Microfibre technique: dry, damp and wet

Microfibre cleans through a combination of mechanical scraping, static electricity and capillary absorption. Dirt and grease are trapped in the cavities of the fibres and only released during washing. That is why for many daily tasks the cloth can clean with plain water — chemicals are not always necessary.

The cloth also removes the skin's own oils — wear gloves from the moment you start (KEN no. 9215/2008).

A dry cloth/mop picks up hair, dust and loose particles electrostatically without stirring them up. Damp is the standard method for daily surface cleaning. Wet is used for more stubborn dirt and heavier tasks. Choose the mode according to the task, not habit.

The damp cloth must not drip, but must not have dry patches either. As a benchmark, NorthClean gives a water absorption of approx. 2–2.5 × the cloth's dry weight (up to ~3× for difficult stains). A cloth that drips leaves streaks and uses unnecessary moisture.

The cloth should feel damp and cool — not wet. Wring out excess water.

In office and commercial cleaning it is common practice to fold the cloth twice so it is divided into four — giving eight working surfaces (four on each side), and you turn to a new surface when the first is dirty. In hospitals, in primary care, in day-care and in schools, NIR Cleaning 2.1 does NOT recommend the folding principle because it carries a risk of spreading infection — there you change to a new cloth instead.

Under NIR Cleaning: change cloth — do not fold.

A dirty surface just moves dirt and bacteria on. Switch to a fresh face as soon as the face has been used, and switch to a clean cloth when all faces have been used. Use colour-coded cloths so that toilet and kitchen equipment is never mixed.

For dust and loose particles, use the dry cloth or dry mop. It binds the dust electrostatically so it is not stirred up into the air to settle again. Avoid sweeping the dust up into the air with a wet cloth.

Wash according to the cloth's data sheet. 60 °C is common practice in commercial cleaning — a manufacturer recommendation, not an official limit. Where NIR Cleaning 2.1 applies (hospitals, primary care, day-care and schools), cloths, mops and covers must be able to withstand heat disinfection at 80 °C or more for 10 minutes, and the number of washes should be documented. NEVER use fabric softener: it leaves a film that deactivates the fibres so they lose their absorbency.

Fabric softener ruins microfibre. Leave it out completely.

A low spin speed protects the fibres (one source states max. ~800 rpm). Specific washing temperatures, fibre composition and service life depend on the product — follow the mop's/cloth's own data sheet. Replace damaged or discoloured cloths immediately.