DEBRA'S ANSWER:

I just want to make a comment on all cleaning cloths made from microfibers.

First, "microfibers" are ultra-fine manufactured fibers with a diameter size of less than 1.0 denier (a unit of fineness for yarn about one hundred times finer than a human hair). Over 200,000 strands of microfiber fit in every square inch.

Fabrics made from these extra-fine fibers have some excellent qualities--they feel smooth, they are incredibly soft, and they are extremely durable.

A specific type of microfiber is used for cleaning cloths, which gives it the ability to pick up dust and dirt without use of toxic cleaning products. The fibers are split in such a way as to create microscopic "hooks" which act as claws that scrape up and hold dust, dirt, and grime like a magnet without scratching the surface. They also absorb water--up to seven times their weight.

Some consider microfiber cleaning cloths to be better for the environment because they dramatically reduce the use and disposal of toxic chemical cleaning products. And they are so durable, a microfiber cleaning cloth can be rinsed and re-used countless times-- known to still be effective after five hundred uses and washings.

When choosing any product, we always have to weigh the environmental and health benefits against the harm. In this case, the down side is that they are made with synthetic fibers such as polyester and nylon, which are made from petrochemicals. Microfibers are not made from a renewable resource and they are not biodegradable. They are better than toxic chemical cleaners, but they are still a plastic that persists in our ecosystems.

What is really needed by the ecosystems of the planet is for us to use products that are renewable and biodegradable as much as possible. These microfiber cleaning cloths certainly do reduce environmental impacts and are a "better" choice than toxic cleaners, but not the best possible solution.

Debra :-)