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Are Microfiber Cloths Eco-Friendly?
What do you think of microfiber cloths? What exactly are they?
With some caveats—the fibers are not natural, and stick with high quality microfiber because not all microfiber cloths are created equal—I think they are great. And the color coding is fun, helpful and brings some sense to one's cleaning closet!
Microfiber cloths are eco-friendly because they reduce water usage (both while cleaning and in avoided laundry loads), the use of cleaning products and the use of paper towels or other disposables, and they thoroughly remove dust, allergens, and bacteria. They also have a very long life span if you buy a high quality microfiber. The microfibers I use are durable (2,000 wear cycles), have a high "scrub" factor (#36 abrasiveness), can last for 1,000 wash cycles, and have a 14,000 ml/m absorbency. A thousand wash cycles is a lot of cleaning, over a lot of years! They certainly last a lot longer than traditional rags and mops; one study found a microfiber mop to have a lifespan 10 times that of a traditional mop!
Here's how microfibers work: They are a blend of microscopic polyester and polyamide (nylon) fibers that are split during manufacturing to create microscopic "hooks" which act as claws that scrape up and hold dust, dirt and grime. They are 1/16 the thickness of a human hair and can hold six times their weight in water! Importantly, the fibers have a positive charge. They attract dust, which has a negative charge and hold them in their network of fibers.
What makes microfiber clothes NOT ecofriendly is that the fibers used are polyester and nylon (polyamide), which are made from petroleum; a non-renewable and non-biodegradable resource. (However, the size of the cloths is not that large and, as mentioned, you might only need to buy a few in your lifetime.) Nylon and polyester are made from petrochemicals, whose production creates nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas that's 310 times more potent than carbon dioxide. And there is evidence to suggest that the production of polyester and nylon can be toxic and hormone-disrupting to textile workers. It is unclear if the fabric used in microfiber clothes would be large enough to have toxic effects on the end user.
I love the microfiber color code system. Using different colors prevents cross contamination, and quickly identifies use for different surface areas. There are usually four colors: green, blue, yellow and pink. You decide which color to use where. Blue for the bathroom, green for the living room, yellow for the kitchen, pink for the kid's rooms?
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add your comment »If you were watching Oprah in the past year, you may have witnessed her overwhelming endorsement of the Get Clean kit, a major non-toxic collection of cleaning products. In that kit ( and sold separately) are 3 MICROCLOTH items: Cleaning, Window Cloth and Dish Sponge. Retail, each is less than $5, or with a member ship, the cost is less than $4. These MICRO products, plus all the other cleaning & laundry products are fabulous in performance and cost saving. If interested, go to www.shaklee.net/pattandjimsimpson
We're Partners in Health!
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Where can you purchase these and are they expensive?
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We sell THE CLOTH (some folks call it micro fiber.) We have over 17 other competitors whom
I have contacted for a one on one demo, and no takers. Our Cloth is 14" x 14" quad stitched at top and bottom and with a guarantee to return "ANYTIME" if not satisified. We have been manufacturing and selling and direct for 12 years and so far so good!
We only sell black and blue. Hospitals use thousands of these after they sterlized and wash in 213 degree water.Many schools love it for cleaning marker boards, and Jewelry companies love them for cleaning without chemicals. Hope this gives a better insite
on the uses. I guarantee them for 12 years! Thanks and hope my data helps. Woody 706-245-1044 or 706-245-3948
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Facinating! Although I use the cloths, I didn't have this info, and I *never* thought of color-coding! How clever. I'm going to buy more, copy this, & send them to my sisters. Thanks!
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A friend told me about Mystic Maid cloths (http://www.mysticmaid.com/). They're great!
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Oops! Wrong topic. I really like my microfiber cloths, too. I've got different ones for the bathrooms, the kitchen, general cleaning, and even outside. I use them every day. They're awesome. For people trying to cut down on their use of chemicals, they're exactly what you need.
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I love Vinegar of the Four Thieves! I've been making my own for a while and now, at the encouragement of several friends, I'm making it for other people (www.formykidsonline.com).
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