When it comes to the type of cleaning cloths professional cleaners use, the debate of cotton versus microfiber continues in some quarters. While microfiber has primarily become the industry standard, there are questions about microfiber that should be answered when considering it for a green cleaning program.
First, let’s look at how these two materials stack up:
Microfiber
Cotton
Absorbency
Absorbs 7x the amount of liquid versus cotton.1
Can absorb 25x its weight in water.2
Environmental Impact During Production
Requires twice as much energy as cotton to produce.
Requires the use of pesticides and fertilizers. Requires 713 gallons of water to create one t-shirt.3
Reusability
Can be washed 500-1000 times before losing its effectiveness.3
Can be washed 20-50 times before losing its effectiveness.
Water Usage
Uses less water to clean because it dries faster, and bacteria have less chance to take hold. Because of its natural particle-trapping properties, it requires less water (and product) to clean with.
Dries slowly and can become a harbor for bacteria and odor, requiring more water to clean. It also primarily pushes dirt particles around versus picking them up, so more water may be necessary for cleaning.
Environmental Impact, After Use
Not biodegradable. There is a concern about microplastics entering the environment and our bodies. However, most of these come from clothing, cosmetics, and decaying plastic items like bottled water. And there are no studies to see if these microplastics harm humans, so their impact is unclear.4
Cotton cloths are biodegradable and recyclable, although the latter depends on what they were used to pick up / contamination.
That’s why most cleaning professionals concentrate on reusability and effectiveness when choosing between the two. In this case, microfiber is the clear winner. Here’s a video excerpt from our “Green Cleaning Best Practices” course on the EnvirOx Training Portal that talks more about why microfiber outperforms cotton:
So, if microfiber is the clear winner in performance, what can you do to reduce its impact on the environment?
If you have any questions on microfiber towel vs regular towel. We will give the professional answers to your questions.