X Press
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Time to look again at microfibre revolution
If you think microfibre is the answer to our cleaning prayers, you’re not alone. Its rise has been relatively swift with its growing number of converts eager to embrace its many advantages. However many do not fully understand the use and cost implications that must
go hand-in-hand with this technology.
irst produced in the 1950s, few applications for it could be thought of until Japanese scientists took it up in the 1960s and 0s. It found an audience in Europe in the 1990s and in 200 Rubbermaid introduced a line of microfibre products for Ameri- can markets, the first major company to do so. In Britain, SYR was the first company to sell microfibre floor cleaning cloths, and is still sell- ing them today. So what ex- actly is microfi- bre? It could be described as not so much a
Used dry, microfibre
acts like a dust magnet; used wet it can tackle the toughest grime.
material as a process. It takes ordinary material such as poly- ester and weaves it into fibres so small that a single strand is 100 times finer than a human hair. This makes the material much softer than the original and means several materials can be woven together to take advantage of specific properties they may possess. A good example is polyester and polyamide, the two most common materials found in a microfi- bre cloth. Polyester is used for its ability to be split and hold dirt, while polyamide is used for its absorbency. Other materials often used are cotton, nylon or even silk. A key term when de- scribing microfibre is whether or not the mate-
rial has been split. The fibres are split into thinner strands be- fore being woven together, which makes them better at removing contaminants from the surface. How does it work? Basically, the filaments in microfibre are positively charged, while dust and dirt carry a negative charge
It’s been hailed as perhaps the greatest single development in cleaning, but is microfibre a victim of its own success? SYR X Press investigates.
so are attracted to the microfibre. Used dry, microfibre acts like a dust magnet because of its electrostatic properties; used wet it can tackle the toughest grime thanks to its lipophilic nature which absorbs fat and grease. What makes a good microfibre
cloth? Perhaps the most important consideration is weave style. The best example of this is waffle weave drying cloths. This type of weave was found to be better at removing water because of the suction effect created by the weave as it moves across the surface. Coarse weaves are best for grease removal, while softer, thicker weaves are best for quick detail use.
Also important are the materials used and in what percentages – different cloths are suited to different tasks depending on the mix of materials and their qualities. A final key element in a good microfibre cloth is the seams.
made from petrochemicals and are not currently biodegradable, although they are of course designed for repeated use rather than being quickly discarded. Against this, microfibre’s ability to absorb fat and grease when wet, and its electrostatic properties which attract dust, can make many pollut- ing chemicals redundant. They also require less water than conventional loop mops. It could also be argued that the alternatives
Microfibre’s strength in picking up and
It follows that not all microfibre is the same. Cheaper products are likely to have too high a denier and may be non-split, resulting in reduced absorbency and cleaning ability. Cheaper versions may use a weave that is too wide or a pile that is too long, casing the fibres to break off during use, leaving a lint trail.
Efficient
Microfibre has undoubted advantages. Included in these are greater absorbency, reduced risk of scratching, lightness of use and greater cleaning ability. A recent study by the USA’s Environmental Protection Agency concluded that microfibres reduced chemical use and disposal, were less labour intensive, more cost efficient and cleaned far more effectively than conventional cleaners.
Environmentalists would point out that microfibres are not made from a renewable resource – polyester and nylon are
holding dirt is also its weakness.
are not eco-friendly either; cotton requires lots of water and pesticides to grow. A claim commonly made about microfibre is that it is easy care; it does not need to be washed every time it is used and can be rinsed under warm water several times before needing to be laundered. And it is here that SYR has found the problem
lies.
Microfibre’s strength in picking up and holding dirt is also its weakness. It loads very, very quickly, making the cloth ineffective after a short period of time – and it cannot be wrung out. Countless tests, observations and discussions over an eight- year period have led SYR to accept that microfibre cloths and mopheads must be professionally laundered or cleaned after a relatively short period of time. This would seem to be an aver- age of 200-300 sq ft in not more than eight minutes of mopping. As a result, the successful use of microfibre is associated
with high commercial laundry costs. Users have to be commit- ted to a strictly enforced regime of frequently replacing satu- rated cloths with clean, freshly laundered ones. In addition to daily laundering, microfibre products used in a healthcare environment also require thermal disinfections. SYR is tackling the microfibre problem in two ways – by pro- viding a means of unloading the microfibre head, and by look- ing again at the material; its composition, length, shape and openness of its fibres.
Solution lies in cost-effective laundering of cloths
Scot Young Research understands the advantages of microfibre. But it also un- derstands its weaknesses.
Many in the cleaning industry are using microfibre products in the same way that
they would use old cotton cloths. This means the redistribution of dirt is rife and the product itself becomes inef- fective after a period of time.
SYR can remove the dirt by unloading
microfibre heads during use with the Ultimate Scrubmaster.
They can then be periodically laun- dered with the Ultimate Washing Machine.
Ultimate Scrubmaster
Scrubmaster gives you flat mopping with an integrated mophead scrubbing system. The battery-powered wringer works using SYR’s Clear Solution detergent and turbulance to effectively clean the mop- head. This is the cleanest you will get a microfibfre mophead without laundering. The battery gives eight to 12 hours of normal use; simply
charge it up overnight ready for the next shift. A charge indicator allows you to keep check on the battery during use. Other benefits include: lclean water cleaning, thanks to flocculating detergents, and the sump and grid system; lvase shaped bucket reduces water usage; lportion control cuts overdosing, saving money and the envi- ronment; lergonomic height with ‘no strain’ leverage.
Ultimate Washing Machine
All mops – not just microfibre – need washing at some point. SYR’s first electrical item, it is also the first inexpensive launder- ing product on the market. The Ultimate Washing Machine takes 15 litres of water – sim-
The Ultimate Washing Machine is the first inexpensive laundering product on the market.
ply pour in three Klingon buckets of water! – and SYR’s floccu- lating fabric cleaner. The washing cycle takes just 15 minutes. The special pipe
makes emptying easy, then rinse the cloths through with cold water. They can then be wrung out with any SYR wringer.
Scrubmaster’s battery-powered mophead laundering system unloads microfibre.
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