How Hygienic Is Microfibre?

 

Understanding the Effectiveness of Microfibre Cleaning with a Leading Infection Control Practitioner.

 

Filed under
Infection Control
 
April 19, 2023
 
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How Hygienic Is Microfibre?
 

Microfiber is a textile made from ultrafine synthetic yarns, usually polyester and nylon. Microfiber cleaning cloths and mops work well for removing organic matter (dirt, oils, grease) as well as germs from surfaces. Microfiber’s cleaning ability is the result of two simple things: more surface area and a positive charge.

What is microfiber?

*Microfiber is a synthetic material. Microfiber used for cleaning is called split microfiber. When microfibers are split, they are 200 times thinner than a single human hair. These split microfibers become much more absorbent. They can remove large quantities of microbes, including hard-to-kill spores.

*Split microfiber quality varies. Microfiber that catches slightly on the surface of your hand is better quality. Another way to tell is to push a water spill with it. If the microfiber pushes the water instead of absorbing it, then it’s not split.

*A microfiber cloth has the same surface area as a cotton cloth four times as large! And it is very absorbent. It can absorb seven times its weight in water!

*Microfiber products are also positively charged, meaning they attract negatively charged dirt and grease. These characteristics of microfiber allow you to clean surfaces without chemicals.

*A study of microfiber mop usage in hospitals showed that a microfiber mop head used with a detergent cleaner removed bacteria as effectively as a cotton mop head used with a disinfectant.

*Another advantage of microfiber is that, unlike cotton, it dries fast, making it hard for bacteria to grow in it.

*A laundering program is necessary if microfiber is used. This can include washing mops and cloths by hand, by machine, or using a laundering service. Laundering will help prevent the spread of germs from one surface to another (called cross-contamination).

Microfiber cloths are like magnets for dust, dirt and tiny particles, which is great because that's what they're for. Not only are microfiber cloths more hygienic, they avoid the need for harmful detergents and they get things looking much cleaner in a lot less time.Microfiber dries faster, which means less opportunity for bacteria and odors to harbor within it, versus cotton. Microfiber requires less water usage to clean because it picks up more particles and dirt.

A previous study of microfiber mop usage in hospitals showed that a microfiber mop head used with a detergent cleaner removed bacteria as effectively as a cotton mop head used with a disinfectant. Another advantage of microfiber is that, unlike cotton, it dries fast, making it hard for bacteria to grow in it.

Does microfiber cleaning really work?

You heard it here, with just water, microfiber products can effectively take care of most of your household cleaning tasks! Why, you might ask? Well, in case you don’t remember from your science class, water is referred to as the universal solvent! This means that water dissolves more chemicals than any other solvent. It’s why things like food, dirt, and debris all dissolve in water, like when you let your dirty dishes soak in the sink. Water is also buoyant, meaning dirt and debris will be suspended within it.

Once water has done its job of pre-treating your surface, microfiber comes in and does the rest! So why use microfiber over any other type of cloth?

More fibers equals more cleaners

Microfiber is extremely small, 1/100th the diameter of a human hair to be exact. This means that there are millions of tiny fibers that work together to pick up dirt and absorb spills.

Removes germs & bacteria

Does cleaning with water and microfiber remove bacteria? Well, since microfiber is so tiny, they’re small enough to remove many harmful germs and bacteria. This makes other tasks such as picking up common household dust an easy task! Plus if you have a high quality towel, the microfiber will be split. This means it has even more space to trap bacteria in the fibers.

Using microfiber and water is no substitute for disinfecting.

Dust magnet 

Positively charged microfiber clings to dust and dirt, which have a natural negative charge.

More absorbent! Microfiber has been tested to hold up to 7 times its weight in water, so you’ll get more done with just one towel or mop pad. We’ve explained what makes microfiber great in even more detail how microfiber works.

4 BENEFITS OF CLEANING WITH JUST USING MICROFIBER & WATER

Remove more dirt than cotton cloths

Did you know microfiber and water can actually get you a cleaner finish than using cotton and cleaning agents. Unlike cotton, which are larger and have a flat surface, microfibers are smaller and have a split surface. This split surface makes microfiber a great scrubber. It traps the dirt within its fibers instead of smearing it around.

Polishing your stainless steel 

Microfiber cloths used with warm water is a great way to shine your stainless steel appliances. Simply take a damp microfiber cloth and wipe away grime and smears. Once clean, you can take a dry microfiber cloth to buff the surface, and you’re done! Run your microfiber cloth in the direction of the stainless steel polish lines, this way you won’t leave behind any marks from the minerals in the water as you clean.

Get a streak-free finish on glass 

Here’s an easy way to get streak free mirrors and windows, no windex needed! Dampen an all-purpose microfiber cloth with water. This will loosen and remove most of the gunk on your mirror. Then use a microfiber glass cloth to dry and remove the remaining debris. This towel has a flat weave, which acts like a squeegee on your mirror preventing streaks from forming. Cleaning mirrors with water and microfiber is a natural and healthy way to get the job done!

Save money, save time

By cleaning with microfiber and water you’ll spend much less on cleaning agents. In fact, by choosing to clean with only water, you can preserve your towels for much longer before you need to replace them. Plus, using just microfiber and water to clean up around your home is easy. Instead of trying to find the right chemical cleaner and giving it proper dwelling time on your counters, just grab your microfiber cloth, run it under warm water, and quickly wipe down surfaces.

About the author

Mr. Jibi T is the former senior preventionist and specialist of infection control and lead of RRT @ MOH, Saudi Arabia.