My honest verdict is simple: the EnviroCloth® is still the Norwex product I recommend first when someone wants one versatile reusable cleaning cloth. It handles a remarkable amount of everyday cleaning with water, but it is not magic, it is not a disinfectant and it is not the right tool for every surface or every kind of buildup.
I have used and taught Norwex since 2008. What keeps the EnviroCloth at the top of my list is not a dramatic promise. It is the number of ordinary jobs I can do with one well-wrung cloth: counters, tables, sinks, cabinet fronts, many bathroom surfaces and the everyday messes that otherwise tempt us to reach for a spray and paper towel.
If you are new to Norwex, I would rather teach you to use one EnviroCloth correctly than sell you a basket of specialty products you do not yet understand.
What the EnviroCloth is
The EnviroCloth is Norwex’s general-purpose microfiber cleaning cloth. It measures approximately 13.78 inches square and is designed to be used damp for routine cleaning or dry for dusting. Its densely woven microfiber is approximately 1/200th the width of a human hair.
That fine fiber structure creates a large working surface that lifts and holds soil instead of relying on a cleaner to dissolve every mess. Several current colors are made with 70% recycled microfiber yarn, and the product is STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® certified.
What it cleans especially well
The EnviroCloth is strongest on ordinary surface soil. These are the jobs where I reach for it first:
• Kitchen counters appliance exteriors cabinet fronts tables and everyday spills on compatible hard surfaces
• Bathroom sinks taps tubs counters and toilet exteriors
• Fingerprints light grease crumbs dust and general household soil
• Walls doors switch plates baseboards toys tools vehicle interiors and outdoor furniture when the material can be safely cleaned with water
• Loose dust when the cloth is used dry
I like the EnviroCloth because it reduces the number of routine products I need within reach. That does not mean I never use a cleaner. It means I start with the simplest tool that can actually solve the problem.
What the 99 percent claim actually means
Norwex’s qualified performance claim is that densely woven superfine Norwex Microfiber can physically remove up to 99% of bacteria from a surface using water alone when proper care and use instructions are followed.
The important word is remove. The microfiber lifts and carries material away from the surface. This is a cleaning result, not a claim that the EnviroCloth disinfects or kills every microorganism. When a situation calls for disinfection, use a disinfectant appropriate for the surface and follow its label.
For the complete distinction between microfiber cleaning and BacLock® product protection, read Does Norwex BacLock Actually Remove 99% of Bacteria? .
What BacLock adds
BacLock is a separate product-protection feature. It inhibits the growth of odor-causing bacteria, mold and mildew within the product. The practical benefit is odor control within the cloth so it stays fresher between uses.
BacLock is not what cleans the counter, does not protect people from disease-causing pathogens and does not eliminate normal rinsing, drying and laundering.
How to use the EnviroCloth correctly
• Wet the cloth with water and wring it out well. It should be damp rather than dripping.
• Fold the cloth into quarters to create several clean working surfaces.
• Keep the folded cloth flat against the surface instead of bunching it in your hand.
• Rotate to a clean side as each section picks up soil.
• Rinse during the job when the cloth becomes heavily soiled and continue with a clean working side.
• After use rinse thoroughly and dry the cloth completely or place it with the next appropriate lint-free laundry load.
Using it dry for dust
For loose dust, use the EnviroCloth dry. The cloth’s static charge helps lift and hold small particles instead of sending them back into the air. Fold it, work with a flat side and move to a clean section as it loads with dust.
Windows mirrors and shiny surfaces
For glass, mirrors and other shiny surfaces, I use a damp EnviroCloth to remove soil and then finish with a dry Window Cloth for a clear polished result. I prefer giving each cloth one job rather than expecting the EnviroCloth to clean and polish perfectly by itself.
Read my Norwex Window Cloth review for the complete two-cloth method.
When water and microfiber are not enough
Mineral scale, heavy soap buildup, burned-on food, stubborn stains and jobs requiring disinfection may need another product or tool. The EnviroCloth is not a universal replacement for every cleaner. Matching the tool to the soil is part of cleaning well.
I also do not present an EnviroCloth as a mold-remediation tool. It can wipe ordinary visible soil from a compatible surface, but recurring mold or moisture needs the source addressed and an appropriate material-specific cleaning or remediation plan.
Surface and fabric cautions
• Test first on an inconspicuous area of easily scratched surfaces such as brushed stainless steel.
• Do not use ordinary Norwex microfiber on anti-glare surfaces unless the specific Norwex product is intended for that use.
• Check the manufacturer’s care directions before using microfiber on specialty coatings finishes natural stone leather upholstery or carpet.
• For water-safe carpet or upholstery spots use a damp rather than saturated cloth and test first. Do not assume every fabric is water-safe.
How to care for the EnviroCloth
Good care protects the cleaning performance. Machine washing and drying are recommended before the first use. After lighter cleaning, wash the cloth under warm running water with a small amount of Norwex Dish Soap when needed, rinse thoroughly and hang it open to dry or dry it completely in the dryer. After extra-dirty kitchen or bathroom tasks, machine washing is the better choice.
• Wash with other lint-free laundry.
• Use a Norwex laundry detergent for best results.
• Dry the cloth completely.
• Do not use bleach fabric softener or dryer sheets because they can coat or damage the fibers and reduce cleaning performance.
See the complete Norwex microfiber care and use instructions for additional laundering and surface guidance.
Is the EnviroCloth worth it
For me, yes. It is the Norwex cloth I use most often and the one I recommend first because it is versatile, reusable and genuinely useful for everyday cleaning. Its value comes from learning one cloth well and using it in place of disposable paper towels and separate products for many routine jobs.
It may not be the right purchase if you already own high-quality microfiber that handles the same jobs well, if you want a disinfectant rather than a cleaning cloth or if you prefer to avoid synthetic textiles. If your budget allows only one Norwex microfiber cloth, this is the one I would choose.
Where to begin
You can shop the EnviroCloth through my Norwex store . If you also want a Window Cloth for glass and polished surfaces, the Basic Package is the combination I recommend most often to new customers.
For help choosing and using the right microfiber throughout your home, start with The Ultimate Guide to Norwex Microfiber .
Frequently asked questions
Does the EnviroCloth disinfect
No. It is a cleaning cloth. The qualified claim is physical removal of up to 99% of bacteria from a surface using water when proper care and use instructions are followed.
Can I use it on every surface
No. Test easily scratched surfaces first, do not use ordinary microfiber on anti-glare surfaces and follow the manufacturer care directions for specialty finishes and coatings.
Do I need a cleaner with it
For many routine cleaning jobs, water is enough. Mineral buildup, heavy residue, burned-on food, stubborn stains and disinfection needs may require another product.
Can I use it on carpet or upholstery
Sometimes, for a small spot on material that can safely be cleaned with water. Check the care label, test a hidden area and use the cloth damp rather than saturated. Do not assume the EnviroCloth is appropriate for leather, suede, dry-clean-only fabrics or specialty coatings.
Does BacLock sanitize the cloth
No. BacLock inhibits the growth of odor-causing bacteria, mold and mildew within the product. The cloth still needs to be rinsed, dried completely and laundered when the job or condition of the cloth calls for it.
What should a beginner buy with it
I most often pair the EnviroCloth with a Window Cloth. The EnviroCloth handles routine soil and the Window Cloth finishes glass, mirrors and shiny surfaces.
How does the body and face cloths get your whole body clean without and body wash or soap of any kind? I just don’t feel clean without using one or the other. How can one cloth clean your whole body? Can I use soap or body wash on my cloths without damage them ? Because my skin is getting so dry just by using water and cloth along.
You can use soap or body wash if you like. The cloths will wear down a little faster if you use them with soap, but they will still last years.
Do the Norwex clothes kill the covid-19 virus?
No; Norwex has not done any testing with regard to viruses in general or COVID-19 specifically. I recommend following CDC guildines during this pandemic. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Tell me how to buy these cloths, please!
Hi Susan, you can purchase them here or here (a 4 pack at a discounted price)!
I have had my cleaning clothes for about 4 years, and there still going strong, they have been through everything and back, I have cleaned just about everything you can image, I can pickup the rags and find myself cleaning everything, and even cleaning other people’s windows, they think I am crazy, but I’m very pleased with the product
Jamie, your review of the Norwex Enviro Cloth TOTALLY made my day! Thank you for sharing!!!
I have a question. How many times is the Norwex microfiber split? There seems to be some confusion about “1/200th the size of a human hair” and the number of times a fiber is split. I keep reading that the fiber is split 200 times, and was just wondering if that is actually factual.
Tamara, the official answer from Norwex, is that the Norwex Microfiber is no thicker than 1/200th the size of a human hair. Does this help?
A friend of mine encouraged me to use your product. She ordered 2 cloths for me, and am a little confused about to how to use them. The girl she ordered them for sent me 2 purple cloth. Is one for for washing windows and mirrors (wet) and the other is suppose to be kept dry for polishing? There is nothing on the cloths that says one is a Window cloth, and the other a Enviro cloth. Thanks for your help.
Debbie, it sounds like you’ve received two window cloths, as only the polishing cloths come in purple. To clean a window, mirror or glasstop surface, you would need an enviro cloth, that you would use wet to wipe the surface, and then polish dry with your dry purple cloth.
Does the purple cloth ever become over used.? I loved it at first then I began seeing streaks in my windows. I have been watching several Norwex vides on washing windows. I am going out to try again. Possibly I was not holding my cloth properly.
Diane, do you wash your polishing cloth sometimes? I tend to throw mine in the wash after a few uses, or if I’ve used it to polish windows that had been really dirty (like washing the outside ones). I don’t hold or fold mine in any particular way. I’d recommend washing it and throwing it in the dryer to see if that helps!
We just bought a new kitchen table 1 week ago and I have been using the gray microfiber envirocloth to clean it and every time I use it there seems to be more and more scratches that are appearing. Any suggestions?
I should say it is the graphite Kitchen cloth. I turned my table around and started to wipe the other end with a normal cotton dish rag and so far there have been no scratches. Too scared to try the norwex cloth again.
Paula, I’ve never heard of the Norwex cloths scratching the finish of a kitchen table… I’m not quite sure what to say about that. Does anyone else have a suggestion?
I spilled a milkshake on my microfiber sofa and then tried the alcohol, sponge, and scrub brush, but I’ve had no luck. I tried using a store bought foam with a scrubbing head and I think It may have made it work. When you use the enviro-cloth and water, do you apply the water to the stain or to the cloth? Does it leave a water mark?
Alycia, for food stains on upholstery, you would get the Norwex Enviro Cloth wet, wring it out, and then rub the stained spot. If that doesn’t work, you should try the Norwex Carpet Stain Buster (my review of the product)… it’s amazing for stains on microfiber couches… I know because I’ve used it countless times on mine! Simply spray the stained spot, let it sit for 5-10 minutes, and then gently rub the spot with your Enviro Cloth. If the stain isn’t completely removed, just repeat the application.
I am trying to convince my husband that Norwex is great. His only problem is this….
After cleaning the chicken covered surface, then rinsing the cloth in the sink, he says you still have to disinfect the sink, because the bacteria/protein, is now in the sink and the drain. How will this area get clean?
I am having a home party soon, and hope to have an answer soon.
Thank you ,
Katherine
Katherine, I am SO sorry for my late response… my other full time job (aka ‘mom’), has taken over for the last couple months! Typically when I’m cleaning up raw chicken mess, or anything else in my kitchen that could make my family sick, I slosh a little white vinegar in the sink and let it sit for a while, after rinsing out my Norwex Enviro Cloth. This is an easy and ‘green’ solution!
When the cloth is fully open, is there a right side or wrong side to use for cleaning?
There is no wrong side with the Norwex cloths – both can be used for cleaning!
Can you use oxygen bleach? peroxide cleaner to soak the stinky cloths.. or would you boil them instead?
Brenda, sorry for my late response! I had to check with the Norwex technical advisors regarding your question. Here is their answer:
When laundering cloths can bleach be used?
Thank you for you reply.
Gail, no, bleach can not be used when washing the Norwex microfiber cloths. Bleach degrades the fibers, and will quickly render them ineffective in doing what they’re supposed to.
Is this cloth safe for high polished granite?
Yes, the Norwex Enviro microfiber cloth is WONDERFUL for high polished granite – it cleans off everything… sticky fingerprints, grease, etc. I would highly recommend getting the Window Cloth as well. You would wash with the Enviro Cloth and then use the Window cloth to polish and “de-streak” your granite. You can purchase them together at a slight discount – it’s called the Norwex Basic Package.
Can you tell me how do I buy one of these to try out ?
Hi Jo, you can purchase them here or here (a 4 pack at a discounted price)!
Do you usually wet the cloth first, unless dusting? Then how often do you launder, after every deep clean? or will rinsing get the stuff out?
Yes, unless you’re dusting, the Enviro Cloth needs to be wet/damp for cleaning. I generally launder my cloths after every deep clean. If I’m just using it to wipe the bathroom counter and sink, I will often use it a few days in a row, and just hang it to dry in between the jobs. If you’re going to use the cloth multiple times before laundering, it’s important to rinse it out really well under warm running water (or wash it by hand with a little dish soap), and then hang it to dry so that the silver in the cloth can do it’s work of self sanitizing.
What color cloths for what job?
I get mixed up which cloths to use for what job..I do the blue for washing my windows and lavender to polish. I have the yellow, green and coral cloths also so whats the best uses for them? Love my windows!!
Hi Sheree! The different colored cloths can really be used wherever you would like, but yes, it’s nice to have different jobs color coded for peace of mind.
To refresh my Norwex cloths & the facecloths, do I boil for 10 or 20 minutes? Thankyou, Laura
Norwex does not recommend boiling any of their microfiber cloths. Instead you can deep cleaning your cloths using 1 of 2 methods:
1. Soak them in the Norwex Microfiber Cleaner Laundry Booster – it’s an enzyme-based microfiber wash detergent that removes tough stains and odors – it’s one of my favorite products!
2. Soak you Norwex cloths using 1 full scoop of Norwex Laundry Detergent in a sink of hot water.
Either of these methods will refresh your cloths!