These days, no matter how specialist the place you are cleaning might be, there are still many cleaning products and cleaning cloths to choose from. Since the early 2000s, microfibre cloths have become increasingly popular for cleaning due to the fact they are durable, reusable and can even be washed. Microfibre is now even used to make some sports clothing, and also for towels as it dries quickly. So what makes microfibre different? And is it the best way to clean?
How is microfibre different?
Microfibres are synthetic materials made from a mixture of polyester and polyamide. They work well through a combination of factors, including their chemical makeup, structure, surface area and electrode charge.
Most j-cloths are made from polymers that bind well with water, so they’re good for washing up, but they don’t bind to fatty substances. The polymers in microfiber are split, so that they are long and extra thin and can bind to fatty molecules.
The microfibres are separated from a thicker arrangement by high pressure water, resulting in fibres that are 200 times thinner than a strand of human hair. The result of weaving the fibres means miniscule pores are left inside each strand. The makes an asterisk type structure which can trap dirt and suck up water.
Another reason that dirt is drawn into a microfibre cloth is that it is positively charged. Dirt and dust particles are negatively charged, so dirt is literally attracted by the cloth which then holds on to the particles even if you wave it around.
A study at the University of California’s Davis Medical Centre showed that a cotton mop with water and detergent removed 30% of germs on a hospital floor, whereas the same process with a microfibre mop removed 99% of bacteria, including hard-to-kill bugs such as E. coli.
Microfibre vs. Cotton cleaning tools
| Cotton | Microfibre |
| Highly absorbent of water-based mess | Water isn’t absorbed too easily |
| Only smears grease, but does not remove it | Fatty stains and dirt bind to the fibre |
| Can be washed, but some stains remain | Washes good as new |
| Dries slowly due to molecular structure | Dries fast due to open porous structure |
| Has a neutral charge and therefore pushes dust around, rather than catching it | Can attract dust like a magnet as they have opposite electronic charges |
| Gets saturated very easily | Can absorb up to 7 times its own weight |
| Detergents are necessary to clean most dirt | Detergent isn’t necessary as the fibres “grab” the dirt particles |
Video Demonstration of Cotton vs. Microfibre
So whatever you’re cleaning, microfibre cloths and porous cleaning cloths may be the answer to removing stubborn stains, and achieving effortless cleaning. Porous polyester cloths can be used dry to clean mirrors, glass and shelves, or used wet to remove dirt and stains. It will save money on detergent, time on drying and also effort because surfaces should stay cleaner for longer.
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