Microfibre cloths

On a whim [prompted by a good discount price at TKMaxx], I purchased some ‘Greener Cleaner’ cloths.

[ don’t yawn, there is a serious question coming ]

**LINK**

https://greenerc.com/collections/our-microfibre-cloth-collection

A blue pack of Window & Glass and a silver pack of Stainless Steel

These do have different weaves, but the big question is about the microscopic detail … Does anyone know if the actual microfibres are custom-made for specific tasks ?

Much as I would like one : The electron microscope continues to evade me.

MichaelG.

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Google search for images of: microfibre microfiber SEM

will show some of the variations on the theme 

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 25/06/2023 07:58:42

Perhaps they are impregnated with a fine abrasive of different grades?

Russell

If you use them to wipe somewhere very sensitive you may notice any differences

'Greenerc.com'? Ironic greenwashing I'd say.

Microfibre cloths are an environmental problem - they shed microfibres (no surprise, really), which are plastic, of some sort. To answer your question, they certainly aren't all the same. Apart from any other diffeences, their propensity to shed fibres varies. My wife was conned into buying a very expensive glass-cleaning cloth, and it works excellently, leaving few, if any, visible fibres. Other cheapo cloths leave fibres in profusion, and they're damned difficult to get enough off the windscreen so it isn't worse than before the 'cleaning' started.

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As it happens … I posted a link this morning, on the microscopy forum that I frequent:

**LINK** : https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8929/1/3/24

You will probably find it of interest.

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These particular cloths do appear to be good … but, of course, it’s difficult to tell.

The very first microfibre lens-cleaning cloth that I bought was “not inexpensive” and was branded Asahi Pentax … it has lasted at least 35 years so far, is washed frequently, and performs superbly.

Things have changed a lot since then, and they are mass-market consumables sold for next-to-nothing.

MichaelG.

Indeed. Thanks. We're doomed...

Plastic in bottled water

But how does it get in there? I thought (perhaps wrongly) that “mineral” water was filtered naturally through limestone?

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A significant proportion [sorry, I can’t remember the number] comes from the plastic bottles that much of it is sold in !

During bottle-manufacture; there is typically a de-burring process to remove the little sharp internal edge at the top of the screw thread … and some of the debris ends-up in the bottle, and therefore the water.

MichaelG.

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Edit: __ There is also the ‘not intuitively obvious’ point that an increasingly large proportion of bottled water is processed a long way from any natural source.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 26/06/2023 13:47:32