Common Fabrics Used to Make Cloths

The performance of any cloth starts with the fabric it is made from. This page sets out the fabrics most commonly used in household and workplace cloths, along with their general strengths and limitations.

Cotton

Cotton is one of the oldest and most widely used materials for cloths. It is a natural fibre that absorbs liquid readily, which makes it well suited to kitchen cloths, dish towels and general wiping cloths. Cotton can usually be washed at higher temperatures, which helps with hygiene, and it tends to soften with repeated washing rather than becoming brittle. Its main drawback is that it can leave some lint behind on very smooth or glossy surfaces, and it takes longer to dry than some synthetic alternatives.

Terry towelling

Terry towelling is a looped cotton weave, the same type of fabric used for bath towels. The loops increase surface area considerably, giving terry cloths strong absorbency. This makes them popular for kitchen and bathroom use where soaking up liquid quickly matters. Terry cloths are durable under regular washing but can wear thin at the loops over time with heavy use.

Microfibre

Microfibre is a synthetic fabric, usually made from very fine polyester and polyamide fibres woven together. The fineness of the fibres creates a huge amount of surface area relative to the cloth's size, which allows microfibre to trap dust, oil and fine debris effectively, often with little or no cleaning product needed. Microfibre cloths are commonly used for dusting, glass and screen cleaning, and general surface wiping where a streak-free finish is wanted. They dry quickly and are generally durable, though they can lose some effectiveness if washed with fabric softener, which coats the fibres and reduces their ability to attract dust and oil.

Linen

Linen is made from the fibres of the flax plant and has a longer history of household use than cotton in many regions. It is strong, absorbent and tends to dry faster than cotton of a similar weight. Linen cloths are often used for drying glassware and dishes because they tend to leave less lint than cotton. The fabric can feel stiffer initially but softens with use and washing.

Bamboo and other plant-based fibres

Cloths made from bamboo-derived fibres have become more common. These fabrics are generally soft, absorbent and quick drying, with a texture that sits somewhere between cotton and microfibre. As with any fabric, the exact performance depends on how the fibre has been processed and woven, so cloths marketed as bamboo can vary noticeably between manufacturers.

Blended fabrics

Many cloths combine two or more fibres to balance different properties. A cotton and polyester blend, for example, may aim to combine the absorbency of cotton with the faster drying and durability of synthetic fibre. Blends are common in general-purpose cleaning cloths and kitchen cloths where no single property needs to be maximised but an all-round balance is useful.

Non-woven cloths

Some cloths, particularly those intended for single or limited use, are non-woven, meaning the fibres are bonded together mechanically or chemically rather than woven or knitted. These cloths are often used in workshops, for solvent-based cleaning, or in situations where a cloth may need to be discarded after use rather than washed and reused.

Choosing based on fabric

When selecting a cloth, it helps to think first about the task, then match the fabric to it. Absorbency points toward cotton or terry towelling, a streak-free finish points toward microfibre or linen, and durability for rough workshop use points toward heavier woven cotton or non-woven industrial cloths. Reading the care label or product description, where available, is the most reliable way to confirm what a specific cloth is made from and how it is intended to be used.