If you have gone through the time, trouble and expense of acquiring a decent camera, the last thing you need is to buy replacement lenses or have your equipment suffer any damage due to dirt and debris. Unfortunately, you can’t just grab a roll of paper towels or your old t-shirt if you want to keep your camera in good working order.
With a high-quality microfiber camera-cleaning cloth like the MagicFiber Microfiber Cleaning Cloth in your gear bag, you can rest assured that you have the appropriate cleaning equipment at your disposal to keep your gear in working order.
What to know before you buy a camera cleaning cloth
Microfiber technology helps keep your camera clean and working
While you have undoubtedly heard the phrase “microfiber” being used to advertise everything from cleaning cloths to furniture, sheets to clothing and much more, you might not be familiar with exactly what microfiber technology has to offer. For those who are unfamiliar with microfibers, they consist of a blend of two artificial fabrics known as polyester and polyamide in a ratio of 70-30 or 80-20, respectively.
By combining these two materials, the end result is fibers that are hundreds of times smaller than the width of a human hair while also remaining both durable and incredibly lightweight. While cloths made out of microfiber are ideally suited for cleaning dirt and dust from virtually any surface when wet, you should ensure that the cloth is dry when cleaning delicate electronic equipment like cameras and smart TVs.
Are all microfiber cloths the same?
If you felt like searching for microfiber cleaning cloths on your favorite search engine or e-commerce site, you could undoubtedly find thousands of listings, but not all microfiber cloths are created equal. Given the relatively low cost of the synthetic materials involved, you shouldn’t expect to pay an exorbitant price for a decent microfiber cloth, but beware of price listings that seem too good to be true.
If you end up purchasing a microfiber cloth of inferior quality, you will likely end up with a cleaning cloth that either comes apart at the seams after a few washes or just doesn’t clean as well as you would reasonably expect. Thankfully for you, the assembled products have been chosen for their ability to thoroughly clean your camera equipment and last for years to come.
Camera cleaning cloth features
Microfiber cloth design features
As stated previously, just because microfiber cleaning cloths are made from similar materials does not necessarily mean that their performance will deliver equivalent results. By using a microfiber cleaning cloth with design features like fused edges and a sawtooth pattern, the manufacturer helps ensure that your cloth will help prevent any loose threads or fraying around the edges.
Microfiber cloths are great for cleaning delicate electronics
Microfiber cleaning cloths are ideal for cleaning delicate electronic equipment like cameras, LCD screens and smartphones due to their ability to remove over 99 percent of grease, dirt and dust without needing the assistance of any kind of chemical cleaning product. In fact, the vast majority of stains and dirt can be removed via the microfiber cloth and a little bit of water, unless otherwise indicated by the cleaning instructions for a given device.
Washing microfiber cloths
Let’s face it, almost everyone likes to get the most value for money when it comes to making a purchase, especially when the item in question isn’t very expensive in the first place. A high-quality microfiber camera cleaning cloth that has been made with premium materials and exceptional manufacturing methods will last for years to come and survive hundreds and hundreds of washes before needing to be replaced.
Camera cleaning cloth cost
While microfiber camera-cleaning cloths themselves only cost between $5-$10 per pack, a full camera-cleaning kit can cost anywhere from $20-$40, and sometimes more.
Camera cleaning cloth FAQ
What else can I clean with my microfiber camera-cleaning cloth?
A. These cloths are capable of cleaning grease, fingerprints, dust, dirt, stains, bacteria, germs, fine particulates and more and excel at cleaning not only delicate electronics, but also your stove, tabletop or even your windows.
How should I wash my microfiber camera-cleaning cloth?
A. Unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer, you should either hand wash or use your washing machine’s gentle cycle with warm soapy water and allow the cloth to fully air dry before using it again.
Which camera cleaning cloth should I get?
Best of the best camera cleaning cloth
MagicFiber Microfiber Cleaning Cloths: available at Amazon
Our take: A great set of microfiber camera-cleaning cloths that offer years of use.
What we like: Safe to use on virtually any kind of surface and will clean any dirt or mess without leaving streaks or other remnants.
What we dislike: Some customers have complained about tiny scratches left on VR headset lenses and report the cloth leaving black water.
Best bang for your buck camera cleaning cloth
Nikon Lens Pen Pro Kit: available at Amazon
Our take: An excellent bare-bones camera cleaning kit with included microfiber cloths.
What we like: Includes both a microfiber camera-cleaning cloth and anti-fog cloth, a pair of lens pens for spot cleaning and a zippered belt pouch.
What we dislike: Customers report that the box states that this kit is “not recommended for high-quality lenses,” so keep that in mind.
Honorable mention camera cleaning cloth
Altura Photo Professional Cleaning Kit: available at Amazon
Our take: A more expensive option for those who obsess over every minor stain and blemish.
What we like: Offers 24-millimeter dry sensor swab, cleaning fluid, lens-cleaning pen and brush, air camera blower, 50 sheets of lens paper and two microfiber camera-cleaning cloths.
What we dislike: Some users have reported the swabs causing scratches and the cleaning fluid staining their lenses.
Daniel Martin is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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