pop my cloth in the wash about once a week, but I also rinse it very thoroughly straight after each use.  This seems to prevent any build-up and involves very little effort. I may even be doing it too often lol.

  I’m not sure how often other people clean theirs, it’s not something I saw mentioned anywhere when I was researching. I suspect it ultimately depends on how often you wash with it and how much dirt and stuff it takes off. 

  I’d say experiment with it and if it looks like a lot of product/dirt/oil is accumulating on the cloth or it feels a bit slimey or smelly, wash it more often. If it’s clean, it will grip your face solidly (but gently).

  Hope this helps. :)
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  By Sharon Murphy, October 10, 2008 @ 1:10 pm

  Hi Becky, 
  I think that is it actually a great idea and a cheap and effective alternative to muslin cleansing cloths (which I am a great great fan of!)
  I always advise using a clean muslin cloth every day, but I know this isn’t always practical! The next best thing is rinsing them out in hot water and leaving to air dry as soon as they’ve been used.  I should think the microfibre cloths would be the same (although cheap enough to use a clean one daily ;))

  Sharon
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  By Becky, October 10, 2008 @ 2:41 pm

  Hi Sharon, thanks for posting your thoughts. :)

  A lovely feature of microfibre cloths is that they dry quickly, so if you do need to wash it often, you don’t have to worry about having spares on hand. I imagine muslin cloths dry quite quickly too being such a light fabric. 

  Funnily enough, I was planning on trying a muslin cloth, but I got sidetracked by the cheap pack of microfibre ones and I’m so happy with them that I don’t really want to try anything else. I know a lot of people love muslin though and I’m thrilled to hear you’ve found something that works well for you too. :)

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