The Microfiber Cleaning Cloth Conundrum

One of the most popular posts on my blog over the last six years has been a post about microfiber cloths. I believe readers continue visiting and commenting on that post because microfiber cleaning cloths remain a popular cleaning tool, but they have become increasingly controversial.

Some experts laud these cloths as a green cleaning wonder, but others scorn them as a menace to the environment. Which is true? Should we be using microfiber products when cleaning our homes? Here are some details to help you answer these questions.

What is microfiber?

Microfiber is a synthetic fabric comprised of polyester and nylon. Individual microfibers are much thinner in diameter than human hair. Those used in cleaning cloths, mop pads, and other cleaning tools are split in a way that creates spaces within each fiber. These spaces can absorb up to 8 times their weight in liquid and trap dust and germs so they are not spread around or released into the air. In fact, studies have shown that split microfiber products can reduce the bacteria count on surfaces much more effectively than cotton (source). These abilities make microfiber useful for dusting, cleaning surfaces like counters and toilets, mopping floors, washing dishes, and cleaning mirrors.

Regular microfibers (non-split) are soft, so they aren’t useful for cleaning because they are not absorbent. Regular microfiber is used in things like clothing, sheets, and upholstery fabric. You should be able to tell if a product is regular or split microfiber by checking its label. If it is not labeled, then run your hand over the cloth. If it grabs at your skin, then it is split microfiber.

Why microfiber is touted to be green

There are a number of ways in which microfiber is a green choice.

• Microfiber saves trees. Unlike paper towels and disposable cleaning wipes, microfiber does not contribute to deforestation.
• Microfiber saves water and reduces pesticide use. Cotton, the leading competitor for microfiber cloths, is nowhere near as green as it seems. Cotton crops require a significant amount of water. In fact, a whopping 20,000 liters of water is required to produce a single kilogram of cotton, which is only enough cotton for a single t-shirt and pair of jeans (source). Additionally, 84 million pounds of pesticides are applied to U.S. cotton crops each year (source). Microfiber cloths are produced using less water and no pesticides.
• Microfiber reduces the use of cleaning chemicals. Microfiber cleans surfaces much more effectively than cotton or paper, so fewer chemicals are needed when cleaning. Researchers have found that cotton-loop mops can reduce the amount of bacteria on floors by just 30%, but microfiber mops can reduce bacteria by 99% (source).
• Microfiber reduces waste. Paper products are only effective for one use and cotton products generally begin breaking down after 30 uses. These products quickly crowd landfills. Microfiber products, on the other hand, can be used 200-300 times before they begin losing their effectiveness and need to be disposed of (source).

Why microfiber isn’t all that green

There are a couple of alarming reasons why microfiber isn’t a green choice.

• Microfiber doesn’t biodegrade. Microfiber is essentially plastic so, unlike cotton and paper, it doesn’t biodegrade.
• Microfiber contributes to microplastic pollution. When microfiber is washed, small pieces break off and get into the water. This water goes to a treatment plant and is eventually released into the environment. Unfortunately, tiny pieces of plastic (less than five millimeters long) often remain in the water. Researchers have found these tiny pieces of plastic in oceans, fresh water, animals, the air, and drinking water (both bottled and tap water).

The conundrum

As you can see, there are no easy answers here. Paper products are definitely harmful to the environment, but things aren’t so clear when it comes to microfiber or even cotton. Both of these are beneficial and harmful to the environment. The same is true of many other “eco-friendly cleaning cloths,” such as airlaid paper, because they often contain some synthetic components that render them non-recyclable and prevent them from biodegrading.

Should we use microfiber or not?

Keeping all of this in mind, should we use microfiber or not? I wish I could give you a cut-and-dried answer, but the reality is that this is a complex issue.

I think we should reduce our use of microfiber. However, this doesn’t just apply to cleaning cloths. What many people don’t realize is that the main contributor to microplastic pollution isn’t microfiber cleaning cloths. The top sources are vehicle tires (abrasion on roadways causes the release of microplastics), synthetic clothing, plastic pellets used in the manufacturing of plastic products, external paint (roadway markings and building paint), marine coatings, and personal care products (source and source). Interestingly, the plastics found most often in drinking water are polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polypropylene, which are plastics often used in the manufacturing of water bottles (source). In other words, eliminating our use of microfiber cleaning cloths does little to address the release of microplastics into the environment.

Another thing to consider is that there are greener ways to use microfiber cloths. According to experts (source and source), we can reduce the release of microplastics by doing the following:

• Washing the cloths only when necessary.
• Filling up the washing machine when washing the cloths (full loads allow for less friction between cloths).
• Using liquid laundry soap (powdered soap is slightly abrasive, loosening more fibers).
• Using cold wash settings (higher temperatures can damage the microfibers, causing more to break free).
• Air drying the cloths (the heat and friction in the dryer cause microfibers to break free).
• Making sure lint from the dryer ends up in the trashcan.
• Purchasing a lint trap for the washing machine.
• Purchasing a Guppyfriend or Cora Ball to trap microfibers in the wash.

Of course, choosing cleaning cloths made of natural fibers eliminates the need to do all of these things. However, as we discussed above, conventional cotton isn’t really green. If we purchase cotton cleaning cloths, mop pads, and other tools, the green option is to purchase ones made of organic cotton. We need to support, and purchase products that are produced as the result of, organizations that promote cleaner, sustainable cotton production.

As far as I understand, the single greenest thing we can do is to make cleaning cloths and mop pads from things we already have. We all have old socks that have holes in them, t-shirts that are torn, or other clothes that no longer fit or are worn out. These make great cleaning cloths! They may not pick up germs and debris as well as microfiber, but they get the job done. These may not be made of organic cotton, but tossing them out doesn’t benefit the environment. We might as well use them for all they’re worth!

I hope this post has clarified some things for you and given you helpful information to use as you decide what to use when cleaning your home. What additional insights can you share? What green things do you do when cleaning your home?

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Farm Fresh Tuesdays, Busy Monday, Over the Moon, and Encouraging Hearts and Home.