Why is a Microfiber Cloth So Good For Cleaning?

20 May.,2024

 

Why is a Microfiber Cloth So Good For Cleaning?

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If you're reading this, you've probably heard that microfiber cloths are great cleaning tools. But why? What makes them so special? Why not just use an old t-shirt, a nondescript rag, or paper towel? Well, let's dive a little deeper into the magic of microfiber.

What the Heck is Microfiber Anyway?

This can be so confusing because everything is so... well, microscopic! The short version is that microfiber an ultra-fine synthetic fiber consisting most often (at least in the cleaning business) of polyesters, and potentially a smaller proportion of polyamides.

Microfiber, as the name implies, are made up of microscopic fibers—specifically, less than one denier. To give you an idea of how small that is, each fiber in microfiber is two times finer than silk, three times finer than cotton, eight times finer than wool, and one hundred times finer than a human hair. That's some thin fiber!

These microfibers can ultimately be woven or non-woven, and are unique because of their absorbency, ability to pick-up bacteria, quick-drying and non-linting properties.

The Bacteria Trapper

During the manufacturing process these microfibers are split into a multi-stranded fiber, which appears similar in shape to an asterisk. This unique pattern is unparalleled in its ability to pick up and trap microscopic materials (dust, debris, bacteria, etc.) compared to its cotton counterpart.

A study at UC Davis found that in a hospital setting "after a surface was cleaned with conventional tools, a bacteria culture showed a 30-percent reduction, while microfiber materials reduced bacteria by 99 percent".

In short, most traditional materials simply push debris around, where microfber actually traps and removes it.

Ultra-Absorbent & Non-Linting

This unique asterisk shape described above also means microfiber is ultra-absorbent, which makes it perfect for cleaning surfaces, sopping up spills, and even drying you and your hands. At Maker's Clean our industry leading microfiber cloths were designed to be super thick—weighing in at a whopping 350 GSM—meaning they can hold approximately 8 times their weight in water!

Microfiber cloths are also non-linting, which means they leave no streaks or fibers behind. You can even find special weaves designed for cleaning delicate surfaces like glass and electronics.

Eco-Conscious Cleaning Product

Microfiber cloths can clean surfaces using only water—while you can of course use common cleaning products with microfiber, they are very effective with just plain old water, making them an eco-friendly choice (and they're hypoallergenic as well).

In addition, Maker's Clean premium microfiber cloths can be washed hundreds of times, meaning you'll have them for years and years! This results in a wide array of eco-savings, including thousands of sheets of disposable paper towels and/or disposable wipes not ending up in a landfill. This also results in a carbon footprint reduction from the (lack of) transportation of these same disposable products.

Our motto at Maker's Clean is clean once and clean well. And to do that, you need the best cleaning tools to get the job done. That's why we always recommend microfiber for cleaning!

How do manufacturing choices affect microfiber shed?

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Image: Comparison of yarn hairiness for yarns of the same linear density (30 tex) and different spinning systems. Credit: Source: 'Investigating the influence of yarn characteristics on microfibre release from knitted fabrics during laundering'. Can be used without credit.

New research in Frontiers of Environmental Science sheds light on how manufacturing choices influence microfiber release in textiles.

Using a washing simulator (gyrowash), the researchers from the University of Leeds tested various densities of yarns in unknitted hanks and knitted forms, and compared how much microfiber they released when washed.

Alice Hazlehurst, doctoral researcher in the School of Design at the University of Leeds, who led the research, said, "Our findings show that the entire process of textile production, down to the way yarn is spun, is important in the effort to limit microfiber release.

"Manufacturers should contain these details in specifications of yarn spinning, as well as the fiber type, to help clothing designers make more informed choices."

Their key findings were:

  • Unknitted polyester released more microfiber than unknitted cotton, but similar amounts were released when polyester was knitted. This suggests that polyester suffered less damage than cotton during the knitting process.
  • Microfiber release in tightly knitted fabrics during laundering was reduced, but manufacturers should consider fiber fly—the visible 'fluff' that comes off fabrics as they are knitted in factories—which is higher when garments are tightly knitted.
  • Vortex-spun yarns (where fibers are twisted using jets of air in a vortex) had a lower microfiber release than ring-spun yarns (where fibers are twisted in a metal ring). Ring-spun yarns tend to be more 'hairy' than vortex-spun yarns, which has been shown to increase microfiber release in washing.

The research concluded that changes to the fiber composition and the yarn spinning system would have the greatest influence in terms of reducing microfiber release.

However, these details are not currently included in product specifications, which makes it more difficult for brands to make informed choices about which garments will release more or less microfiber.

More research needed

The academics are also calling for more research into the effects of microfiber release on the environment and human health so measures can be targeted towards reducing harm.

Dr. Mark Taylor, Research Fellow at Leeds' School of Design, said, "We know cotton produces more microfiber than polyester and people assume that cellulose (from cotton) is less worrying than microplastic because it's natural. But the truth is that we don't have enough information about the impacts of these fibers on humans, aside from knowing they can take hundreds of years to biodegrade and can have a negative impact on marine life."

Dr. Mark Sumner, Lecturer in Sustainable Fashion at the School of Design, said, "Our previous research found that UK washing is a huge source of pollution, releasing an estimated 1,500 double decker buses worth of microfiber every year, so it's important that information about fabric knitting and yarn spinning systems are included in specifications."

More information: Alice Hazlehurst et al, Investigating the influence of yarn characteristics on microfibre release from knitted fabrics during laundering, Frontiers in Environmental Science (2024). DOI: 10.3389/fenvs.2024.1340229

Citation: How do manufacturing choices affect microfiber shed? (2024, April 5) retrieved 19 May 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2024-04-choices-affect-microfiber.html

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