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We combed through the web archives to deliver the freshest answers to your most popular questions about Microfiber towels.
John Ross, President and CEO, Mission Linen SupplyJohn Ross is the president and CEO of Mission Linen Supply, a single-source provider of rental and direct-sale uniforms, linens, and other essentials for industrial businesses, laboratories, health care and hospitality organizations, and beyond. With more than 20 years of experience in uniform program implementation and workplace health and safety, John’s expertise and leadership help ensure the success of each uniform program Mission develops.
To make things more interesting, while doing some exploration through search archives we found that there weren’t many search results that encompassed a variety of answers to a lot of questions surrounding the topic of microfiber towels.
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So it true Mission Linen fashion we compiled and built The best source of Microfiber Towels questions and answers for our customers! More than 35+ of the best and most popular questions from around the web about microfiber towels all in one place.
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Ok time to dive in and become microfiber savvy!
Microfiber — is a textile crafted from ultra-fine artificial yarns, namely polyester and nylon. It's very, very thin fibers are half the diameter of a fine silk fiber, one-third the diameter of cotton, one-quarter the diameter of fine wool, and one hundred times finer than human hair. In order to be classified as a microfiber, the fiber must be less than 1 dtex in width. ➝ learn more about microfiber
A Japanese scientist at Toray Industries, Dr. Miyoshi Okamoto and Dr. Toyohiko Hikota’s discovery of 40yrs. ago are the first real accounts of documented microfiber prototypes, their experiments resulted in many industrial applications, but the first successful fabricated microfiber to hit the market was in the 1970’s; ultrasuede. ➝ learn more about the making of microfiber
Funny story… microfiber was actually invented originally to be a fabric suitable for women’s swimwear 40yrs ago. It proved to be not ideal because the microfiber absorbed so much water that it made swimwear sag… and no one wants to wear a soggy, saggy, swimsuit.
A mixture of two plastics (typically polyesters and polyamides: aka nylon) are forced through a tiny pipe, and heated in order to get them to weave together. These fused fibers are then split apart into microfibers 10–20 times smaller.
Microfiber - Design Qualities
composition of the fabric. Microfiber fabrics are generally lightweight, resist wrinkling, have a luxurious drape on the body, retain shape, and resist pilling. They are also relatively strong and durable in relation to other fabrics of similar weight, and they are more breathable and more comfortable to wear.Microfiber of good quality is exceptionally soft due to the finely woven materials that make up thecomposition of the fabric. Microfiber fabrics are generally lightweight, resist wrinkling, have a luxurious drape on the body, retain shape, and resist pilling. They are also relatively strong and durable in relation to other fabrics of similar weight, and they are more breathable and more comfortable to wear.
No, generally speaking, there are two techniques to produce microfibers:generally speaking, there are two techniques to produce microfibers:
The bi-component process of split type is of high quality and more effective in cleaning bacterial surfaces. This is the preferred type of microfiber used in medical settings.
Microfiber towels can absorb 9 times their weight and cover 4 times the surface area that it’s adversary; cotton.
Microfiber is mainly used in athletic apparel because of its moisturizing wicking abilities and its elasticity makes it a choice material for undergarments. But it is also used in many other applications such as furniture, bed sheets and linens mats and upholstery, industrial filters, and cleaning products
Benefits + Economics of Microfiber
Due to the special and more advanced features that microfiber has such as the high dimensional stability, less pilling, excellent softness, and drape provide essential advantages that make them durable. Their structure makes them long lasting, and if well cared for can maintain its integrity over 30 washes before the need to replace. When compared to other toweling materials, they are the more economical towel.
The high surface area that microfibers provide makes them very suitable for filtration and liquid absorption applications.
The high dirt retention capacity, small controlled pore size and the superior uniformity microfibers provide including high strength, shrink resistance etc. makes them very useful.
Due to the unique properties microfibers possess, like high absorbency, moisture wicking, light weight, comfortability and softness, and all around superior durability, it dominates cotton in many ways. Cotton is an organic material and this has its own common drawbacks which include harboring odors, bacterial growth, etc. The fineness and high surface area of microfiber makes its features exceptional.
Yes, Microfiber is a green cleaning tool. The benefits of microfiber include its incredible durability, versatility, and efficiency cleaning without the use of chemical cleaners.
The environmental benefits of microfiber include:
How to Use Microfiber Towels
Microfiber cloths and textiles can absorb and retain fine particles, very fine lint (broken fibers), and very small dust particles faster and more efficiently than that of other textile materials (as the dimensions tally). This makes them useful in many applications of cleaning such as glassware and windows, tv screens and tableware, car detailing and floor cleaning. Proper and often cleaning is required but it will not damage the textile due to the high dimensional stability.
Yes, because the diameter of the fibers are in the micro level, the dimensions of the fiber and the dimensions of the tiny dust particles tally with each other. That makes the retention and absorption of microscopic level dust particles more efficient. So, microfiber cloths are very good for dusting.
By making the microfiber cloth wet, it can increase the weight of the fabric as the absorption rate of microfiber fabrics are very high which will make it difficult to handle. But, wetting the cloth or mop can also help to remove dimensionally large dust particles due to capillary forces. If using a wet cloth only a small amount of liquid is necessary to dampen the fabric. They can clean up tough or set in messes better when wet.
Yes, Microfiber materials have a very high absorption rate. They can absorb seven times the weight of them with water, which makes it a very high absorbent material when compared to cotton. They are super absorbent making them great for use in cleaning.
Yes, Microfibers are basically polymer materials like polyester or polyamide which are chemically inactive making them compatible with nearly anything. Washing them with a little detergent is great for reducing the smell that some chemicals or vinegar can cause. But generally chemicals do not affect microfibers.
For cleaning with microfiber towels, no chemicals are required. You can clean with a microfiber cloth using just a little water, and it will be an effectively good cleaner. However detergents can be used if a stronger cleaner is necessary for things like cutting through grease. *Do not use fabric softeners.
Yes, microfiber towels have the ability to remove dirt, dust mites and dust without chemicals.
They can even be used when removing grease, tar like heavy substrates. Microfiber mops are also less work-intensive than conventional mops, virtually eliminate cross-contamination during janitorial tasks, and drastically reduce chemical and water use while cleaning more effectively. As a matter of fact when used properly, microfiber systems are 45 percent more effective at cleaning than traditional string mops, and consume 90 percent less water and chemicals. ➝ learn more about microfiber mop efficiencies
How to wash and care for Microfiber Towels
Microfiber cloths can either be washed or dry cleaned. For the cleaning purposes, no chemicals are required. If necessary, users can use detergents but that is also not essential. The drying is also very efficient and takes only one third of time used by conventional cloths.
This depends on the application that the microfiber cloth is used in. There are fashion clothing, high performance filters, weather protections, cleaning, medical etc. The durability of cleaning cloths are lesser than that of other above mentioned microfiber material applications but are greatly higher than that of conventional material.
Microfiber materials are basically polymeric materials like polyester or polyamide, which are polymers that have the capability to retain heat. So, using the dryer and also dry cleaning is possible.
Using an iron on microfiber towels is possible but useless. The microfiber cloths have a very high drape which makes them wrinkle deterrent and less likely to shrink. If ironing is necessary low temperatures are suggested.
Personal Health and Hygiene
In independent studies such as those published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)1 and by Dr. William Rutala, 2 extremely fine (.37 micrometer diameter) microfiber was both laboratory and clinically tested and proven to remove up to 98 percent of bacteria and 93 percent of viruses from a surface using only water (no chemicals). In comparison, traditional cotton fibers have been shown to only remove 30 percent of the bacteria and 23 percent of the viruses from a contaminated environmental surface. ➝ microfibers case for infection prevention
No, not all microfiber cloths are able to remove bacterias from surfaces. Optimal bacterial, virus and spore removal is achieved through a type of “split microfiber” material.
In independent studies such as those published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)1 and by Dr. William Rutala, 2 extremely fine (.37 micrometer diameter) microfiber was both laboratory and clinically tested and proven to remove up to 98 percent of bacteria and 93 percent of viruses from a surface using only water (no chemicals). In comparison, traditional cotton fibers have been shown to only remove 30 percent of the bacteria and 23 percent of the viruses from a contaminated environmental surface. ➝ learn more about the studies
Linting can be due to the strength of the selected microfiber material and the applications in which they are being used in. Some are lower in strength and break down into very little particles causing linting. Also microfibers can get lint attached to them when they are washed with other textiles that pill such as cotton. Their positive change makes them natural attractors of lint, it’s suggested to wash them separate from other fabrics that pill.
Microfiber fabrics are hypoallergenic. Due to that, it can be used on anyone even someone with allergies. Plus they are chemical resistant due to the type of polymeric material they are manufactured.
The company is the world’s best microfiber cleaning cloth manufacturer supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.
Due to the safe nature of the materials that are used in manufacturing the microfibers, they are safe to use on the face and hair. Due to the high moisture absorbent properties, it can dry hair more efficiently plus the softness they possess make them comfortable to use.
Microfiber is manufactured by using polymeric materials like polyester or polyamide, which are chemically inactive. For an allergic reaction to take place, chemical reactions on the surface are essential so microfibers are hypoallergenic.
Industrial Applications
Medical textiles are one of the most important applications that microfibers provide. Microfibers are compatible with the human body and organs, making the towels and wipes very popular in medical facilities.
In the automotive industry, microfiber is widely used in air and oil filtration applications and wipes.
In the automotive industry, microfiber is widely used in air and oil filtration applications and wipes.
Microfiber towels are very effective under dry or wet conditions and they are durable. They can be effectively used in cleaning the windows removing all the moisture and without scratch marks which is a very important factor.
Microfiber towels are widely used in cleaning computer monitors, TV screens etc. the reason for that is that they have the capability to change the static charge on that of their surface which makes them durable and effective at removing dust particles and oils.
Microfiber towels remove stains, dust, dirt, dust mites effectively and efficiently without leaving scratches, and do not require the use of chemicals to perform. This makes them a choice product used in restaurants.
The Takeaway
Microfiber versatility and design make it one of our favorite cleaning tools and a popular textile for many everyday products. Look around you, can you spot an item that’s made out of microfiber? You probably don’t even realize it but it’s the bed linens we sleep on, in the clothing that we wear, it’s very popular in products we use to clean our homes and workplaces. Even in the items we choose to keep us safe from harm… there’s microfiber.
It stands out as both an economical and a safer choice when deciding what type of cleaning towel to use for your establishment. Granted it isn’t perfect, like anything there are pros and cons, but we’re hoping that by providing you a source of answer to some of your questions you’ll better understand why we love these fuzzy cleaning cloths so much, and be able to make an informed decision when choosing the best option for you.
To conclude, we have answered many of your questions about the history, design, use, and value of Microfiber towels… we can say that the comfort, quality, durability, and health qualities it offer the reason that our more than 40,000 partners in the hospitality, food service, automotive, and healthcare industries rely on to keep their facilities looking their best, and their employees and customers safe.
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The G.L.E.A.M Team
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Q. Dear Umbra,
I want to know the greenest and zero-wastiest way to clean my bathroom and my dishes! I’m about to jump on the microfiber bandwagon because my current green goal is to become a zero-waste household, and I’m enamored of the ability to have no more paper towels to throw away OR cleaning supply bottles to recycle OR soap to wash down drains, but I’m reading some things about tiny bits breaking off and ending up in the ocean, plus the fact that the cloths themselves require petrol to make.
Michaelann B.
Provo, Utah
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A. Dearest Michaelann,
Call me crazy, but I don’t hate cleaning. There’s something so satisfying about putting one’s home in shiny, grime-free order — like feng shui on the scale of dust particles. It’s cleansing for the spirit as well as the countertops. So how unfortunate that the act of cleaning brings with it some complicated questions. Here you are, trying to simplify your cleaning routine, and yet we must indeed take a good, hard look at the tools you’re using to do so.
Microfiber — which often makes an appearance in clothing, furniture, and sheets as well as cleaning cloths — is a textile made from ultrafine synthetic yarns, namely polyester and nylon. It has a few nice properties that make it especially good for cleaning and give it some green cred. Spoiler: I’m not going to recommend that you convert to it. But we’ll get to that in a moment.
First, the nice properties. For one, microfiber has a slight positive charge, which helps it attract and trap dusty bits (they’re negatively charged) rather than just spreading them around. And the very, very thin fibers — up to 100 times finer than a human hair — come together to give each cloth a much higher surface area, which boosts its cleaning power and makes it a lot more absorbent than your average rag. And studies have shown microfiber is also much more effective at removing viruses and bacteria than other cloths, even without any other cleaning products involved. All this means you can effectively skip harsh cleaning chemicals and just use water for your household tidy-up time, and less water at that — as this illustrative case shows, microfiber mops use up to 20 times less water than regular ones.
But for all its glories, Michaelann, you’ve already discovered microfiber’s dirty underbelly: For starters, it is, as you point out, a petroleum-based product. That alone might not be reason enough to toss it out with the dishwater, but this is: It’s likely contributing to the growing problem of plastic pollution in our waterways. Scientists are beginning to find tiny shreds of synthetic fabrics in oceans and lakes all over the world, tracing them back to our washing machines; a single synthetic article of clothing can shed around 1,900 fibers every wash. I haven’t been able to find any research that differentiates between the bits coming off of microfiber cleaning cloths versus, say, a fleece jacket, but experts often list both as a source of this pollutant. So every time you toss your reusable cloths into the washing machine after a calming cleaning session, they’re likely leaving a little something behind.
We should be concerned about this for a few reasons. Plastic, obviously, doesn’t biodegrade; like a clueless party guest, it sticks around in the ecosystem long after natural fibers have returned whence they came. And plastic has a nasty habit of soaking up and concentrating toxins, like carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Microplastics in particular are worrisome because it’s easy for fish and other aquatic creatures to scoop them up. The plastics and their hitchhiking chemicals can then build up in the animals’ tissues, and the tissues of larger animals that eat them, right on up the food chain to us. I don’t know about you, but I tend to pass when PCB Surprise is on the specials menu.
So despite their advantages, Michaelann, I’d hop off the Microfiber Bandwagon and back on the time-honored Green Cleaning Buggy. Reusable rags made from an old cotton T-shirt or sheets remain free, effective tools for cleaning the house, not to mention that they represent recycling at its best. (Cotton has its own planet-harming qualities, but that’s all the more reason to reuse it as many times as you possibly can.) And there’s no need to pair these rags with icky chemical cleaners: I can personally vouch for the effectiveness of DIY potions made from some combination of baking soda, vinegar, water, and sometimes a bit of castile soap. You might use a little more water than you would with a microfiber cloth, but you can be sparing with it. And I think that’s a fair trade-off for a plastic-free cleaning MO.
Good for you for going zero-wastier, by the way! Best of luck on that venture.
Spotlessly,
Umbra
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