http://www.care2.com/greenliving/dust-away-the-old-with-microfiber.html
Dust Away the Old with Microfiber
By Annie B. Bond
I received a question in my Ask Annie column about microfiber cloths, about what they were and what I thought of them.
With some caveats—the fibers are not natural, and stick with high quality microfiber because not all microfiber cloths are created equal—I think that microfiber cloths 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), reduce the use of cleaning products and 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 cloths 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 kids’ rooms?
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36 comments
add your comment »Since microfiber cloths don't seem to shed "lint" like other cloths do they seem pretty safe to me. The dirt that gets trapped in them rinses away very easily. I've been using them for years too, and I love them, I wouldn't trade my microfiber mop for anything.
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Im so confused. Are microfiber clothes more or less environmentaly conscience? I'm looking for a new mop and heard microfiber was the way to go, so I checked her first and now I feel like I have to wash my floor with baking soda and vinager on my hands and knees, with a cotton cloth. Help!
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I have been using microfiber cloths for years. They trap the dust, not move it around - great for allergies and asthma. Drys everything in a snap without streaks. I would recommend those made by 3M - very high quality. DO NOT use fabric softner - that will streak and make a terrible mess on mirrors. Should you have used fabric softner, wash in hot water to faciltate removing the waxy residiue. No cleaners needed. As far as micro-organisims are concerned, there are probably less after cleaning than what you walk into your house on the bottom of your shoes.
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kind,
how safe are they if they hold dirt that well? how clean can they become when washed, asto well all the dirt is washed out, or no, micro dirt stays & micro-organisms breed, so like a sponge loaded with micro-organisms they would be worse? carrying diseases bred in micro-dirt caught in that cloth?
please explain more about the cloth as to how clean is it after washing it. how long does it take to break down in a landfill, for thats what people sue people for, for products that take to long to break down in a landfill & what do they break down into. like oasis soap is biocompatible, breaks down into plant nutrients. the problem is garbage, how to safely help break down garbage, trash, rubbish so its not polluting. that is whats needed. for if they could heat all that stuff up & change it into safe elements even combining to produce safe product then pollution would end. like the smoke is recycled into safe by-products when cooking the trash. or some chemical way that breaks down these thrown away products into safe results.
kind
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You lost my vote of confidence on this article. With microscopic parts of synthetics showing up in everything from human breast milk to Arctic ice do you think these convenient unnatrual fabrications will just dissapear from the universe? I've worked with those near death from overexposure to man made toxins and know how difficult removing them from the human tissue and recovery for those affected are. When will be get it?
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I cannot believe you are promoting microfabrics!! Ah, yes, convienence! That which has already beleagured our dear Mother! Wash your dust cloths and Yep, your swiffers too! Don't promote something that is bad for the planet AND its inhabitants!
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I love using microfiber cloths. Especially since I have a problem with things remaining wet. For instance, if I wash off the counter I want it DRY when I'm done and regular towels just don't cut it. Microfiber is just absolutely amazing.
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These are the same buzzwords that got us into trouble environmentally in the first place. If the product produces "a greenhouse gas that's 310 times more potent than carbon dioxide", WHY PROMOTE IT? Convenience that destroys our planet?
For dusting furniture....olive oil and a cotton cloth (washable!), for just about everything else: baking soda, vinegar, washing soda, and borax. Just google "natural cleaning products" and you come up with tons of recipes.
DON'T USE PRODUCTS - for cleaning or cosmetics - that contain petrochemicals
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My parents have washed and reused the swiffer dusting pads for years...
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My friendly Ace Hardware lady recommended using a separate one for glass to guard against scratching. I was able to remove years of smoke from glass using just the cloth, a little water and very little effort. I love these!
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