Potential Benefits of Cleaning with Microfiber vs Cotton Mops and Cloths
It’s time to learn how to create labor savings by cleaning with microfiber vs cotton. When it comes to choosing the right cleaning materials for your buildings, there are certain aspects you may want to consider: cost, efficiency, safety and cross-contamination risk. Thankfully, these topics are easily addressed. For summary, here are the top 5 benefits of using microfiber mops and cloths to clean your buildings. Using microfiber may decrease:
- Labor time: this resource typically saves time and labor, since workers don’t have to empty and refill buckets or wring out the mops, while the ergonomic handles help to reduce strain on the workers themselves.
- Cross-contamination: microfiber lowers the risk of cross-contamination with color-coded cloths and mops by using one pad per room; a color-coded system can also aid in limiting the spread of germs.
- Spending: microfiber pads usually withstand 500 standard washes, whereas traditional mop heads only last around 50 to 60 washes.
- Chemical and water usage: microfiber traps dirt, dust and bacteria at microscopic level, reducing the usage of water and chemicals all around.
- Environmental impact: microfiber is an excellent option to reduce environmental impact due to the decreased water and chemical usage.
Can microfiber really help more than cotton with labor savings?
Yes, microfiber usually does help with labor savings over cotton. If you’re considering using microfiber for your facility then you’ll need to know a few key aspects on how microfiber works. This includes recognizing how it can help with labor savings and how you’ll need to take care of your microfiber mop or cloth to extend its longevity as much as possible. So, you’ll want to know:
- How microfiber works
- How to take care of it properly
- What surfaces to clean with it
- Impact of microfiber in Senior Living
Let’s begin with addressing the first point: how does microfiber work? Great question. As you may have guessed from the name, microfiber contains tiny fibers made up of synthetic materials. Knit together, these fibers are able to access small grooves and crevices as you clean that larger fibers can’t, trapping bacteria, viruses and particles with its static-charged fibers. Due to how microfiber is created, they also have a high absorbency level, which means you can clean more, and clean more quickly, using a microfiber mop or cloth than if you were using a regular cotton or polyester mop or cloth.
How effective is microfiber vs cotton?
They (microfiber) use far less chemicals because the tiny fibers effectively pick up and trap 99.54% of dirt, dust and bacteria at the microscopic level using water alone. Standard cotton mops only pick up 67% of dirt and will re-deposit 33% of that back onto your floors1.”
According to the CDC...
- Dust mops. You use a dry mop to remove all of the loose particles on the floor prior to the damp mop. Use on any hard floor such as wood, tile, ceramic, vinyl and linoleum.
- Damp mops. Follow up after dust mopping with a damp mop for a more in-depth cleaning and to disinfect the surfaces you’re cleaning. Like the dust mops, you can use on any hard flooring.
- Cloths. Use to dust, disinfect, and clean anywhere you typically would use a regular cloth or paper towel. This includes any non-carpeted areas such as baseboards, bathroom surfaces, countertops, flooring, door handles, etc.
Creating labor savings in Senior Living with microfiber
Takeaway tip: Facilities are choosing to reduce their cross-contamination risk without the need to empty and refill water buckets by using a fresh microfiber pad for each room, which may save time, energy, and labor strain.
Does microfiber cost less than cotton?
Labor savings is an overwhelming need in the Senior Living industry – now more than ever before. That’s why researching and purchasing the correct tools is absolutely essential. Switching to microfiber mops and cloths may not only help you save time but also help to reduce strain on your staff and even save you money in the long run. We are here to answer three essential questions in terms of microfiber savings:
- How much time will microfiber save me vs cotton?
- Addressing common issues with microfiber
- What microfiber brands should I choose?
Microfiber vs cotton comparison
| Benefits and Costs | Cotton Damp Mops | Microfiber Damp Mops |
|---|---|---|
| Washings Per Mop w/out Bleach | 50 | 500 |
| Chemical Costs | $1.32/day* | $.055/day |
| Water Costs | $.48/day** | $.02/day |
| Labor Efficiency (sq ft/hour) | 5,000 | 23,000 |
| Overall Cleanliness | 67.75% Microbe Removal | 99.9% Microbe Removal (w/ detergent cleaner) |
Shop Our Microfiber Brands at Direct Supply
Microfiber pollution problems to consider
We wish there would be a one-cloth-fixes-all solution to your cleaning needs, but it is important to consider all the facets of utilizing microfiber, and that means addressing microfiber problems. So, we’ve told you what’s great about them, now it’s time to determine whether or not they are the right fit for you and your facility. This type of cloth, while taking the industry by storm, is not without its disadvantages.
The table below outlines what microfiber problems you may want to consider before making the switch from cotton to microfiber.
| Common negatives of microfiber | Common solutions to microfiber issues |
|---|---|
| Environmental: microfiber isn’t recyclable | Microfiber reduces water and chemical consumption by up to 95%3, which drastically reduces environmental impact |
| Pollution: plastic threads come off in the washing machine and potentially ends up in the ocean | Fibers can add to pollution, but less water is used to wash it |
| Aesthetics: Microfiber can leave streaks when reaching end-of-life | This serves as a great way to know when it’s time to order more |
| Efficiency: Microfiber stops working as efficiently when reaching end-of-life | This is a common problem with all cleaning tools, and there isn't a true "fix" other than to replace the failing item |
Microfiber brand comparisons: what are the best brands to use?
We have already discussed the effectiveness of microfiber vs cotton cleaning materials. However, not all microfiber is alike. It is important to determine which brand of microfiber best suits your facility’s needs. Direct Supply offers three different brands for you to choose from, such as our own Direct Supply brand® as well as PerfectClean® and Rubbermaid®. Other microfiber brands you may want to investigate include:
- Golden Star®
- Boardwalk®
- Impact® Products
Microfiber Brand Usage and Style Comparison
| Product feature | Direct Supply | PerfectClean | Rubbermaid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coloring scheme | Each color has its own function | Each product comes in multiple colors | Each color has its own function |
| Wet mop product size | 18", 24", and 36" flat mops | 12", 18", and 36" flat mop | 11", 18", 24", 36", and 48" flat mops |
| Dust mop product size | 18", 24", and 36" flat mops | 12", 18", and 36" flat mop | 11", 18", 24", 36", and 48" flat mops |
| Cleaning cloths product size | 12" x 12" and 16" x 16" wipes | 12" x 12" and 16" x 16" wipes | 12" x 12" and 16" x 16" wipes |
| # of laundry cycles without Bleach | 500 – 600 washes | 500 washes | 500 washes |
| # of laundry cycles with Bleach | 250 – 300 washes | 500 washes | 200 washes |
| Folded-over edge mop pads? | Yes | No | No |
| Antimicrobial? | No | Yes | No |
| Bucketless system option? | No | Yes – SDX 50 or SDX 60 | Yes - Pulse |
| Lifetime warranty (hardware)? | No | Yes | No |
Find more labor savings solutions for Senior Living!
Switching to microfiber isn’t the only labor-saving solution we have seen your peers utilize. By digitizing your building records, creating checklists and tasks on your phone and managing your staff efficiency through TELS, the labor savings potential of your building is closer than you think. We encourage you to reach out to your Direct Supply representative to learn more about how TELS Platform® and TELS Building Services® can save you time and money. Contact us today for a demonstration!
