| Author |
Message |
|
|
 |
Wed Sep 05, 2007 9:04 pm  |
This is such a bargain and I want to share it with you all.I was at WalMart and looking in the automotive section. I found microfiber towels and then I found wash cloths.There are 2 rolled together with a paper aroung the center.They come in Light Blue,Light Green and Yellow.The tag says MicroTex,75%polyester-25% polyamide.They cost .84cents  I have used it this week and it is so soft and yet it cleans very well. I have taken mascara and liner off.
So,if any of you that have a $12.00 microfiber cloth. And you are shopping at Walmart could you pick up one of these and do a comparison and see what you think.Wouldnt it be so lovely to save a little on some items in order to spend more on others.
TIA
Linda |
|
|
|
|
|
Mon Sep 10, 2007 11:34 am |
| I have used the clarisonic and the micro fiber cloths. The absolute best thing I have ever cleaned my face with is the micro fiber cloth that NCN sells. My skin looks so much better since I bought mine. Believe me, I don't rave about much. |
|
|
|
|
|
Sun Oct 07, 2007 8:11 am |
Whether your microfiber cloth used to clean your face comes from the automotive department or a high-end cosmetic counter is not very relevant. What’s more important to look for when purchasing a microfiber cloth is the content and construction of the fabric.
When a textile manufacturer creates a fabric, they don’t determine the end use of the product. The same fabric can be used for a washcloth or a car detailer. It’s all in the marketing. Marketing creates terms such as “dermal grade” to make you think that there is a difference with their product. I’ve worked with textile manufacturers and have happily bought my face cloths from the automotive department and recently found excellent washcloths at my local hardware store for a reasonable price ($2.00 each). I ordered 30 because I use a fresh washcloth every day. (I’ll explain how I use and care for them in the next post.) In response to the reader who was concerned about chemicals on cloths purchased in the automotive section, I haven’t seen this to be the case. If they were to pre-treat it with a cleaning agent, then it would have to be clearly labeled on the package. In fact, if you’ve never been around a car enthusiast, then trust me when I tell you that they are more fanatical about the cloths that touch their “babies”.
What makes one microfiber cloth better than another? Consider how sheets can vary in quality based on the threadcount, material and weave. A microfiber cloth is basically a fabric with fiber strands less than one denier. To put this into perspective, a human hair is approximately 20 denier and a good quality microfiber is .01 to .02 denier. These extra fine fibers are what give microfiber its incredible, silky soft feel.
Microfibers currently being produced are constructed from one or a blend of the following synthetic materials: acrylic, nylon, polyester and rayon. When looking for a good face cloth, you should look for a blend of 80% polyester/20% nylon (also called polyamide) or even better, a 70/30 blend. Cheaper products may use more polyester because it is less expensive than nylon.
Many microfibers are constructed with a nylon core wrapped with polyester. This blend gives the microfiber its unique characteristic of being able to pick up both water and oil. To further enhance its effectiveness, the fibers are split down the core creating wedges that form a star or snowflake-like pattern. These wedges help to pick up and trap even more dirt. This is an expensive process performed by costly equipment and best done in a clean room environment. Many cheap fabric manufacturers skip this step entirely.
A good quality cloth doesn’t necessarily have to have split fibers. Another very important component to consider when evaluating the quality of the cloth is how the fibers are woven. Different weaves are better for different applications. For example, a terry cloth texture is very good for picking up dirt and buffing while a waffle pattern (pique) is good for absorbing a lot of water, thus good for drying.
The density of the fabric also affects the quality of the cloth. Some of the best microfiber cloths have up to 225,000 fibers per square inch (typical range 90,000 – 225,000). The more fibers, the better absorbency the cloth has. Keep in mind though that a better quality face cloth should be dense, however you do not want a too heavy or thick pile cloth because it will be too hard to wring the water from.
Color can actually affect how soft a cloth feels. This is probably due to the different chemicals used to obtain different colors and the temperature used to treat the fabric during the dying process. When I purchased the washcloths from the hardware store, I ordered the yellow and light blue, but not the green. I’ve read that lighter colors are typically softer which would make sense because darker colors require a higher temperature during the dye process, which could damage the extremely delicate fibers. |
|
|
|
|
|
Sun Oct 07, 2007 9:29 am |
Once you understand how a microfiber cloth is constructed, then you can clearly see that the benefits of using microfiber is not just hype, there’s actual science to explain the superior cleaning properties of microfiber. In fact, an early adopter of this cloth was used by the semi-conductor industry to be used in clean rooms during the manufacturing of microchips. If the semi-conducting manufacturers rely on microfiber cloths with no cleaning fluid to pick up all of the dust in their clean rooms, imagine how well it can clean your body and house!
I’ve found that it is best to completely wet the washcloth and then wring the excess water. When removing makeup or using it to slough your body, it’s best to use strokes in one direction, and continuously move to a clean section on the cloth. This way you do not redeposit any dirt back onto your skin. Sometimes I place the cleanser on my body and other times I put it on the washcloth.
Since using self tanner, I have found this to be the only effective exfoliator. In fact, I am now experimenting with different cleaning products to clean the debris left in my bathtub. (I know it’s gross, but any suggestions would be appreciated.) I found that the microfiber cloth is so good at attaching and lifting dirt from your skin that it is actually quite tiresome to use the cloth on your entire body because it sticks to your skin (kind of like trying to rub a rubberband on your skin). So I don’t exfoliate my body every day. I also find that it’s easier to use if I wrap the washcloth around a hard disk that fits in my hand. The disk works on the same concept of how sandpaper is easier to use with a sanding block. I hope this makes sense. I also find that using a microfiber cloth with oil and a vigorous scrub can clean up tanning mistakes on ankles and other places that are not so sensitive. Yes, it is very easy to over exfoliate with these cloths.
I also use a microfiber cloth to apply my liquid self-tanner. I took an automotive sponge and cut it in half and sewed closed the exposed edge. I’ll use circular strokes when applying tanner because I want to buff in the tanner. (Thanks to the many recommendations from this forum.)
Because these cloths are so effective at cleaning your makeup and skin, you’ll find that they quickly fill up with dirt, which is hard to remove manually. This is why I bought 30 washcloths because if I can visually see all of the dirt in the cloth, I am sure that there’s bacteria trapped in the cloth also. If you want to hand rinse your cloths, it is best to immerse in luke-warm water with soap.
Microfiber cloths can be machine-washed and in my opinion does a better job than I can. The trick is to only wash and dry microfiber with other microfiber products. This is another reason why I have so many cloths. I want to make a full load. Think of all the lint that comes out in your dryer. If you throw your microfiber cloths in with your regular laundry, than those 221,000 fibers per square inch are going to get clogged with lint from your laundry. Also, when washing microfiber, be sure to use cold to lukewarm water and a liquid and/or low sudsing detergent. The dryer should also not be set on high heat. Heat damages the fibers causing them to shrink and lose effectiveness. Do not use fabric softener or dryer sheets. The microfiber will trap the softener and will render the fabric useless at absorbing water. |
|
|
|
|
|
Sat Dec 01, 2007 3:59 pm |
Mars - I've found microfiber cloths to be better at exfoliating and removing makeup than regular facial scrubs. You can also use them for your entire body which would be more economical because you can constantly re-use the cloths. Perhaps you should start with just one. If you don't like it, then you can always use it as a cleaning rag; but I'm pretty confident that you'll probably end up buying lots more for all of your cleaning needs.
Sharky - Unfortunately, I cut off all of my tags/labels immediately upon opening them so I can't tell you exactly what were written on mine. I do know that all clothing manufacturers are required by law to have labels on all of their products with the fiber content. I am guessing that towels, sheets, blankets, etc. would also classify, but I'm not positive. You might not find the content written on the outside packaging, but you should be able to find the content written on those small white tags sewn into the seam of the item. |
|
|
|
|
| Sun Jun 15, 2025 3:14 pm |
If this is your first visit to the EDS Forums please take the time to register. Registration is required for you to post on the forums. Registration will also give you the ability to track messages of interest, send private messages to other users, participate in Gift Certificates draws and enjoy automatic discounts for shopping at our online store. Registration is free and takes just a few seconds to complete.
Click Here to join our community.
If you are already a registered member on the forums, please login to gain full access to the site. |
|
 |
|
|
