The phrase, “keep your powder dry” first referred to the need to keep gunpowder dry in preparation for battle, and while the modern maxim encourages general readiness, keeping your microfiber cloth initially dry can help you win the cleaning fight.
Think of a modern car wash: A car is pre-sprayed, allowed to soak, gently scrubbed, rinsed, and only then ? wiped and dried.
Likewise, pre-spraying a surface enables the cleaning solution to dissolve soils, then wiping with a dry microfiber cloth absorbs and captures soils.
Capillary Action
Labor-saving cleaning takes advantage of the solvent nature of water (to which an effective cleaning solution is added as needed) combined with the removal and capillary action of a microfiber cloth or towel.
When the microfiber cloth is moistened first, you lose much of the capillary action.
In a comparison study, Dry Microfiber Towel Cleaning on Wetted Surface vs. Damp Microfiber Towel Cleaning of Dry Surface (Richter, 2014) - 32 evenly-soiled tabletop sites were cleaned to compare cleaning of a damp surface with a dry microfiber towel (16 sites) vs. a dry surface with a damp microfiber towel (16 sites).
ATP (adenosine triphosphate) measurement using a Hygiena SystemSURE PLUS™ ATP Measurement System (ATP Meter*) demonstrated that:
- Dry microfiber towel cleaning of the wetted surface removed 82% of the ATP.
- Damp microfiber towel cleaning of the dry surface only removed 31% of the ATP.
The study also showed cross-contamination (spreading of germs) occurred more often with B than A. Pre-spraying the surface before wiping with a dry microfiber cloth apparently also enabled dwell or set time to help eliminate germs (a Green Seal Certified hydrogen peroxide-containing neutral multipurpose cleaner was used as the cleaning solution).
Remember the two steps:
- Wet the surface first.
- Dry it with a microfiber cloth for optimal soil removal.
In short, keep your microfiber cloth, like proverbial gunpowder, dry to ensure desired removal outcomes for effective, complete, and hygienic cleaning.
*An ATP meter detects the presence of organic material that consists of or can support microbial growth.
Allen Rathey
Allen Rathey is the principal of the Healthy Facilities Institute (HFI), director of the Indoor Wellness Council (IWC), and author of articles about best practices in cleaning and indoor environmental management.
*The Healthy Facilities Institute (HFI) and the Indoor Wellness Council (IWC) do not endorse products.
Related Topics
Related Products
![KaiFly™]()
KaiFly™The KaiFly system combines microfiber, window squeegee and chemical injection technologies to rapidly remove harmful bio-pollutants.In tests conducted by an independent NELAP-accredited laboratory, the KaiFly system removed greater than 99.9% of targeted bacteria when used with plain tap water only.
![SmartTowel™]()
SmartTowel™Add another weapon to your cleaning arsenal with SmartTowel from Kaivac. This patented microfiber towel is numbered in quadrants 1 through 4 on one side, and 5 through 8 on the other, allowing the user to fold the towel and use only one quadrant at a time. When a quadrant becomes soiled, users simply fold the towel to the next in sequence using the numbered system.As a result, the SmartTowel helps reduce the risk of cross-contamination allowing you to clean with confidence.
![SmartTab Mop Pad™]()
SmartTab Mop Pad™With Kaivac's SmartTab Mop Pad, you buy a single wet or dry microfiber mop pad, yet still have access to a four-color-coded microfiber system. Each pad comes with four colored strips - red, yellow, blue and green - that allows you to select the color you want for the particular application. This means you can purchase a single item and still have the flexibility of four unique color-coded pads. You avoid having too little inventory of one color, or overstocks on another. What could be easier?
![Motorized Spray System]()
Motorized Spray SystemThe motorized spray system automatically sprays while the trigger is pulled allowing for quick and effortless application of cleaners.
