Frequently asked questions
What is microfiber
Microfiber consists of very fine threads of synthetic polymers (the consituents of plastic), mostly polyester and polyamide (nylon), that combine to form a single thread. Microfibers are so thin (100 times thinner than a single strand of human hair) that when they are woven together they create a surface area 40 times more than that of a regular fiber. Microfiber is traditionally defined as a fiber with a denier of less than one. Denier is a measure of thinness of fiber and is the weight in grams of a continuous fiber of 9,000 meters.
Some microfiber yarn is made up of pure polyester while other types can be made of bi-component such a nylon and polyester that are coextruded and separated during a splitting process. Bi-components microfiber is easily recognizable by its star-shape cross-section, the inner star filament being the nylon part while the surrounding polyester wedges make up the rest of the filaments.
How does microfiber work
Microfiber yarns increased surface area dramatically enhances their absorbing power, due to the capillary action of the finer threads (the finer the microfiber, the more absorbent). On average, a microfiber cloth can absorb up to seven time its dry weight in liquid.
As each microfiber strand may be even thinner than bacteria, it is able to efficiently lift and scoop up germs and the tiniest spekcs of dirt off a surface. The split bi-component microfiber polyester filaments sharp edges further increase their efficiency at trapping those fine particles. In comparison, the regular rounded polyester or cotton strands found on most other cloths only push the dirt around. As a consequence consequence, chemicals only become necessary as a disinfectant, as the bonding agent is no longer necessary to keep the dirt on the fiber.
Bi-component microfiber polymers also add on to their properties. Polyester is lyophilic, or has an affinity to oil, so that oil and grease adhere directly to the fibers. Polyamide is hydrophilic, which means it has an affinity to water. As a result, any type of dirt is very quickly and completely removed with microfiber, leaving a sparkling clean, streak-free surface. Good quality microfiber cleans without streaking, smearing, scratching or leaving lint. Microfiber is safe to use on all delicate surfaces. It will clean without scratching or harming the surface in any way.
What makes a good quality microfiber
Microfiber towels from different sources can vary greatly in quality. It is unfortunate that people sometimes purchase a high performance cleaning product on the basis of price alone – what they sometimes get is a product that does not perform as expected. Typically this can be pinpointed to two reasons:
1. The grade of yarn used in the beginning of the process is B,C, or even D grade.
2. The factory may utilize a flawed process when dying/splitting the yarn.
2. The factory may utilize a flawed process when dying/splitting the yarn.
The grade of yarn used is of paramount importance. A, AA, and AAA grade yarn is used in clothing and a select few cleaning product manufacturers that are willing to utilize it. Lower grade yarn is typically made with less refined plastics and polymers which do not have the same chemical structure as A grade yarn. This can reduce the ratio of split to un-split fibers in bi-component microfiber, and hence reduce the capillary effect and the static charges potential, and ultimately lead to lint, streaking, and a dramatic decrease in the amount of dirt and bacteria that can be absorbed and trapped within the fibers. Due to the limited supply of A (or better) grade microfiber, a vast majority of the microfiber offered on the market is B and C grade. Often, factories will purchase what they believe to be a high grade but receive a lower quality. As the difference is in the structure of the fiber itself, even a trained professional may not be able to tell the difference without running tests.
As one of the pioneers of the microfiber industry, we early recognized this quality issue as a major problem on the market and we set up early cooperations with factories in Asia to manufacture our own yarn, beginning with the melting of AA grade refined polymers. One advantage of STARFIBER®'s control over the supply chain is that we can consistently guarantee the absolute best quality microfiber on the market as we implement quality control at every step, from the fiber spinning stage right down to the cutting and sewing of our textile products.
Another common flaw that can be found on the lower grade microfiber is the addition of too much fabric softener in the later stage of the manufacturing process, during the the dyeing and splitting phases. Adding softener is an easy way to increase the soft feel of the fabric and appeal to the customer. However, fabric softerner is essentially a wax-like coating compound that surrounds and closes off the gaps in microfiber where the dirt, water, etc. would ordinarily be trapped. If too much is added, it all but eliminates the static charge that makes the fabric so proficient at trapping dust and particles.
How to clean with microfiber
Cleaning can be both simple, environmentally friendly and quickly achieved. We sometimes unfortunately use cleaning chemicals the wrong way or even un-necessarily. It is not neither necessary to vacuum clean the hard surfaces inside your house on a regular basis if you start cleaning with microfiber.
Dust mopping your floor with a dry STARFIBER® microfiber mop will usually be as efficient but much easier, especially during the summer season. You will save both time and electricity. You can also dust your walls and ceilings with the mop.
For dusting and sweeping, use the Microfiber Dust Pad – do not wet it! Glide the mop over a surface to pick up dust, dirt, pet hairs, etc. When the microfiber pad becomes filled with dust and particles, just peel the pad from the base, and then shake the pad out to remove loose dirt and particles. Re-attached the pad and continue dusting. The Microfiber Dust Pad does not need to be washed after every use – just wash the pad when it becomes very dirty.
If you need to deep clean your floor, damp the STARFIBER® Microfiber Mop Pad in warm water and squeeze out the water before you start moping the floor. The mop can be used on all floor surfaces since it leaves a minimum amount of water on the floor. Remember to even mop doorsteps and borders.
If the floor is very dirty or, if you would like to get rid of deep stains, you can use soft soap with a scrubbing microfiber pad. Wet the stain with the Floor Cleaner and work with the mop until the stain disappears.
Laundering microfiber
Microfiber cloths are also extremely durable. Most of STARFIBER® products can be washed well over 500 times and still maintain their effectiveness. This makes it an extremely cost effective product. Machine wash or hand-wash microfiber with mild soapy water. Do not put any fabric softener when washing your microfiber cloths or pads as it can significantly reduce their cleaning efficacy. Instead, and for a simmilar effect, you can add a dash of white vinegar in your washload. Tumble dry if needed or let it dry outside.
