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Today, we are going to talk about why microfiber cloth is the best cleaning tool for your home.
You might be familiar with microfiber cleaning cloths. Up until a few years ago, I knew them mostly for car cleaning. My husband always used them to polish the truck after washing it.
But, did you know there is a huge world of chemistry going on in microfiber cloths?
Today’s chemistry hacks post is all about why microfiber cloth is the best cleaning tool for your home.
First, let’s talk about what microfiber cloth is!
Why Microfiber Cloth is the Best Cleaning Tool
In chemistry classes, you learn all about Van der Waal forces. These molecular forces were discovered by chemist, Johannes Diderik van der Waals. His discovery lead to a better understanding of molecules especially removing those molecules through cleaning. (Check out what other fantastic things chemists have invented on this post). His understanding of forces opened an entirely new world for scientist in the world of cleaning.
For instance, detergent is a great example of van der Waal forces. It takes a large molecule and forces substances to dissolve, like oil based products.
Another large example of this is plain old water. Water is an underrated chemical for cleaning, but it has a polar end, and a non-polar end which allows many substances to dissolve in it.
This is where microfiber comes in.
Microfiber has tiny fibers that fit into the smallest particles including dirt, food, or grim. Normal cloths don’t have the capacity, their fibers are too large. Scientifically, microfibers are usually made of nylon and polyester. This is why microfiber cloth is the best cleaning tool!
When you clean with microfiber, thousands of tiny fibers can loosen up anything that is stuck on your counter and remove it.
What does microfiber remove?
Microfiber is effective at removing dirt, grim, and even sticky substances around the home.
It is also a great way to clean germs and bacteria! Just using microfiber and water, you can clean off bacteria, virus, or other germs lingering around. All without using chemicals!
Sounds crazy doesn’t it? Well, science has proved that microfiber is very effective for this. This research from the American Society from Microbiology has a thorough experiment using microfiber for virus removal.
Here is how you can use microfiber for cleaning:
Microfiber is fantastic for cleaning everything in your home! I have replaced pretty much all of my cleaning towels with microfiber, and it has made such a difference.
Use it dry for dusting.
This is the BEST way to dust. It is so quick and easy! No water is needed for this cleaning method. Although any microfiber cloth works for dusting, I have been using this type specifically for dusting and it works so well!
Wet it for a cleaner.
Use a little water (which is also a great cleaner on its own), and rub any area you need. This is a great way to clean or shine or kitchen counters plus get rid of any lingering bacteria. It is also great for kitchen floors! I like to use it with my Swiffer mop that steams. They also make these really neat ones that go right over the mop!
For all-purpose cleaning, I always just use a regular microfiber cloth.
Mirrors and Glass
They make specific microfiber clothes for glass, but any will do. Just wet it a bit, rub the glass, and it gets rid of any particles. It also leaves it nice and shiny.
I like to use this type for glass.
Electronics
I use this all the time for cleaning my computer, keyboard, tablet, and even my phone. You don’t have to wet it, just use it dry!
Doors and Walls
I tested out using microfiber to clean around the baseboards and doors in the house. It was really easy to use and did a great job removing all the dirt (and Ruger slobbers) that get stuck around the wood.
Just wet a regular microfiber, and rub the area.
What I enjoy most about microfiber, is it is safe for any surface. You can use it on stone, tile, paint, wood, glass, marble, or anything else. It is the perfect quick cleaning option!
Pairing microfiber with these DIY solutions from the book make your home easy to clean and KEEP clean!!
I keep these in my cleaning basket now for quick cleaning options. Great for everyday use or if you are in a hurry too!
Have you used microfiber before?
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Alexis is an investigative chemist sharing her expertise in cleaning, skincare, gardening, and home hacks. She personally tests out products like the best skincare products or home products then shares not only the science behind how it works, but also her personal results. She is the mom of two living in Texas with her husband. Find her on Instagram for fantastic videos, tips, and behind the scenes.
I have like a million microfiber towels because I love cleaning with them so much! I’ve never used it for the floors but that’s a genius idea! <3, Pamela Sequins & Sea Breezes
They are such a great cleaning tool! And it does wonders for the floors too 🙂
Very interesting post & I should start using microfiber cloths more often. We recently ran across an interesting microfiber in a furniture store. We were looking for a leather couch and sat on one that we absolutely thought was leather. As it turns out, the salesman told us it was microfiber. It looked & felt exactly like leather. We didn’t purchase that one but learned something new that day.
Microfiber is such a great option. My parents have a microfiber couch, and it is so comfortable! It is amazing the choices they have today
Yes these cloths are bloody great
Yes they are!! 🙂
I LOVE microfiber cloths! I use one for drying my hair after I wash it. Love how fast they dry, too! One thing to remember when washing them is NOT to use any fabric softener (washer or dryer) as it coats the fibers and makes them less functional. I’m going to try to use it when I steam mop my kitchen floor (thank you drooly dog 🙂 ). Do you use regular ones (I get my in bulk from Costco), or do you buy special ones like Norwex?
I love those microfiber hair wraps! Such a lifesaver for drying hair! You will like it to clean the floors, it has made such a difference in cleaning! I just buy these ones from amazon, they are just the basic type, but work great!
This is so good to know! We have a bunch of different micro fiber clothes and towels which I never use for anything other than the floors.
They really do a great job of cleaning so many things!! And they make cleaning so quick too 🙂
How long or how much cleaning can one cloth do? Does it get “full” of bacteria at some point and start spreading bacteria or is it infinite? Also, do you use a microfiber cloth to clean up raw meat on kitchen counters? With or without soap?
I wash mine after every use in the kitchen. For dusting, I wash when the cloth is dirty. For things like the mirrors, just once the cloth is dirty too. I don’t use soap with the microfiber clothes, just water. And I really use it for quick cleaning. Anything that is extra messy, I still use one of my solutions from the book. Great questions!
I love to use microfiber to clean my house. I usually still use cleaning products, though, along with the microfiber.
I do the same thing! I love to use microfiber for quick cleaning, then my book for all those deep cleaning needs 🙂
I always knew that microfiber cloths were the best for cleaning, and now it’s good to know why!
They are really great!
Do you wash with just hot water or do you add soup?
You can just use water! That is the awesome thing about microfiber 🙂
My sister gave me a supply of microfiber cloths, but I decided I did not like them as well as my kitchen sponge as the microfiber will “not” squeeze dry enough and thus leaves my kitchen counters quite wet. Do I just learn to live with wet counters? But I read a recent scientific article how sponges can NEVER be cleaned in dishwasher, washing machine, or even the microwave to be rid of tons of bacteria! I’m creeped out!!! So just saw your take on microfiber cloths and will give them another try. I bought your PDF cleaning book and am becoming a follower of the wiser methods of cleaning you prescribe. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Thanks Sherlyn, so happy to share my tips! I am with you on the wet counters. I usually use a slightly damp microfiber to lightly clean the tops, and if I am cleaning something really dirty, then I will use a more wet microfiber cloth. I typically follow up or buff with a dry one. I hope you can enjoy them more this time, but feel free to ask me any questions! Hope you have a great weekend!
Thanks, Alexis. I figured that might be your suggestion. Although it will require double wiping, I can be willing to double wipe, using a dry microfiber cloth 2nd time. I just was given an article printed in the San Diego Union Tribune on August 5, 2017, page A12 on a recent finding of the bacteria that lives on/in kitchen sponges, which I’ve used for years. it is quite unsettling! (see below link)
https://web.mail.comcast.net/service/home/~/?auth=co&loc=en_US&id=775906&part=2
It’s amazing how unsanitary those sponges can be! I love the scrubbing power, but it can definitely have the reverse effect when you clean the kitchen.
As a professional housekeeper, microfiber cloths are my primary tool. I’ve learned a lot about them and I’m still learning. Here are a couple of things I learned the hard way and perhaps you won’t have to. 1) always wash microfiber cloths together and separately from any other cloth type. If microfiber cloths are washed with different fiber towels, such as terrycloth, the mcs will collect all the lint from the other cloths. Groan. You do not want that to happen. When my mcs become polluted with lint I retire them from windows, mirrors, and picture frames first to counters and then to floors. 2) They work best when barely damp. If you can’t wriing them out sufficiently, roll them up in a dry mc and twist and twist until you reach your desired dampness. Before I head out to a housekeeping job, I toss my clean mcs into my washer for a rinse-only cycle. They come out perfectly damp and ready for work. 3) Mcs will clean oils and grease, but that’s that for the towel. Just use some other kind of towel when dealing with grease of any kind. I hope these suggestions are helpful.
Wow,that makes sense. My micros leave lint..maybe because they have collected lint from other fabrics in the wash? I don’t dry them. but I usually have better results from good old cotton terry cloth. But how do you do a tiny separate wash in washer? So does handwashing do as well cleaning the micros?
You can hand wash them. I will just wash them out in the sink. Or I will wash them with other like items like T-shirts or something gentle 🙂
I soak mine with minimal amount of mild soap in 105-10°F water for 20min or so, then scrub and rinse until it runs clean (sometimes more than 7 scrubby rinses). It is best to let air dry in my experience. If I wish to disinfect them I wet them until they are drippingly soaked and put them in the microwave for 2 minutes. I then let them sit in the microwave until they cool down. Then I rinse them again in cold water and hand to air dry.
They are great for washing dishes, as well as using dry microfiber to dry. Clean galore. my wife is sensitive to certain man-made chemicals so we have used microfiber for at least 12 years now. I recommended them for the maintenance department at the 24/7 treatment center for the Department of Health New Mexico. The infection control nurse whole-heartedly agreed.
Yes they are! So much better than using all the chemicals 🙂