A novel, antibacterial cleaning cloth
There are millions of cases of microbial infections reported every year in Europe alone. A significant proportion of these arise at home through cross-contamination via hands, surfaces or other bacteria-containing objects, including cleaning cloths. In particular, wet surfaces such as the bathroom and kitchen sink are major sources of pathogenic bacteria. For cleaning cloths to be disinfected, the combinatorial use of detergent and heat are required. Even then, bacteria can regrow, indicating they are strongly attached to the cleaning cloths. The EU-funded 'Development of an antibacterial cloth based on microfibre' (CLEANCLOTH) project aims to put a stop to this by incorporating antibacterial functionality into the microfibre structure. This innovative cleaning cloth had to exhibit biocidal action but at the same time withstand the processing temperature during production. For this purpose, partners carefully selected biocides based on their chemical composition, source and toxic properties. The antibacterial efficiency and the physical properties of a series of different materials were tested. Simultaneously, researchers also investigated the compatibility of various polymers with antibacterial agents. Certain polymer–biocide combinations proved very promising, killing bacteria such as Escherichia coli within three hours without compromising their dust- and dirt-removal properties. CLEANCLOTH products would incorporate antimicrobial agents that remove bacteria without using chemicals while remaining safe for re-use by preventing bacterial growth on the cloth. This antibacterial feature makes it ideal for use in restaurants, hotels and hospitals where high standards of hygiene are required.
