Questioning Microfibre Cloths

Who'd have thought there'd be a better way to scrub things clean than using good old soap and water?
If you've tried the latest microfibre cleaning cloths, you'll know that technology really can make life easier. Not only are these cloths more hygienic, they avoid the need for expensive (and often harmful) detergents and they get things looking far cleaner in a lot less time.

Sales pitch for Microfibre cloths

So why do I feel so uncomfortable about using microfibre?

After all so many of the green and eco websites and shops, are happy to stock this new wonder fabric.

Yes, I agree that microfibre cloths are able to clean better because of their super fine fibres, and do require less detergent if any at all to work.
That's all very commendable, and preventing toxins getting into our water systems is great. But what about the long term?

The issue of toxins in the water system is a valid point.
However, today there are more and more environment friendly cleaning alternatives on the market, which can be used with the traditional cloths without any problem for the environment, with mirofibre cloth, traditional cloth or no cloth at all.

Using less cleaning product is another good point, but in reality most people will inevitably use only a tiny amount less than previously.
I wouldn't think that many actually measure out the dose when cleaning a surface, and 99% of us use far more than is required of any product anyway due to the volume and speed the product dispensed from the bottle.

Microfibre cloths are not anti bacterial, but do hinder bacterial growth simply because particles do not cling to the fibres in the way they can do on traditional cloths.

The issue of bacteria breeding on cloths which are then transpoted to surfaces is also good point today. Although personally I agree with being as hygenic as possible. I do not agree with the over zealous use of anti bacterial products, and do believe that the media has hyped the fear of bacteria to the point where we are creating a more harmful environment by taking a sledge hammer to crack a nut approach.
We need some bacteria in our lives in order to create an immunity, and the killing of 99% of bacteria in my opinion allows the 1% of bacteria left to grow in strength, to the point where we cannot or find it increasingly difficult to protect our system from harm.

I ll not go into further detail on this today as it is a huge topic on its own. But my gut feeling is that this selling point of microfibre is clutching at straws, and avoids the point of why cannot bacteria attach to the cloth.

The answer to that is my main concern above all else.
The reason particles do not cling to the cloth is that the cloth is made from 50 percent polyester and 50 percent polyamide, in short NYLON. A product derived from the petrochemical industry.

The fact that microfibre cloths are essentially made from Nylon is for me a huge environmental concern!

If you are of an eco conscious mind then you may be questioning:

• What happens to all these cloths when we have finished with them?
• How quickly will they biodegrade?
• What gases may be given off during the breakdown process?

Not only that, but how much environmental damage is caused during the initial production of the Nylon fibre?

Here is a link to the chemistry side of the biodegradability of Nylon for those interested or can understand the science.

Should we still be applauding microfibre as a new eco product or not?

I guess it depends on your environmental view point to answer that one.

Personally I will still avoid microfibre and opt for one of the most eco friendly cloth fabrics on earth Hemp.
Studies show Hemp fabric has 8 times the durability of cotton and is naturally anti bacterial. When I no longer want to use the hemp cloth, I can rest assured that it will return to the earth again without adding pollution to our over loaded beautiful planet, Earth.

Namaste x