MicroFiber Mop

Technically defined, a microfiber is a fiber with less than 1 denier per filament. Of course, everyone knows that!
What the hell is a denier?? A denier is a measure of linear density. Ok, what is linear density?? Linear density according to a physics style definition via answer.com, it is the quantity of anything distributed along a line per unit length of line.

In MopGuy (not the smartest guy around) terms, this means how much the little fiber weighs.  How do you weigh a tiny little fiber?  MopGuy doesn’t know and MopGuy doesn’t care!  We’ll leave that for the genius scientists and maybe the guy at the state fair who guesses everyone’s weight.  But if you want to get really technical, 9000 meters of a 1 denier fiber would weigh one gram.  That’s pretty darn light, and a microfiber weighs less than that.

Now I suppose a microfiber could be made of anything light weight enough and agile enough to be manipulated on such a small level.  But when you hear the term microfiber, it is often in reference to microfibers of polyester.  Yes, just like those pants that have been in your closet since 1977!  The other common microfiber material is polymide, or nylon.  Call your girlfriends pantyhose, microfibers, and see what she says.  I’m sure she’ll just look at you strangely like how women usually look at me when I tell them my name is MopGuy.  But back to microfibers.  Microfibers such as those commonly used in cleaning products can be a combination of polyester and polymide.

People first started making ultra-fine fibers back in the 1950′s, though they really didn’t know what to do with them.  In the 70′s, along came Ultrasuede, or Alcantara.  The 1990′s saw the introduction of microfibers to clothing over in Europe which has filtered to the rest of the world.  And even more recently, microfibers have caused an uproar in the cleaning product community!

An interesting microfiber side note, the NBA tried out microfiber basketballs in the 2006-2007 season.  The idea was that microfibers absorb moisture better which would help control the accumulation of sweat from the players hands on the ball, making it less slippery.  Players complained that the ball bounced differently and was abrasive to their hands, so they returned to using good old fashioned leather basketballs.

Jumping back to microfibers used in clothing (because MopGuy has ADD), just on a personal note, I love this stuff!  As by design, it wicks away moisture, whatever the hell that means.  All I know is that microfiber shirts feel good.  I wear them while running and other heart beat raising, sweat creating, physical exercise and I have noticed that the shirts don’t get dripping wet like when I wear a normal, cotton or cotton blend shirt.  I am guessing I don’t sweat less when I wear these shirts, the shirts just somehow seem to make the sweat go somewhere magical.  Whatever!

Now one of the cool things about microfibers that people really get off on is that they don’t leave lint or dust behind.  This is great for hospitals and places that must be very very clean.  They can use microfiber cloths, rags, mops and dust mops to cut down on the dust flying around when they have bodies opened up in the operating room.  This is one reason microfiber products have earned a “green”, “eco-friendly” reputation.  These same products are also great for car freaks who just spend thousands on a paint job for their stupid looking car that makes them feel good about themselves.

Another cool thing, in my eyes, is that microfiber cloths and rags pick up oils and fats better than typical rags.  This is great for in the kitchen, or when your changing the oil in that stupid looking car!  But be careful, microfiber products are often flammable, and since they are polyester and nylon (petrochemicals), they emit toxic chemicals when on fire.  But hey, so does that cigarette you’re puffing on.

Welp, that’s about all the information I have gathered on microfibers, time to go watch some Family Guy!

MopGuy

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