Stop Using Cotton Cloths with Quats — Here’s Why Microfiber Is Better

As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to rage throughout the world, you’ve stepped up your clean game and frequently disinfect your home. Congrats — we applaud you and your efforts to maintain a cleaner house!

Most likely, the household product you are using is a quaternary ammonium chloride (quat), such as Lysol® Brand All Purpose Cleaner or other common household cleaners. And, being an educated “germ fighter,” you carefully read the directions on the label for the proper dilution and are all set to tackle those germs!

You follow the label, fill your bucket, and grab your cotton cloth… NO, WAIT, STOP RIGHT THERE! DO NOT use cotton cloths with quats!

Why, you ask? And what should you be using?

Why Cotton Cloths Don’t Work with Quats

Quats have a tendency to become attracted to and absorbed into cotton. Quats are cationic, or positively charged, surfactants, and they are attracted to fabric surfaces that are anionic, or negatively charged — positive attracts negative. This results in a portion of the quats becoming unavailable to disinfect hard surfaces.

For example, a pail is filled with one gallon of disinfectant solution diluted at 1⁄2 oz/gal, and the active ingredient concentration is measured at 800 ppm. After a cotton rag is placed in the solution and allowed to soak for 10 minutes, the quat level remaining in solution may decrease to 400 ppm or less. This drop in concentration occurs because the quat is absorbed into the cotton fabric. When the cloth is removed from the liquid and excess solution is wrung out, the collected solution is also 400 ppm or less. Therefore, the solution applied to the surface contains less than half the intended 800 ppm quat.

What Should You Use Instead? Microfiber!

Microfiber cloths are made of synthetic fibers one one-hundredth the width of a human hair. Microfiber contains microscopic channels that collect and hold six times their weight in dirty water, which is held and removed from surfaces. They are more expensive than cotton cloths but have a long lifecycle (about 500 launderings).

The science behind the benefits of using a microfiber cloth is straightforward: Quats contain positively charged ions, and cotton and other natural textiles contain a negative charge — positive attracts negative. Microfiber is cationic just like quats; positive repels positive, and therefore no binding!

Care Tips for Microfiber Cloths

Not all microfiber cloths are created equal, so make sure to purchase quality cotton-free microfiber cloths. And never wash your microfiber cloths with the rest of your laundry! Subjecting microfiber to heat while washing and drying can melt and shrink the split fibers, making the cloths permanently less effective. Wash microfiber in warm water and set your dryer to the lowest temperature and shortest time possible.

Remember, microfiber is very effective at picking things up, which means it also grabs loose fibers from other fabrics. Washing microfiber cloths alone prevents them from picking up cotton and other lint, which can get left behind on mirrors and surfaces.

Most importantly, purchase a simple detergent specifically made for microfiber and never use fabric softeners. The oils and polymers in fabric softeners clog the holes in microfiber, making them slick and far less absorbent.

Now, get back to cleaning!