Haven't heard about microfibers? It' not surprising. Although microfiber flat mops and cleaning cloths have been used in Europe for over 20 years, it has only been in the past few years that microfibers have made their way into this country. Many cleaning companies are just now hearing about the value of using microfibers in their cleaning business. Microfiber cleaning cloths and mops offer a more efficient way to clean and can save your cleaning company time and money.

Microfibers were invented in Sweden in the mid-1980s. Microfibers come in the forms of mops, cloths, mitts and bonnets. The underlying principle that makes microfibers clean so well is that microfiber yarn has 100 times more surface area than natural textiles. The microfiber itself is extremely dense and has lots of small nooks and crevices within its fabric. This allows the material to hold seven to eight times its own weight in water.

A comparison to cotton shows that a microfiber will absorb 98 percent moisture, while cotton can only absorb 70 percent. The synthetic microfiber materials weigh less and can be laundered more than traditional fibers.

Microfiber cloths and mops usually cost more than the traditional mops and cleaning cloths. So why should your cleaning company spend more money for supplies than it already is? The benefits of using microfibers far outweigh the added cost.

1. One of the first reasons to switch to microfibers is that they clean better than the traditional synthetic or cotton mops and cloths. Have your employees clean a floor as they typically would and then run over it with a dry microfiber mop pad. It will be easy to see how much more dirt and residue the microfiber picks up.

2. A second reason to switch to microfibers is the mop pads and cleaning cloths can be laundered and reused. Depending on your particular cleaning situation, you may be able to reuse your microfibers up to several years. Compare that to a typical cotton mop that must be replaced after just a few weeks or at the most a few months.

3. The third reason to make the switch is that by using microfibers you can dramatically reduce your chemical use. Obviously, the less chemical you use saves you money. It also saves time as employees will not be stopping in the middle of a cleaning task to mix up added chemicals. One study showed that an average cleaning company worker uses 21 gallons of floor cleaning solution when using a string mop during a typical shift. You can reduce this amount down to just 2 gallons when you switch to using a microfiber mopping system.

Microfiber mops are also lighter than the traditional bulky mop. Also, since microfibers need little if any water, there is no heavy bucket for your employees to lug around.

By using microfibers cloths and mops you will be able to increase the efficiency and productivity of your cleaning staff. The small investment in microfibers can end up being a large payoff in your pocket!

About the author:

Steve Hanson is co-founding member of The Janitorial Store (TM), an online community for owners and managers of cleaning companies who want to build a more profitable and successful cleaning business. Sign up for Trash Talk: Tip of the Week at http://www.TheJanitorialStore.com and receive a Free Gift!