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You can find microfiber in clothes, sheets, and blankets, but you might not realize the cleaning cloths you use regularly are also microfiber. At Reviewed we recommend microfiber cloths for all sorts of cleaning tasks, but not without some considerations. Waffle Weave Microfiber
You’ve likely heard about microplastic pollution, and heard the words microplastic and microfiber used interchangeably. That’s because microfiber cloths are made of microplastic—usually tiny plastic fibers.
Global microplastic pollution, which includes the tiny microfiber bits that rinse out of fabrics in the wash, has become such a problem that scientists say the average human could now be consuming a full credit card’s worth of microplastics every week.
The good news is that there are ways to mitigate the pollution from your microfiber car cloths and microfiber towels when you put them into the wash.
How much cloth do you lose along the way?
Microfiber is a type of synthetic fiber that’s used in fabrics. Microfiber can be made of nylon, polyester, rayon, and acrylic. Most of these are derived from fossil fuels.
Rayon is an exception, as it is chemically synthesized from materials like wood or bamboo pulp. This doesn’t mean it’s clean however, some sources say viscose rayon could make up approximately 60% of microplastics on the ocean floor.
Microfiber is found in everything from car cloths and towels to blankets and sheets. It offers the benefit of being highly absorbent and long lasting, making it very effective for cleaning.
Lots of the world’s microfiber pollution ends up in the ocean.
Fabrics made with microfibers might have novel properties, like extreme absorbency, heat retention, or water resistance, but they do have a downside. Microfiber textiles shed bits of microplastics that build up in the environment and can affect the human body in harmful ways.
While microfiber particles can scuff off and fall away from garments as you use them, laundry usually creates the greatest vector for microfiber pollution. Tumbling through sudsy hot water, microfiber sheds from garments and directly enters the water system through laundry waste water.
Microplastic pollution can even be small enough to enter the body as particulate airborne pollution. It’s also been shown to be able to move through the body in disturbing ways, crossing the blood brain barrier and even making its way into the placenta in pregnant people.
Because microplastics can be so small and mobile, preventing microplastic pollution entirely is difficult, but there are steps you can take.
A decent multi-surface cloth can help elevate your cleaning skills and cut back on waste.
The Mr. Siga Microfiber Cleaning Cloth is a classic polyester and nylon multipurpose cleaning cloth. Use it for countertops, dusting, cleaning the bathroom sink, or use it as a microfiber car cloth.
Made of 85% polyester and 15% nylon, it is tough enough to handle chemical cleaners and absorbent enough to do a strong job at any cleaning task.
A classic microfiber cleaning cloth, Mr. Siga is good throughout the home.
This 10-pack of towels uses bamboo material that's super soft so you don't have to worry damaging delicate surfaces around your home.
The Evriholder Bamboo Naturals microfiber set comes in a 10-pack. These towels are good for everything from cars to dusting.
Evriholder claims that their microfiber cloths are made of bamboo microfiber, which is most likely a viscose rayon (the exact material isn’t disclosed). While bamboo viscose comes with its own set of issues, it is synthesized from a plant, rather than fossil fuels. Microfiber particles that break away while you use it might be biodegradable.
Made of bamboo-based rayon, this 10-pack can be used again and again.
Tackle larger surface areas with these 100% rayon viscose biodegradable cloths.
This absorbent shammy cloth will last for repeated use. A slightly larger size, these can be cut for dish towels or used as is for floor cleaners, dusters, or car cleaners.
Made of rayon viscose, these German made shammy cloths are made of synthetic plant material. While the company claims that they are biodegradable, like other rayon products, whether they actually biodegrade will likely depend on how they are disposed of.
These German made shammy cloths are made from rayon.
The E-cloth microfiber duo is great for windows and mirrors when you want a sparkling result.
A glass cleaning kit that doubles as an excellent microfiber car cloth, this E-Cloth comes with two cloth textures that are meant to be used together on windshields or windows.
The waffle-weave cloth is used to spread water, with the smooth-weave cloth following it and mopping up. Designed to pick up miniscule dirt particles, these cloths can be used without any chemicals, simply wet them with water to clean.
These microfiber cloths are designed to be washed and used again and again.
A two cloth system for cleaning glass.
Get more bang for your buck with a 12-pack.
This 12-pack of microfiber cleaning cloths is extremely economical. Each of these 11.5” square cloths is good for repeat use. Use them with cleaning sprays or simple water, and they will be effective on different surfaces, from glass to your shower.
This 12-pack comes with enough cloth for the whole home.
These clever tools can stop microfibers from spreading and contaminating your water.
Microfiber towels and microfiber car cloths shed microplastics as they’re used. However, washing is one of the most important vectors for microfiber pollution. Not only does machine washing put more physical wear and tear on these cloths and cause more shedding, but it also creates a pathway for microfiber to enter our water.
Microfiber traps that install directly onto washing machines are increasingly becoming available for home use, however, these can be challenging to install. Girlfriend Collective offers an affordable microfiber trap, however it will take some work to fit to your washer.
Until more washers come with microfiber filters, your best bet for reducing microfiber waste from your towels and synthetic clothing, might be the Guppyfriend Washing Bag. This bag is made to catch microfiber particles and keep them from washing away into wastewater. These can then be sealed and disposed of in the trash so they won't enter the water supply.
This microfiber trap makes dryers more ecologically friendly.
This washing bag contains microplastics shed by synthetic fabrics.
Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time. The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or Flipboard for the latest deals, product reviews, and more.
Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or Flipboard for the latest deals, product reviews, and more.
Microfiber Coral Fleece Towel ©2024 Reviewed, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network LLC. All rights reserved. Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.