Call nowThe miracle of microcloth
It’s no secret that we’re a huge fan of microfibre here at Clean Homes but did you know that microfiber actually dates back to the 1950s? Made from 100% polyester or a blend of polyester and polyamide (nylon), it wasn’t until the 1960s that Japanese scientists found a suitable use for these ultra-fine fibers when Ultrasuede was introduced, an animal-product-free imitation suede that is cheaper and easier to clean and sew than real suede.
It then took until the early 1990s for microfibre to be recognized, in Sweden first, then Europe, and eventually in America when Rubbermaid began a line of microfiber products for American markets in 2007.
These days you’ll find microfiber fabric often used for athletic wear, such as cycling jerseys, because the material keeps moisture away from the body, and for undergarments because of its elasticity. It’s also used to make many accessories traditionally made from leather such as wallets, handbags, backpacks, shoes, mobile phone cases and coin purses. Microfiber fabric is lightweight, durable, and somewhat water repellent, so it makes a good substitute.
Another advantage of fabric (compared to leather) is that fabric can be coated with various finishes or can be treated with anti-bacterial chemicals. Fabric can also be printed with various designs, embroidered with colored thread, or heat-embossed to create interesting textures.
For these reasons, microfibre is a brilliant cleaning product. The polyester component is an ideal material for scrubbing, and polyamide fibers can absorb as much as seven times their weight in soil or liquid. This means microfiber cloths not only pick up and hold the dust and dirt, they soak up large amounts of liquid and unlike cotton, leave no lint.
For microfiber to be most effective as a cleaning product, especially for water soluble soils and waxes, it should be a split microfiber. If microfiber isn’t split during manufacturing, it isn’t much more than a very soft cloth, duster, or mop.
A quick way to determine if the microfiber is split is to run the cloth lightly over the palm of your hand. If the cloth “grabs” the imperfections on your skin (you can actually both “hear” and feel it grab), then it’s split. Another way is to pour a small amount of water on a hard flat surface and take a towel or mop and try to push the water. If the water is pushed rather than being absorbed, it’s not split microfiber.
So if you’re yet to use microfiber, now’s the time to try. We recommend having two cloths available at all times, a damp one to clean the surface and remove the grime and a dry one to buff it sparkling clean. With no chemicals or sprays needed and a quick rinse under hot water to clean, why wouldn’t you swap to this cheap, efficient and environmentally friendly product!