Microfiber Cleaning Products Buying Guide

Make dirt and dust disappear by using the right microfiber cleaning product! Not only are they easy to use and reusable, but they will leave your facility spotless. With our vast selection of microfiber wet mops, dry mops, cloths, and mitts, you are bound to find the right products to help maintain and clean your facility.

What is Microfiber?

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Microfiber is a synthetic fiber made from a blend of polyester and polyamide. The small fibers are one-sixteenth the size of a human hair and they act as a "hook" to scrape up and hold dust, dirt, and grime. It's also a great alternative to cotton! While cotton fibers push dirt around and only hold on the outer surface, microfiber grasps unwanted particles and doesn't leave any residue behind. Microfiber uses and applications are quite varied, from housekeeping to automotive maintenance. Use a microfiber cloth for glasses to remove spots or stains, or use a microfiber mop to get your floors cleaner than when using a cotton mop.

What are the Benefits of Microfiber?

Ultra Absorbent

Microfiber products can absorb up to seven times their weight in water due to their high density and surface area. Cleaning up spills is simple with a microfiber mop because it reduces the amount of water and chemicals needed to clean up a mess. Plus, because microfiber is lighter compared to cotton, microfiber mops give your back a break when mopping floors.

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Cost Effective

Once a microfiber product is soiled, simply throw it in the wash! Most microfiber cloths, mops, and pads can withstand over 500 uses (use then launder), provided you follow this simple tip: Don't use microfiber with or wash it with bleach or fabric softener. Bleach degrades the material, breaking it down quicker. Microfiber material also lasts longer than cotton, which means you don't have to buy microfiber cleaning cloths as often as cotton cleaning cloths.

Pathogen Prevention

Pathogens, bacteria, and viruses will "stick" to a microfiber cloth or mop head until they're laundered out, which is a plus for hospitals, daycare operations, retirement communities, and restaurant kitchens. Unlike cotton products, microfiber is made of inorganic materials, ensuring that pathogens have nothing to feed on!

Improved Cleaning

Since microfibers soak up more water and trap more dirt, many users find that they don't need to use nearly as much cleaning product and water to get the job done. Because of this efficiency, cleaning jobs take less time and less labor. From mopping floors to polishing metal, microfiber products cut back on chemicals, time, and grime. When washing, be mindful that fabric softener clings to and coats the microfiber and it won't clean surfaces as well or rinse as thoroughly.

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Environmentally Friendly

Because microfiber items help you save on the amount of time and product needed to clean, you'll use less water and harsh chemicals! Using a wet microfiber cloth to clean mirrors and counters saves on paper towels. Plus, recycled plastic products are often used to produce microfiber products, which in turn, can be recycled when sent to companies that repurpose them.

Microfiber vs. Cotton Fibers

Microfiber has openings and spaces in the fibers that help to capture particles and reduce the amount of residue left on surfaces after cleaning. Those open spaces help the fibers act as hooks, gently lifting away dirt, grime, and bacteria.

Traditional cleaning products using cotton fibers don't have those tiny spaces, so particulates aren't trapped the same way. Cotton fibers tend to push dirt around, rather than trapping it away.

Diagram showing the anatomy of microfiber vs. cotton fiber

How to Clean Microfiber Cloth Products

If you are wondering how to wash microfiber cloth towels, or other microfiber products, the answers are simple. Most products can be washed in a washing machine and will be rated for a certain number of washings.

While normal detergents are fine for use with microfiber, there are a couple important things to keep in mind when cleaning microfibers:

Don't use bleach. Using bleach causes the material to deteriorate, reducing the life of the microfiber.
Don't use fabric softener. Microfiber works so well because of the open spaces in the fibers. When microfiber products are washed with fabric softener, these open spaces become clogged, which reduces the microfiber's effectiveness.

Choosing the Right Microfiber Products

You may not have known, but there are a wide range of microfiber cleaning cloths and products due to the weight and pile (length of the microfiber fibers). The weight and pile of a microfiber product is measured in GSM. Continue reading to learn more about which GSM is right for your needs.

What is GSM?

GSM stands for grams per square meter. Microfiber cloths vary greatly and range from 50 GSM to 600 GSM depending on their weight and pile. Economy grade microfiber ranges from 150 to 250 GSM and professional grade is considered to be 300 and above. The most common and popular weight of microfiber towels is 300 GSM, as this is often the GSM of multi-purpose microfiber towels.

If you are cleaning things like walls, tile floors, or stove tops, a higher GSM is the best microfiber cloth for that application, compared to a lower GSM cloth that is perfect for light cleaning like wiping off glass or mirrors.

A higher GSM microfiber towel is:

Heavier in weight ensuring better durability

Capable of absorbing more liquid

Thicker and more plush, with a higher pile

Able to pull away debris from surfaces without the risk of scratching

Gentle for cleaning

A lower GSM microfiber towel is:

Lighter in weight

Less likely to streak or lint on surfaces like glass

Thinner and less plush

Microfiber Options

Many types of cleaning products are now available in microfiber. Microfiber wet mops and dry mops allow you to make sure your floors are their cleanest, while microfiber cloths and mitts are so versatile that they can be used virtually anywhere, for any task.

Product Type	Usage	Benefits
Wet Mops	Hardwood floors Tile floors Vinyl floors Linoleum floors	Designed to clean hospital, restaurant, and store floors Greater surface area than cotton mop heads Non-abrasive and gentle Lightweight Require less water and chemicals Washable and reusable Interchangeable mop heads allow for greater sanitation safety in healthcare environments Multiple colors available for color coding to reduce cross-contamination
Dry Mops	Hardwood floors Tile floors Vinyl floors Linoleum floors Ceilings Fan blades	Great for restaurant, kitchen, and diner hard surfaces Large, looped fringe keeps dust from flying Streak-free, residue-free cleaning Washable and reusable Interchangeable mop heads allow for greater sanitation safety in healthcare environments Multiple colors available for color coding to reduce cross-contamination
Cloths	Bars Counters Tables Booths and chairs	Perfect for general dusting, polishing, and cleaning Can be used with cleaners, sprays, polishes, and water solutions Non-abrasive material Absorbs dust and dirt without leaving streaks Washable and reusable Multiple colors available for color coding to reduce cross-contamination
Mitts	Bars Counters Tables Booths and chairs Small, hard-to-clean areas and crevices	Ideal for dusting, polishing glass, and cleaning both wet and dry spills or messes Easily fits over hand, keeps hands clean Can use with cleaners, sprays, polishes, and water solutions Non-abrasive material Absorbs dust and dirt without leaving streaks Washable and reusable Multiple colors available for color coding to reduce cross-contamination

Color-Coded Microfiber Cleaning Cloths

Using a color coding or a HACCP color coding system within your establishment has multiple benefits for your employees and patrons. Color coding is a great way to help prevent cross-contamination, deter chemical misuse, and enhance building safety. This kind of system also improves employee training and communication. Use the table below to create your own color coding system:

Knuckle Buster red microfiber cleaning cloth

High-Risk
Red Microfiber Cleaning Cloth

Use this cloth for places with a higher risk of contamination and bacteria. This includes around toilets and urinals.

Knuckle Buster yellow microfiber cleaning cloth

Low-Risk
Yellow Microfiber Cleaning Cloth

Low-risk areas include the rest of the bathroom, such as below sinks and mirrors, or specialty areas such as labs and gyms.

Knuckle Buster blue microfiber cleaning cloth

All-Purpose Cleaning
Blue Microfiber Cleaning Cloth

Use this color for everyday areas including office floors, hallways, and day-to-day work areas.

Knuckle Buster green microfiber cleaning cloth

Food Service
Green Microfiber Cleaning Cloth

Dedicate this cloth to food service areas including the kitchen and behind the bar.

Microfiber Accessories

Frames

Wet mop frames and dry mop frames will help you mop with ease! By connecting it to your microfiber mop head, you can maneuver the mop in and around hard-to-clean areas.

Mop Handles

Attach a handle to your microfiber mop head and frame for fast and efficient cleaning.

Black mop handle for microfiber mop heads

Not only is it easy to pick up and use around your facility, it ensures you never have to bend over and scrub your floor by hand. For more information on mop handles, check out our Mop Handles Buying Guide!

Mop Buckets

Microfiber mop buckets come in a variety of colors and can be bought to match your microfiber mop.

Lavex yellow mop bucket with casters and handle

If you are using a wet mop head, a mop bucket is helpful for mopping in a big space or room. It also aids in transport from one room to another. The mop bucket holds your water and allows you to strain excess liquid from your wet mop head so that you can clean expertly and efficiently.