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.
An independent study which was published by the EPA tested and proved in a laboratory and clinically that extremely fine microfiber removed 98% of bacteria and 93% of virus on a surface using ONLY WATER! In comparison traditional cloth showed 38% removal of bacteria and 23% of viruses from a contaminated surface.
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.
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.
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.
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.
It can absorb seven times its weight in water! Microfiber products are also positively charged, meaning they attract negatively charged dirt and grease. These characteristics of microfiber allow you to clean surfaces without chemicals.
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.
Choose the Washing Machine Settings
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.
You may be able to go slightly longer before washing if you're careful about keeping towels very dry, Whittier says. “As long as it's drying completely between use, there's almost no chance of passing bacteria from one person to another,” she says. Still, you'll want to wash them at least once a week.
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.
Can you dry microfiber cloths in the dryer? Yes, but not often. Frequent drying will loosen fabric strands and make them prone to fabric pilling. If you do machine dry, use a low heat setting and skip dryer sheets.
Ideally, microfiber towels should be washed after every use to remove the dirt and grease picked up while cleaning so you don't transfer the grime to the next surface.
Microfiber is a textile made from ultrafine synthetic yarns, usually polyester and nylon. Polyester is derived from crude oil. It is also the terminal product in a chain of very reactive and toxic precursors. Most are carcinogens; all are poisonous.
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.
Viruses and fungi may die within days. But E. coli and salmonella, which can cause diarrhea, may survive a few weeks. Staphylococcus aureus, which causes staph infections on skin, may survive a month.
Detergent alone does not always kill bacteria. To kill bacteria, use Lysol Laundry Sanitizer in the fabric softener compartment or pour directly into the rinse cycle.
Experts at Dr Beckmann advise regular washing of clothes at 60 degrees to help eliminate the spread of bacteria & viruses.
Never use hot water, as it can melt the fibers. Don't use fabric softener, which can easily clog the open spaces in the microfiber and make it less effective.
Microfibers are much thinner in diameter than human hair. Those used in cleaning textiles are split in a way that creates spaces within each fiber. Regular microfiber, such as Split microfiber vs cotton that used on furniture or in clothing, is soft but not useful for cleaning because it is not absorbent.
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!
Better Alternatives to Microfiber for Natural Cleaning
Instead of buying any cloth for natural cleaning, reuse some that you have if possible. Things like old cotton t-shirts and socks make great cleaning rags. Old burp cloths and baby blankets also work and can be used as-is or cut into smaller pieces.
When washing microfiber cloths, avoid harsh soap, fabric softener or detergent with laundry additives, including fragrances and fabric conditioners. These coat the fibers of the cloth and make them less effective for cleaning. Lightly dusty or dirty microfiber cloths can be hand-washed.