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What are Micro-fibres? How do they Work?
Microfibre cloths are an essential part of the ECO Smart Organics cleaning process. Micro-fibre cleaning materials are made up of multitudes of minute synthetic short (2-3mm long) hairs. These fibres help hook out dirt, dust, grease and oily deposits, taking away moisture, food particles, along with almost all other contaminants like (bacteria) from ALL surfaces, by using both a mechanical cleaning action and osmosis effect. Some manufacturers claim that the advantage of their products is that only a little (cold) water is needed to get good results and high hygiene levels.
Leading Manufacturers Bathroom Hand Mitts as featured in the highly publicized Choice 20/05 trials Report. Tips for sustainable living.
Some manufacturers also claim that their cloths can give good hygienic results with only a little cold water.
But are they so easy to use? and do they really do the job well and get GOOD results?
Choice.com comparative tests:
34 trialists were recruited; each was randomly allocated two brands to test, each for a two-week period. Each brand featured was tested at least 22 times.
The survey asked trialists to use each mitt on the main bathroom surfaces (mirror, shower screen, basin, bath, tiles), and no other cleaning products were to be used to clean these surfaces during the trial period. Mitts were used and cared for according to the product instructions provided by the manufacturers.
Trialists rated how well the mitts performed, how they compared to their usual cleaning method, and outlined what they liked or disliked about the mitts.
Choice.com trial Results
What trialists MOST liked
No need for chemical cleaners, resulting in cost savings (no need to buy cleaning agents), water-saving (no need to rinse away chemical cleaner suds or residue), less damage to the environment and less exposure to chemical cleaner fumes.
Convenience and ease of use. Trialists on the whole thought the mitt design made it easy to wipe down surfaces, with the wristband of the SABCO mitt particularly useful for preventing it from slipping off during cleaning.
Effective. Some trialists felt the mitts did a good job removing soap scum and picking up and holding on to dust and dirt, without redistributing it to other areas.
What they MOST Disliked
Germ concerns. The main concern appeared to be about how well the mitts disinfected surfaces and removed germs compared to chemical cleaners. Even some trialists who thought they cleaned well and indicated they'd willingly switch to using a mitt said they'd still feel the need to use chemical cleaners at least periodically to ensure surfaces were thoroughly clean - essentially reducing one of the main benefits of the mitts.
Elbow grease required, especially for removing stubborn stains. And some trialists had trouble picking up and holding debris such as hair and fluff with the mitts.
The need to wipe surfaces dry with another cloth after using the mitt, which increased the time and effort required for cleaning. >
Removing excess water from the mitts. This was a problem for some trialists, who felt the mitts sometimes got too wet during cleaning. Some also found the mitts' drying time too long.
Cleaning the mitts. Some trialists didn't like the idea of adding a dirty mitt to their normal wash, or felt that not being able to use fabric conditioners/softeners when washing the mitt - as the care instructions specify - was inconvenient, meaning you'd have to wash them separately.
Would they switch from conventional chemical cleaners in everyday use?
After testing each mitt, trialists were told its price and asked whether they'd be willing to use it instead of their usual cleaning methods. The percentage that said 'yes' to switching, by product, was as follows:
ENJO Bathroom Glove ($38): 33%. (2009 current UK RRP £19.50)
OATES Clean Enviro Bathroom Mitt ($11): 50%.
SABCO Onewipe Cleaning Mitt Bathroom & Laundry ($10): 43%.
Info as published by Choice.com Prices shown above was the average prices paid by Choice.com in Oct/Nov 2004, rounded to the nearest dollar. (Current 2009 UK prices)
2005 Choice.com conclusions
Although the trial group felt that the mitts, on average, cleaned similarly to their usual cleaning method, this didn't translate into high conversion rates, especially for the highest priced ENJO.
The trialists, however, didn't use the mitts till the end of their useful life; nor use them for the other multiple cleaning uses for which they are clearly intended to be used for as advertised by the 3 leading manufacturers. ENJO claims its products last longer than others and that it's bathroom mitts, for example, should last an average of two years, depending on how you use them. Only using the mitts in your own home will show whether the costs even out for you or not vs chemical cleaners.
IS CLEANING WITH WATER HYGIENIC?
The answer is yes.
Micro-fibre mitts and cold water seem to remove dirt (and therefore bacteria) as effectively as chemical cleaners, leaving no food or dirty materials behind. If you wipe the surfaces dry afterwards, it'll kill even more bacteria thus helping to prevent any surviving ones from multiplying.
ECO Smart Organics - Conclusions
ECO Smart Organics believes passionately that the trial carried out did not extend far enough, exploring the full range of ECO uses for these mitts throughout the trialists' homes, which may well have then shown far greater levels of conversions. ALL 3 mitts are however very highly recommended, with the ENJO having a higher deep down cleaning ability due to its superior manufacturing giving the highest numbers of individual minute fibres, achieving the best mechanical cleaning advantage.
The tests we have also carried out suggest all 3 manufacturers claims "it is possible to achieve very deep down and hygienic cleans using just COLD water" with these mitts to be true.
ECO Smart Organics enjoys all the benefits of this Eco Friendly cleaning model but brings further benefits in the protection afforded to all the material surfaces, whilst greatly increasing the ease and speed of cleaning especially over more stubborn food deposits…WITHOUT the use of harmful hazardous chemicals!!
Indeed the 100% Organic products we supply have an over 80% distilled water content with additional natural additives which work together to further enhance the cleaning process and increase the ease of use. Plus the pleasing natural scent aromas and the great protective wax polished finish!!
We meet all the major dislikes raised by the majority of Choice trialists, and include all the factors liked by the trialists
This offers our customers the best of both worlds!!
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