Microfibre Cleaning Solutions

A Letter Following the Testing of Microfibre Products by Applied Biogenics

22 October 1999

Smart Microfiber System
Tellusborgsvagen 71:3
12637 Hagersten, Sweden
Attn: Mr. Daniel Broman
Ref: ABI8991479: Smart Microfiber testing:

Dear Mr. Broman:

At the request of Smart Microfiber System, Applied Biogenics, Inc. (ABI), an environmental and forensics chemistry consulting company, tested the ability of cleaning cloths woven from Smart Microfiber to eliminate bacteria from common indoor environmental surfaces. The cleaning efficiency was compared to cleansing methods using detergent or disinfectant. The test results are described below.

Three identical surfaces — window ledges at ABI’s offices — were wiped with either the Smart Microfiber cloth, with a conventional cloth and detergent, or with a sponge and disinfectant. A fourth window ledge was left untreated. Cleaning involved a single pass over each surface.

After cleaning, the ledges were permitted to air dry for several minutes. They were then sampled using sterile cotton swabs. One swab was rubbed vigorously over each of the cleaned or uncleaned window ledges. The swabs were then streaked across conventional bacterial culture dishes. A beef-extract based agar was used as the nutrient. This media usually supports the growth of a wide variety of microorganisms. Duplicate samples were prepared.

After streaking, the dishes were incubated at room temperature for three days, but growth was seen after only 30 hours. The growth was observed only on the dish corresponding to the window ledge that had not been cleaned. This means the Smart Microfiber cloth with water was effective at removing all microorganisms from the window ledge. The detergent and disinfectant treated surfaces also failed to produce bacterial growth, which is what would be expected. Refer to the following table for details:

The Smart Microfiber cloth with water achieved removal of all microorganisms on the test surface without the need to rinse detergent residues and without the need to saturate surfaces with disinfectant. ABI concludes that the product meets the manufacturer claims as represented to us.

In addition, the product achieved results that the manufacturer had not claimed. Specifically, detergents and disinfectants sanitized the surfaces but did not necessarily remove particles. This was evident by the appearance of some soil on the cotton swabs used to sample those surfaces after cleaning. But the swab used on the ledge wiped with the Smart Microfiber cloth was virtually free of particles. Consequently, in applications where removal of particles — such as mold spores, for example — is an important consideration, cleaning cloths fabricated from the Smart microfiber may reasonably be expected to out perform conventional cleaning methods.

For Applied Biogenics, Inc.

Jay L. Stern

Registered Environmental
Assessor 1035, REA II 031