What is Microfibre?
Microfibre (or Microfiber) is a man made (synthetic) material made from a careful blend of Polyester and Polyamide. The combination of these two materials creates tiny, tear-drop shaped fibres that can fit into small nooks and crannies to achieve a superior clean. The fibres are so small they are up to 1/100 the thickness of a human hair. This thickness is measured in 'denier' - microfibre has a denier of between 0.01 and 0.7, whilst human hair has a denier of 20. The smaller the denier of a fibre, the less abrasive and softer it is - consider how soft hair can be and then imagine it being 100 times softer!
How is Microfibre made?
The synthetic material, microfibre, is constructed using a combination of Polyester and Polyamide (a nylon bi-product). The fusion of these 2 fibres can vary in terms of ratio, from 70:30 to 90:10 (Polyester:Polyamide) and the higher the Polyamide content the better the cleaning power.
There are also two ways Microfibre can be made; 'flat weave' and 'split weave'. Flat weave is predominantly used when making items such as sports clothing and watch straps, as it has strong water repellence, as well as 'wicking' properties that help to keep athletes cool. Flat weave microfibre is inadvisable for cleaning products as it has less than half the absorbency of split weave microfibre.
When the Polyester and Polyamide fibres are ripped and split apart, it creates split weave microfibre. This is an expensive process and can often be reflected in the price of microfibre cleaning products. However, the separation of the fibres creates thousands of loops per square inch, massively increasing the surface area and in turn the amount of water a cloth can absorb. This super absorbent technology allows you to use less water when cleaning, making any microfibre cleaning equipment cheaper over its lifetime than conventional cotton cleaning equipment.
What are the benefits of Microfibre cleaning products?
Microfibre is beneficial to any cleaning task, be it at home, in an office or in a busy commercial catering establishment;
Absorption
Cleaning up spills is an inconvenient everyday occurrence for restaurants, bars, cafes and even at home, so the powerful absorption properties of microfibre make it the perfect choice. Split weave microfibre has a high density and large surface area, absorbing up to 7 times its weight in water, making wiping up spillages quick and effortless.
Hygiene
As well as the obvious dust and dirt, microfibre can be proven to kill 99.99% of bacteria and germs, making them suitable for use in catering venues, healthcare establishments and just about anywhere else that needs cleaning. Viruses, bacteria, pathogens and germs need to feed on organic matter to survive and spread, so the inorganic nature of synthetic materials is a barren wasteland for them, enabling you to catch and kill them with ease. Microfibre can also be machine laundered on a hot wash (up to 90?), furthering their hygienic properties, longevity and practicality as cleaning products.
Non-abrasive
The powerful cleaning power is also soft and gentle on all surfaces. The microscopic fibres are entirely non-abrasive, meaning any finish or varnish on furniture and surfaces remains intact and undamaged. The soft material also allows you to clean plastic and windows without giving them a static charge (a static charge can attract dust and make it cling).
If one of these key cleaning factors is reduced, then others will need to be increased to compensate. For example, if the temperature is reduced to a 30°C wash, the chemical reaction is less intense, resulting in the detergents being less effective; meaning more time and friction will be needed to achieve similar results.
Environmentally Friendly
Keeping the environment safe and clean is paramount to modern life, and microfibre cloths help you to achieve this by drastically reducing the amount of water and chemicals needed for everyday cleaning tasks. A study carried out at the UCDMC (a reputable academic medical centre based in California) reported a 95% reduction in water usage after the implementation of microfibre cleaning products.