In fact, a UC Davis study showed that microfiber cloths can pick up to 99% of bacteria on surfaces compared to 30% with their cotton counterparts. This means that good quality microfiber cloths make cleaning easy and eliminates the need to clean with harsh chemicals.
Yes, microfiber cloths can remove a variety of bacteria, viruses, and microorganisms from surfaces. That's because microfiber is extremely small, so it actually picks up many microorganisms as well as things that those microorganisms can be attached to (like dust and dirt), unlike many cotton towels.
Unlike cotton, microfiber dries fast, making it hard for bacteria to grow in it and microfiber lasts longer than cotton; it can be washed a thousand times before losing its effectiveness. DURABLE AND REUSABLE! Microfiber cloths and mops are easily found in grocery stores, hardware stores, big box stores and online.
According to a study published by the EPA, microfiber cleaning cloths dampened with water can disinfect better than most conventional cleaning techniques. Microfiber mops moistened with only water removed 93 percent of viruses and up to 98 percent of bacteria from hospital floors in the study.
Microfiber is able to pick up dirt, dust, and even bacteria! Microfiber cloths can be used wet or dry on any surface in your home. Pair microfiber cloths with disinfectants or other solvents when desired.
The biggest concern regarding microfiber is microplastic pollution. This occurs because all microfiber products can shed the microscopic microfibers in the wash and can make their way to the ocean.
Try cleaning with microfiber and water! Using just microfiber cloths or mop pads with water to clean can give your counters, glass, floors, and appliances a like-new appearance. It traps more dirt than you might think, all without chemical cleaning agents.
1) Light colors look dirty right away 2) “Swirl” marks are quite annoying and make the furniture look stained even if it isn't 3) There is resistance between the microfiber and the fabric of your clothes — you rather stick to it and can't adjust your position easily 4) STATIC!
The cotton does not absorb dirt as effectively as microfibers so you'll often need chemicals or detergents to deal with dirt and grime. Otherwise, you can end up just spreading the dirt around the surface and leave behind unwanted streaks and stains.
Lotus Microfiber is the most antimicrobial fabric – but also antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal- in the world. It's antimicrobial efficiency is more than 99.5 %.
An innovation in antimicrobial surfaces is the discovery that copper and its alloys (brasses, bronzes, cupronickel, copper-nickel-zinc, and others) are natural antimicrobial materials that have intrinsic properties to destroy a wide range of microorganisms.
With that said, if you want to avoid as much bacteria, fungi, and mold growth as possible, it's best to change your washcloth daily, Dr. Vij and Dr. Tierno say. After you shower, they both recommend, rinse your washcloth to get rid of as many dead skin cells and bacteria as possible.
Using dirty cloths can spread bacteria and allergens very easily. Cloths that are not dried properly can increase the risk of bacteria. A hot wash cycle will clean the cloths thoroughly and kill bacteria (disinfect).
A temperature of at least 155 degrees Fahrenheit kills most common germs. This is acceptable for cotton towels but too hot for linen towels. Choose the hot temperature setting for cotton towels and the warm setting (less than 140 degrees F) for linen towels.
Durability – Both microfiber and cotton are extremely durable materials that, with proper care, will stand the test of time. However, cotton tends to be more reliable if you want something that upkeeps a cozy feel.
Cons of using a microfiber towel
The biggest and probably the only drawback of using a microfiber towel is the material itself. There is a lot said about microfiber pollution caused by synthetic fabrics. Microfibers are tiny pieces of plastic that wash off of clothing and flow down the drain into our water systems.
Test the cloth by holding it up to the sunlight, stretch the cloth, and if it is a tight weave and you don't see a lot of sunlight, it's a high-quality cloth. If it stretches easily and you see a lot of light, it is not a high-quality cloth. Our SmartChoice cloths are a great example of a high-quality cleaning cloth.
As the name suggests, microfibers are extremely small synthetic fibers—usually made from polyester and nylon—that make up microfiber products. While microfiber material is versatile and durable, microfibers are essentially teeny-tiny pieces of plastic.
Still, microfiber sheet sets are cheaper on average than cotton sheets since they are synthetic. However, remember that a sound investment is about more than you just pay, it's also about how long a product lasts. If you pay a lower price for the sheets but you have to replace them sooner, it may not be worth the cost.
Polyester and microfiber share some similarities such as being generally comfortable and durable but there are still important differences between the two that may affect your buying decision. Polyester is more durable while microfiber is more absorbent, breathable, and more comfortable. Both are easy to care for.
A study of microfiber mop usage in hospitals showed that a microfiber mop head used with a detergent cleaner removed bacteria as effectively as a cotton mop head used with a disinfectant. Another advantage of microfiber is that, unlike cotton, it dries fast, making it hard for bacteria to grow in it.
Wash lightly soiled cloths in cool water. If your microfiber towels are heavily soiled, use warm water. For washing machine settings, choose a gentle or delicate cycle.