E-Cloth vs. Regular Microfiber: What's the Difference?
If you have shopped for cleaning cloths lately, you have probably seen two words used almost interchangeably: microfiber and E-Cloth. They are related, but they are not the same thing. Here is what an E-Cloth actually is, how it compares with the regular microfiber cloths in most kitchen drawers, and how to wash it so it keeps working.
Already know you want an E-Cloth and just need to pick one? Our E-Cloth Guide: Which Cloth Cleans What? matches every E-Cloth we carry to the job it is built for.
What Is an E-Cloth?
E-Cloth is a brand of microfiber cleaning cloths designed to clean with water instead of sprays. The company makes a separate cloth for each surface type: screens, glass, stainless steel, granite and stone, kitchens and general dusting. Each one uses a fiber blend and weave chosen for that surface.
So an E-Cloth is microfiber. The difference is in how it is engineered and how it is meant to be used. E-Cloth says its cloths are designed to deliver "a streak-free, spotless clean with just water."
What Counts as Microfiber?
Microfiber is any synthetic fiber finer than about one denier, which is thinner than a strand of silk. Most cleaning microfiber is a blend of polyester and polyamide (nylon). The best cloths use split fibers: each strand is divided into wedge-shaped filaments during manufacturing. Those tiny edges and the gaps between them grab dust, oils and fingerprints and hold them in the cloth instead of pushing them around.
Cheap "microfiber" is often flat, unsplit fiber. It feels soft but behaves more like a cotton rag: it smears oils and needs a spray to do much. For a deeper look at fiber fineness, split versus flat fiber, and GSM, see our Cleaning Cloth Guide.
E-Cloth vs. Regular Microfiber: The Real Differences
| E-Cloth | Typical multipack microfiber | |
|---|---|---|
| Designed for | One surface type per cloth (glass, screens, stainless, stone, kitchen) | General purpose: one cloth for everything |
| Cleaning method | Water only, or dry, per E-Cloth's instructions | Usually paired with a spray or cleaner |
| Fiber quality | Split, dense fibers in a surface-specific weave | Varies widely; budget packs are often unsplit |
| Durability | Many E-Cloth products are backed by a "1-year or 100-wash promise" | Rarely guaranteed |
| Price | About $5–$20 per cloth, kit or multipack | Around $1 per cloth in a 12-pack |
The short version: a good split microfiber cloth and an E-Cloth work on the same principle. E-Cloth's advantage is that each cloth is tuned for one job and built to clean with water alone, which is why many people switch to it to cut down on sprays.
Does E-Cloth Really Work With Just Water?
For everyday grime, yes. Water loosens dirt and oils and the fibers pick them up. E-Cloth says its General Purpose Cloth uses "masses of precision-engineered microfibers" that trap grease, grime, fingerprints "and over 99% of bacteria using the cleaning power of water." It makes similar claims for its Stainless Steel, Granite & Stone, Glass & Polishing and Eye Glasses cloths.
Water-only cleaning is not a disinfectant. If you need to sanitize a surface (raw meat on a cutting board, a sick household), use an appropriate disinfectant and follow its label. E-Cloth is for routine cleaning.
When to Choose Which
- Screens, glasses and camera lenses: a dedicated screen or lens cloth. The E-Cloth Screen Cleaning Cloth and E-Cloth Eye Glasses Cloth are made for coated glass.
- Windows, mirrors and stainless steel: this is where water-only E-Cloths shine, because there is no cleaner residue left to streak. Try the Glass & Polishing Cloth or the Stainless Steel Kit.
- Granite and natural stone: stone can be etched by acidic sprays, so water-only cleaning is a safe default. See the Granite & Stone Kit.
- Garage, car detailing and messy jobs: an inexpensive multipack of quality microfiber is fine, because these cloths take the abuse and get replaced.
- Keyboards and shared devices: an antimicrobial cloth such as the SilverSure Antimicrobial Microfiber Cloths resists odor-causing bacteria in the cloth itself between washes.
How to Use an E-Cloth
- Decide wet or dry. Screen and eyeglass cloths are used dry or very lightly misted. Most others (general purpose, stainless, stone, windows) are dampened.
- Wet it, then wring it out well. The cloth should be damp, not dripping. Too much water leaves streaks.
- Wipe with firm, overlapping strokes. Let the fibers do the work. You do not need to scrub hard.
- Buff dry. On glass and stainless steel, finish with a dry Glass & Polishing Cloth to remove the last film of water.
- Rinse after use. Rinse in warm water and hang it to dry so dirt does not sit in the fibers.
How to Wash E-Cloth (and What Ruins It)
- Machine wash with a small amount of regular detergent.
- No fabric softener or dryer sheets. They coat the fibers and stop them from grabbing dirt. This is the most common way people "break" a microfiber cloth.
- No bleach. It weakens the fibers.
- Hang dry. Keep cloths away from lint-heavy laundry like cotton towels, because microfiber will pick up that lint.
The same rules apply to any good microfiber cloth, E-Cloth or not.
How Long Does an E-Cloth Last?
E-Cloth backs many of its products, including the General Purpose, Glass & Polishing, Granite & Stone, Stainless Steel and Eye Glasses cloths, with a "1-year or 100-wash promise." Cared for properly (no softener, no bleach), most cloths keep working well beyond their first year. When a cloth starts leaving streaks even after a clean wash, it is time to retire it to garage duty.
E-Cloth vs. Microfiber FAQ
Is E-Cloth just microfiber?
Yes. E-Cloth is a brand of microfiber cloth. What sets it apart is surface-specific design and a water-only cleaning method.
Is E-Cloth worth the higher price?
For glass, stainless steel, stone and screens, where streaks and chemical residue are the problem, many people find it worth it. For rough jobs, a quality microfiber multipack is the better value.
Can I use E-Cloth with cleaning spray?
You can, but you do not need to for routine cleaning, and sprays can leave residue that causes streaks. For a deep clean, use a small amount of mild cleaner, then rinse the cloth thoroughly.
Why is my microfiber cloth leaving streaks?
Usually one of three things: the cloth is too wet, it has fabric softener or detergent residue in it, or it is dirty. Wash it without softener, wring it out well, and buff with a dry cloth.
Ready to try water-only cleaning? Shop the full E-Cloth collection, or see the E-Cloth Guide to find the right cloth for each job.