In this post:
- Cleaning v. sanitizing v. disinfecting
- How microfiber cloths work
- Tips for long-lasting results
Before you start cleaning, it's good to understand the difference between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting.
Cleaning refers to the removal of dirt and impurities including germs from surfaces. Cleaning alone does not kill germs. But removing them decreases the number of germs and therefore any risk of spreading infection.
Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces. Disinfecting works by using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces. This process does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs. But killing germs remaining on a surface after cleaning further reduces any risk of spreading infection.
Sanitizing lies between the two. Sanitizing lowers the number of germs on surfaces to a safe level, as judged by public health standards or requirements, while disinfecting removes bacteria and viruses completely. You sanitize a surface by cleaning or disinfecting it to reduce the risk of spreading infection. In essence, sanitizing destroys all forms of microbial life and is used mainly in healthcare and laboratory settings.
In order to eliminate viruses, you should disinfect – not sanitize – because disinfectants are the only products approved by the EPA to kill viruses on hard surfaces. The main difference is that FDA-approved sanitizers only have claims for bacteria, while disinfectants have claims against both bacteria and viruses.
When you're ready to clean and disinfect, the order of operations is essential. An easy way to remember the order? “C” comes before “D”, so always clean before you disinfect.
How To Clean With Microfiber Cloths
Microfiber cloths can clean great with just water! You can also use them with your favorite cleaning products and disinfectants. When cleaning with microfiber cloths, fold them into fourths so you have multiple cleaning sides. Make sure you are using high-quality microfiber cloths for the best results.
What is Microfiber?
Microfiber is defined as a fiber that is 1 denier or less. What's a denier? It’s a measurement of fineness equal to a unit of fiber that weighs one gram for every 9000 meters, meaning it is tiny. To put it in perspective, microfiber is 1/100 the diameter of a human hair and 1/20 the diameter of a strand of silk. One square inch of a microfiber cloth has approximately 200,000 fibers.
Where Can You Use Microfiber?
You can use microfiber cloths in many areas of your home and office. Microfiber is positively charged, which attracts negatively charged dust particles like a magnet. This makes it more effective (and safer) than regular cloth and chemical sprays for dusting. Even better, you can just rinse it when you are done to release all the dust and then use it wet, making them versatile cleaning cloths for everyday use. When your towel is wet, it works great on smudged dirt, grease, and stains. The towel works best when you rinse it and then wring it out as it needs some absorbency to pick up grime.
Because microfiber is so absorbent, it is perfect on windows and surfaces that tend to streak. Since these towels can hold up to 7x their own weight in liquid, there is nothing left to streak the surface. This also makes it better than paper towels when cleaning up spills. Even better, microfiber cloths can be washed and reused over and over again without losing their efficacy.
Microfiber Cloth Uses:
- Dusting your home or office
- Removing streaks on glass and stainless steel
- Scrubbing bathrooms
- Cleaning appliances
- Wiping down kitchen counters
- Car interiors and exteriors
- Anywhere you would normally use a paper towel or cloth towel.
How Do you Disinfect With Microfiber?
Using your preferred disinfecting solution, you can easily disinfect spaces with microfiber cloths. Use a dedicated, color-coded microfiber cloth (microfiber comes in many colors, allowing for color-coding by space and use) plus your disinfectant to wipe down all frequently touched surfaces.
We all understand the importance of cleaning and disinfecting common areas like office areas, classrooms and cafeterias and more to help prevent the spread of colds, flu, and other common illnesses. Microfiber cloths are efficient and effective and can save you time and money by not having to use paper towels.
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