Tag: microfiber

Microfiber Cloth Cleaning Hacks

Posted on August 6, 2018 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks, Healthy Home

Microfiber was developed in Japan during the 70’s for swimwear. Ten years later, European scientists found that it was the perfect fabric for cleaning due to its absorbency. By the early 2000s, the microfiber industry had exploded. Even though microfiber has been around for decades, there are many who have yet to try cleaning with microfiber tools. Take a look at all you can do with microfiber – it’s worth the investment!

Perfect windows – There are many different types of microfiber cleaning cloths. For windows, use a fine woven microfiber. It almost looks silky. The microfibers are very small and will leave windows perfectly clean. Dunk the cloth into hot water and wring it out well so it’s damp. Wipe it over the glass and then watch as it picks up dirt then dries perfectly without streaks or smears. Or spray the glass with water and use a dry microfiber cloth as if it’s a paper towel. Dry the glass completely and it will be free of streaks, smears and lint.

Save on paper towels – Use microfiber cloths in place of paper towels when cleaning. Microfiber is more absorbent than paper towels and better for the environment since they are reusable. Be sure to launder microfiber cloths, towels and mop heads with only other microfiber materials.

Chemical free dusting – Most spray dusting polishes leave layers of silicone on furniture. Instead, use a dry microfiber cloth to dust your furniture. Microfiber has tiny fibers that hold onto dust. It will hold onto dust and dirt particles until laundered which makes dusting much faster.

Preventing cross-contamination – Hospitals have used microfiber mops for years to prevent cross-contamination. You can use in your home for the same reason! Microfiber mops have a cover that attaches with Velcro onto the end of the mop. Once it’s dirty it can be removed and laundered. It’s like using a brand-new mop every time you clean. No more smelly, moldy mops!

Large outdoor windows – Homeowners may struggle keeping large windows clean from salt, pollen and other outdoor elements. A damp microfiber cloth wiped over large windows will remove any salt or pollen and leave the windows looking crystal-clear.

Dusting walls – Instead of washing the walls in your home, try dusting them instead. Use a microfiber mop with a dry mop head and dust your walls in minutes. The microfiber will pick up the dust without dealing with a bucket and rag.

Ceiling fans – Have you looked at the paddles of your ceiling fan lately? Dust them quickly with a large-looped microfiber cloth. Using the dry cloth, wipe it gently over the fan paddles to pick up and remove dust. This task will takes minutes and leaves the fan dust free.

Perfect granite – If you have dark granite counter tops, you may struggle with streaks and smears from cleaning. Try using a microfiber cloth designed for glass. Dampen the cloth and wipe over the granite to leave it looking showroom perfect!

To read more from Leslie about cleaning with microfiber, check out this blog:

https://maidbrigade.com/blog/microfiber-for-cleaning/

Microfiber for cleaning - what's the big deal?

Posted on January 27, 2017 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

For the past twenty years I've been sharing the incredible value of microfiber for cleaning. But there are still people who don’t know about this “miracle” for their household cleaning, and if you're one, keep reading. Microfiber can clean any surface with just water and leave it free from dirt, grease, smears, streaks or lint. It’s a great option when you are trying to take the toxins out of your cleaning.

What is microfiber

By definition microfiber is any thread that is smaller than 10 microns (about 1/5 the thickness of a human hair). Microfiber that is designed for cleaning is a thread that has been split or cut with a machine so that it has numerous cleaning surfaces. That makes it very absorbent, with the capability to hold from five to seven times its own weight in liquid.

There are various grades and price points for microfiber products. Some are overpriced but overall you do get what you pay for. Seek out mid to high quality cloths – you won’t regret it. Because it’s made from polyester or a polyester blend, it offers longer lasting, higher durability, and greater efficacy than traditional cleaning cloths.

History

Microfiber is not just for cleaning. Originally, microfiber was manufactured by the Japanese for swimsuit material. Microfiber clings well to the body so the swimsuits looked great. But it was found to be very absorbent and not a good choice for swimwear.

Scientists in Sweden took the absorbent fabric and started manufacturing microfiber cloths for commercial use. Starting in the early 1990’s, Europeans started marketing microfiber as a new way to clean.

Uses

There are now many other uses for microfiber other than cleaning. Car detailers have been using microfiber cloths for years because of their lint-free properties. Furniture manufacturers use the fabric because it can be cleaned with just a damp cloth. Even the NBA uses microfiber basketballs designed by Spalding, because it doesn’t need the break in period that a leather basketball needs.

Disinfecting properties

Independent studies have found that microfiber does an excellent job of disinfection without the need for chemicals. This is very important if you have children, pets, elderly family members or those with asthma/allergy problems or compromised immune systems living at home because these groups are particularly vulnerable to the many ingredients in traditional cleaning products containing toxins.

Microfiber disinfects by going underneath the bacteria and lifting it off the surface. All those teeny tiny cleaning surfaces hold onto the bacteria until you place it into the wash. The combination of hot water and laundry soap releases the bacteria into the water so it can be washed away with the waste water.

With microfiber you don’t need to use harsh chemicals to make a surface free from bacteria. So it’s a totally opposite technique to our current ways of disinfecting, which includes lots of chemicals and a two-step (clean first, then disinfect) process.

There’s really no reason not to look at microfiber for cleaning – it cleans better, faster and with fewer chemicals plus it last longer than other options.

How to use

Microfiber is so easy to use. Just wet the cloth with water, wring it out really well and start wiping dirty or germy surfaces. Then, for perfection on a particular surface, dry the area with a dry microfiber cloth. This combination will leave the surface immaculate. To get the most out of each cloth during cleaning, fold each cloth in half and then fold it in half again. This gives you eight cleaning surfaces to use. After wiping an area, switch to another clean area of the cloth so you are using a clean side each time.

To prevent cross contamination on germy surfaces, use a color-coded system. For example, the pros at Maid Brigade use only red cloths in the bathroom (think, “code red”), only yellow in the kitchen (think, “yellow”), blue for mirrors and glass (most have a blue hue) and green for dusting and general cleaning (G = general). This method eliminates the chance that germs will be spread from room to room.

How to care for microfiber

High quality microfiber can be washed with hot water and laundry SOAP (detergent builds up on fabric and will leave a film in the cloth). High quality microfiber cloths can be dried in the dryer on warm heat. Dryers tend to melt the threads of the lower-grade fabrics, fusing all those microscopic cleaning surfaces together, making the cloth no more effective than a regular rag. If you’re not sure of the quality of your microfiber, just let the cloth air dry. Never use dryer sheets as the oil in the sheets will accumulate in the threads of the fabric and compromise its cleaning ability. You also want to wash your microfiber cloths separately, because lint and other fibers will get trapped in those cleaning surfaces, clogging them and ruining their performance.

For more about microfiber, click here.

Holiday Cleaning Hacks

Posted on November 1, 2016 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

During the holiday season nothing stresses people out more than cleaning up for guests. Short on time? Use these holiday cleaning “hacks” to get your home ready in a jiffy.

Only clean what’s dirty – As pros we are programmed for thoroughness but with a jiffy clean we are intentionally finding ways to cut corners. When you're in a hurry, why clean things that aren’t dirty? Instead, spot clean the areas that you can see are dirty like the handles on refrigerators and microwaves. Look around and then clean the areas that look like they need attention.

Use a “tool belt” – You would never see a carpenter going up and down a ladder every time he needed a nail. Instead he carries everything he needs in a tool belt so he can work more efficiently. You can use the same system to make your cleaning easier. Gather all your cleaning products, cloths, brushes and other tools you’ll need and place them in a bucket so you can take them from room to room. Or you can find a comfortable apron with pockets and loops so your bottles and rags will be right where you need them.

Use your vacuum instead of a dry mop – Dry mops do a great job of lifting dirt, but you still have to use a dusting broom and a dustpan to get the dirt off the floor. Remove this step by just using a canister style vacuum with a dusting brush attachment. You’ll be cleaning the same area but removing the step of filling and emptying the dust pan.

Use a feather duster – Instead of polishing your furniture with a polishing spray and cloth, switch to a high quality ostrich feather duster. You can dust every flat surface without moving a thing. A genuine ostrich feather duster will hold onto the dust until you shake it out. Can’t find one? Try a microfiber “feather” duster instead.

Use your appliances – Don’t waste time cleaning something when you can let the dishwasher do the work for you. You can use it to clean items on your bathroom vanity or even the filter over your stove. Your dishwasher can be a very valuable cleaning tool.

Only clean what your guests will see – If you only have a small amount of time to clean, focus only on the areas a guest might see. Leave the upstairs bedrooms for another time. Spend your time on the entry way, hallway, kitchen and the room where you might ask your guests to sit. As far as the other rooms and the upstairs - keep the doors closed. Guests usually won’t open a closed door.

Clean your bathroom in minutes – Start by NOT cleaning the shower. Use a damp, fine woven microfiber cloth and wipe all the surfaces. Start with the mirrors, then move down to the vanity area and save the toilet for last. You don’t even have to dry the areas once you’ve wiped them with a microfiber cloth. They will look perfect when you’re done.

Just swish the toilet bowl– Don’t bother with toilet bowl cleaner when you are quick cleaning. Use the toilet brush and give the inside of the toilet a quick swish. Then flush and move on.

Use your dishwasher to hide dirty dishes – If you don’t have a dishwasher then you can place a large tub under the sink and place the dirty dishes there until you have time to wash them.

Steam clean your microwave – Place a microwavable bowl filled with water into the microwave. Run it on high for 3-4 minutes. Once it’s done, carefully remove the bowl and wipe the sides of the microwave with a microfiber cloth. Any stuck on food should wipe right off.

Lint rollers and paint brushes – Need to get into tight areas quickly? Keep a lint roller and paintbrush in your tool apron. Lint rollers are great for pet hair on furniture as well as dusting lamp shades. Paint brushes are wonderful for removing dust and dirt tucked into hard to reach areas.

Use natural fragrances to cover up your cleaning problems – Sometimes you just don’t have the time to clean but you can “hide” your dirt behind a nice aroma. But don't use store-bought air fresheners - synthetic fragrances usually contain toxins you don't want in your home. Instead, make natural fragrances in a jiffy using a few drops of your favorite essential oils mixed into a bottle of witch hazel and spray entryways and door jambs so your guests will smell the lovely fragrance and overlook your cleaning shortcomings.

But let's face it. Some days there is no gas in the tank for anything extra. If you’ve run out of time or motivation to even do the smallest cleanup, just turn down the lights and turn on a few battery operated candles. You’ll be surprised how nice and clean a room looks with minimal lighting and a few candles.

If you have more time for truly sparkling results, check out the new Holiday Clean Up: 20-Day Challenge I created with Maid Brigade. It's a step-by-step plan to deep clean the three most visible rooms during entertaining, with only one or two tasks per day. Keep it on your phone or tablet for a handy reference during the holidays.