Microfibre cleaning technology is gaining the momentum in the Middle East region as it has turned out to be an ideal solution to escalating cleaning costs and environment problem. For instance, the microfibre mop not only sans usage of chemicals, but also drastically reduces water consumption. And what else? it would also reduce the cost of cleaning as a microfibre mop is available at Dh30 approximately as against the normal mop’s price of Dh7. However, microfibre mop lasts longer when compared with normal mop giving much more cost advantage. Above all these advantages, the micro fibre cleaning technology is an effective removal of microbial to a great extent.

What’s microfibre

Microfibre is a thin fabric or polyester less than one decigram weight and 20 to 200 times thinner than human hair. Knitted microfibers together to make a mop would create an extremely effective cleaning material. It performs mechanical action to make cleaning tasks much more effective as it works on Capillary force. The absorbing capacity of microfiber is up to seven times of its weight in matter. Used dry the static effect created enhances the microfiber’s ability to attract dirt and dust particles. As you lightly wipe the surface, the microfiber attracts and draws up even the smallest particles of dust, trapping them in the fibres. Used wet the microfibers work together to give an excellent cleaning effect. Wet, wring and wipe away dirt and debris from all washable surfaces.

Manufacturing companies from the West have turned keen on microfiber products to get a major chunk of the AED100-bn cleaning market in the region. Of late, health care facilities have also started using a microfiber mopping technique rather than a conventional cotton string mop to clean floors.

Cost Effective

Many companies including cleaning service providers and customers, have carried out a study to find out the net effect of using microfibre products. Companies such as CleanCo, Trent International to name a few, have expressed satisfaction over the microfibre cleaning technologies. In addition to cost saving, the microfiber system would also decrease cleaning time by 75 per cent or more. It’s estimated that an average household spends $400-$800 a year on chemical cleaning products in the Western countries, whereas it’s in the range of AED 1,000 to 2,500 per annum in the UAE. The latest findings reveal that microfiber cleaning system results in a total saving of over 95 per cent.

Anti-bacterial agent

The usage of microfiber mops to reduce microbial levels on floors has also been proved to be more effective. Further, it was observed in the study that the microfibre cleaning is an effective bacteria remover. E.g. The ClaraClean microfiber product range from the European manufacturer AVET has been proven to eradicate bacteria by 98.9 per cent without the aid of chemical cleansers. The study had compared the efficacy of microfiber mops with that of conventional, cotton string mops in three test conditions (cotton mop and standard wringer bucket, microfiber mop and standard wringer bucket, microfiber system). Twenty-four rooms were evaluated for each test condition. RODAC plates containing D/E Neutralizing Agar were used to assess ‘pre-cleaning’ and ‘post-cleaning’ microbial levels.

When compared with normal cotton mops, the microfiber mops performed superior cleaning and removal of microbial as well. This is much more superior than cotton mops with detergent cleaning solutions. The ratio of microfibres and cotton mops in cleaning is 90:60 in effective cleaning. Using microfiber with disinfectant would give much more results of bacteria removal to 95 per cent, according to the industry experts.

The microfiber system demonstrated superior microbial removal compared with cotton string mops when used with a detergent cleaner. The use of a disinfectant did not improve the microbial elimination demonstrated by the microfiber system.

Water Consumption

CleanCo, a UAE-based general cleaning contractor, has started using microfiber mops from the European manufacturer Avet for its customers. The company’s major clients include government, oil companies, hospitals, aviation, industrial cleaning, universities, etc. CleanCo operations cover 20,000 sqm space. It takes 26 days of moping three times a day for CleanCo cleaning this space, for which water consumption of 160,000 gallons is required.

The immediate effect with the usage of the Avet product is steep drop in water consumption as there’s no usage of buckets. Earlier, every cleaner had to carry two buckets with him one for fresh water and another for dirty water. Using the Avet mops itself is enough to clean the floor as it requires no water or any bucket to carry the dirty water after the cleaning.

“CleanCo is using the product at two central laundries at Sonapur and Jebel Ali. It’s also widely used in all internal areas of the commercial areas. The product reduces water consumption significantly. Hence, we’re saving thousands of litres of water every month. Each cycle 7-9 litres of water is consumed at a given space. On an average, we’re saving over 60 per cent of water because of the Avet product. The product is beneficial to both the cleaning contractor and the customer as well,” said CleanCo Purchasing and Logistics Manager Muhammad Belal.

CleanCo operations cover 20,000 sqm space is cleaned in 26 days moping three times a day. This consumes 160,000 gallons of water per annum. It’s estimated that the use of microfiber products resulting in a saving of Dh15,000 per year on water alone.

“The water consumption on cleaning activity at Dafza came down significantly from 300,000 litres per annum to 10,000 litres. It reduced the water consumption from 2,000 litres to 600 litres. Cost benefit is immediately for the customers. For us, it will take two years to get total cost benefit out of it,” CleanCo Operations Director Bawa S said.

It’s Green as well

The usage of microfiber mops and other cleaning products is aiding the Green drive taken up in the Middle East region. The Gulf nations are giving utmost priority to environment-friendly applications in the cleaning sector. France-based Decitex SAS has launched its new ‘Green’ products the Middle East’s cleaning sector. The company manufactures micro fibres cleaning products that reduce the water consumption and chemicals during the cleaning operation.

Decitex is launching new products in the Middle East region. The company is promoting its new products fluid handle, micro fibre mop, etc. Micro fibre mop absorbs half a litre of liquid or liquid mud on the floor in each stretch. “The technology of this product is pending for patent approval. We have tied up with Dubai-based Viking Gulf for distributing our products here,” said Nils Riancho, Director General and CEO, Decitex.

The microfiber mops are effective in cleaning vehicles as well. Cleaning a car is water consuming task as it requires 40 to 100 litres of water for an average wash. However, the new technology makes use of a polymer-based eco-friendly solution that is sprayed on the car and wiped using microfibre towels for sparkling results. A cleaning kit consisting of two towels and 500ml of the concentrate costs only AED 35-50 and gives 25 washes. In this very healthy and growing market, overseas and local companies equally prefer ‘Green’ products in which microfiber technology is poised to play a vital role in the days to come.

Trent International

Microfiber products will soon replace existing traditional cotton mops in the near future, anticipates Raghu Menon, Director at Trent International General Trading LLC. According to him, the usage of microfiber in several applications is creating more demand for the products. Trent International is a UAE-based major distributor promoting CAPPAH Brand. The company has been promoting the microfiber cloths in the UAE.

Menon said: “The demand for microfiber products has dramatically increased in the last few years and slowly replacing the non-microfiber segments. The prime factors leading to the increased demand for these products is due to the multifunctional aspect of microfiber cloths. The demand for microfiber cloths is mainly from facility management companies, hotel industry and cleaning companies.”

Trent International is distributing different range of microfibre products such as Kentucky mops in microfiber cloth, microfiber economy cloth, microfiber woven cloth and microfiber micro speed cloth. All these products are for different applications and widely accepted in different sectors.

“Microfiber cloths are light weight daily usage cleaning cloth for numerous applications. It cleans greasy and sticky surfaces with efficiency. Microfiber woven cloth is good for both dry and wet surfaces. Products like micro speed cloth are best for daily cleaning of kitchens, offices and shops. It removes sticky contamination along with dust. Eco friendly easy to wash long life cloth,” adds Menon.