Just Add Water
What’s the big deal, you might wonder. Isn’t this just another microfiber cloth? Nope, this one is really different — and it’s worth getting excited about.
E-cloth® can tackle just about any cleaning chore using only water. It picks up dirt, grease and grime without the use of chemical cleaners. And it lasts through 300 washings, which is great for the environment and your budget.
The difference is in the engineering. E-cloth has a finer weave and more cleaning edges than typical microfiber cloths, making it much more effective. It comes in different varieties, each designed to address specific tasks. There’s an E-cloth for cleaning stainless-steel appliances, for instance, and another formulated especially for glass surfaces.
The driving force behind E-cloth is Steve Pearson (below left), an entrepreneur from the UK. Steve became consumed with finding a smarter, more eco-friendly way to clean after hearing that hospitals in Sweden were using a special cloth to clean with water, rather than traditional chemical cleaners.
He teamed up with engineer John Park and a group of Korean scientists to create the first E-cloth. It has been a hit for several years in the UK, and now Daily Grommet is working with distributor TADgreen to spread the word about E-cloth in the U.S.
Just imagine: No more paper towels, disposable wipes, grungy rags or harsh cleaners. Good riddance!
Mike
Well that’s what I was the first time I cleaned with E-cloth. Hi, I’m Mike Coogan of TADgreen / E-cloth. We’re a small Greenland, NH-based company that began changing how people clean for the good (in more ways than one) in early 2008.
Now flabbergasted is a “big” word – but no hyperbole here – that’s how I felt the first time I cleaned with the E-cloth Kitchen Pack cloths. I started with the E-cloths on my kitchen windows, then stove top, stove hood, granite counters, fridge – I was outa’ control. I even cleaned the wood louvered doors that contain our washer and dryer. My surprise was two-fold: 1. How well everything was cleaned without high-level elbow grease; 2. This cleaning was done with just plain water and two cloths!
I have to admit, I was very skeptical about E-cloth’s claim of “perfect cleaning with just water.” I was the type of person who was sold on household chemical cleaners touting Extra Strength so I’d get the cleanest results. I never considered that this extra strength may not be healthy for me or my family. I figured if it was on the shelf, it was safe. If only I knew then what I know now. Today, the lone household cleaner we use is for the toilets.
Thanks for being kind enough to read about “My First Time Experience with E-cloth” story. I think you’ll find this product lives up to The Daily Grommet’s quest to bring you products with great utility: function and convenience. In addition, E-cloths are good for the environment. Not only do they clean chemical-free, you don’t use paper towels. This eliminates the trees felled and emissions used to manufacture them, and they are used once and thrown away creating significant landfill waste. Each E-cloth is guaranteed for 300 washes, so they clean for years, not moments.
These cloths are for real. See for yourself.
I certainly would enjoy answering any-and-all questions you may have.
Katherine – Grommet Team
10/15/2009 12:20 PMThese are amazing! The most compelling thing to me is that they are used in hospitals - absolute assurance that they are effective at taking care of bacteria.
I have a textile background and so am extra interested in the science behind the fiber. Here is a diagram that illustrates how the fibers in this cloth work:
marie
10/15/2009 12:24 PMThese look fabulous....thanks, Grommet !
Deb – Grommet Team
10/15/2009 12:31 PMThese look phenomenal. Is there one specifically formulated for granite? What's included in the 'Kitchen Pack'? I may just have to order one of everything!
Margaret
10/15/2009 12:36 PMwhat is in the Kitchen Pack? I did not see that in the details page and wondered if there is a stainless and a glass e-cloth in there already or does one get those separately?
Katherine – Grommet Team
10/15/2009 12:41 PMPeg and Deb - thanks for pointing out that we missed providing details for the Kitchen pack!
Here is a picture of the pack.
It has:
(1) 12.5”x12.5” General Purpose Cloth
(1) 20”x16” Glass & Polishing Cloth
The General Purpose Cloth (Green) is for thick grease and dirt. The Glass & Polishing Cloth (Blue) is for glass, light cleaning and final polishing. (Not for use on electronic screens and delicate lenses.)
Mike – Special Guest
10/15/2009 12:54 PMHi Deb, Thanks for asking about a special granite cloth. The General Purpose Cloth that comes in the Kitchen Pack works excellent on granite. (I know I have granite counter tops.) All you do is wet the General Purpose Cloth with tap water, wring it out, and wipe the granite. You can follow it up with a dry Glass & Polishing Cloth to dry and further polish the surface. A quick rinse under the faucet and the General Purpose Cloth is ready to go again.
Mike – Special Guest
10/15/2009 1:12 PMHi Peg, Thanks for your interest. Certainly E-cloth would like you to buy both the Stainless Steel Pack AND the Kitchen Pack but it may not be you need both.
The Kitchen Pack contains our General Purpose Cloth known for its cleaning skills on stainless steel (in fact, many manufacturers that make stainless steel appliances recommend this cloth to clean with).
The Stainless Steel Cloth contains special toughened stripes to remove the most stubborn of grime. Both Packs contain a Polishing Cloth. My suggestion is to get the Kitchen Pack, and see how well it performs.
Robyns Online World
10/15/2009 2:24 PMI get it for things like windows where I don't worry about germs - but I'm curious how with just the water it can remove things like mold, mildew, germs, etc. from the shower and stuff? Or even the kitchen sink.
Mike – Special Guest
10/15/2009 3:52 PMUnderstandable concerns. I had them too before I used them. E-cloth cleans using fiber function, not a chemical reaction. E-cloth uses the highest quality microfiber that is fabricated by some of the most sophisticated machinery in the world. Millions of tiny cleaning edges are created that deep clean by lifting, trapping and removing dirt, grease, mildew, grime and bacteria. Speaking of bacteria, independent test have shown that E-cloths effectively remove bacteria. It does not kill it, that's why we recommend frequently rinsing them under hot water as you clean.
Kelly
10/15/2009 4:26 PMI'm really intrigued by these and the fact that they work without chemicals. Our family made the switch to a chemical free home about a year and half ago, and I currently clean our bathroom shower/tub and sink with something called 11.5 Kangen water (highly alkaline water that makes the rust and dirt run right off!) and a scrubber sponge. I've always hated using the sponges because they seem to break down so quickly. I think we'll have to invest in some of these cloths to make our home even more environmentally & most importantly, people friendly. Thanks for such a revolutionary product!
Susan
10/15/2009 4:43 PMI have a white marble counter in my master bathroom. Which cloth would I use for that? Just want to make sure I don't scratch it.
Mike – Special Guest
10/15/2009 4:51 PMThanks for the kind words. I applaud your chemical free home efforts.You are ahead of the curve. I have been stunned in researching chemical cleaners -- how unregulated, untested and potentially health-harmful they are... and consumers are left in the dark. Two of the five ingredients listed on a VERY popular window cleaner are: "cleaning agents, quality control agents". Just what are these "agents" and have they been tested against long-term health effects? The only "agents" used to clean in E-cloths are the cloth, plain water and you. No mystery. Just clean left behind.
Mike – Special Guest
10/15/2009 5:10 PMGood question. Although there are millions of tiny "edges" that deep clean, they don't scratch the marble surface (or glass, tile, chrome, ceramic, laminates or wood for that matter). I'd suggest you purchase the Kitchen Pack. It comes with two cloths. Use the thicker one (General Purpose Cloth) to go over your marble counter (run it under the faucet to wet it, wring it dry). Follow that up with the second thinner cloth to dry and put a final polish. In the past it took a cleaner that smelled like lighter fluid to make my marble bar top shine like this. You'll be as impressed.
Mike – Special Guest
10/15/2009 5:46 PMHey, there have been some very good questions asked by you “Grommetiers” so far. I expected more. When the Daily Grommet contacted us saying they discovered E-cloth and wanted to tell our story, I wanted to learn about them. What I discovered is that this was a site like non-other I was familiar with. It went beyond the superficial – it would appeal to consumers that wanted to “know” more about their buying choices. A perfect audience for E-cloth. Don’t hold back. If there’s a reason or a question you have over adopting the better, healthier way of E-cloth cleaning, speak up. I’m going to be here for a good portion of the evening as well as tomorrow to honestly address your curiosity and concerns.
Deborah
10/15/2009 6:53 PMOK. Here's my question. I'm really concerned about bacteria around the kitchen, particularly the sink. I once saw a news story about the most germ-ridden part of the kitchen...the sponge. I'm questioning the idea of just running the cloth under hot water. Won't the bacteria still be there? And, what happens if I do use fabric softener in the dry cycle? Will it prevent the cloth from working?
Mike – Special Guest
10/15/2009 7:40 PMAs we know, there's good and bad bacteria. That said, how do we effectively deal with the bad bacteria? As I mentioned in a previous post, the current E-cloths doesn't kill bacteria, but does an excellent job in removing it. In fact, independent tests by Royal Roads University revealed that microfiber and water removed more bacteria than either a regular cotton cloth and a popular disinfectant spray, or bleach. The Biomedical Research Centre at Shallam Hallam University concluded that "unlike ordinary cloths, E-cloths do not support the growth or colonization of bacteria." Regular rinsing of E-cloths under hot water while cleaning, and machine washing on "hot" removes bacteria. You should avoid washing or drying E-cloths with liquid fabric softener/sheets as it lessens the cleaning impact of the millions of cleaniing edges in every E-cloth. If fabric conditioner is used by mistake, rewash with a little detergent .
Julia
10/15/2009 10:33 PMi have been looking for good microfiber cloths since moving here from australia - hooray!!
Mike – Special Guest
10/16/2009 6:02 AMYour search is over! We seem to be "late bloomers" here in the U.S. Other countries have been using premium microfiber for cleaning for quite awhile. My guess is that here in the U.S. we've been hit with far more advertising from huge household chemical companies telling us we just had to clean with their products. Now, more consumers are starting to realize that when using chemical cleaners a clean house isn't necessarily a healthy one. We'd love to hear your E-cloth story after you've had a chance to use them. We have a bulging page of user feedback in our Testimonial section on our website (www.ecloth.com) we'd like to add you to.
Mike – Special Guest
10/16/2009 6:28 AMI realized I overlooked a very important fact... in the last post the person from Australia said they were searching for “good microfiber” – the operative word here being GOOD. "Microfiber" is a general term used to describe a wide variety of materials fabricated using ultra-fine fibers. There is a large disparity of quality from one to another. Unfortunately E-cloth’s premium microfiber shares the same designation with poor ones. Understandably, inexpensive microfibers do not clean as well, and are not as durable as premium microfiber.
You’ll pay more initially for E-cloth but you’ll find it well worth it. They clean much better (far more cleaning edges per cloth) and last a lot longer (guaranteed for 300 machine washings=years).
Rynne
10/16/2009 9:56 AMNow schools and non profits can raise money and turn awareness into action with E-cloth! E-cloth and just water is a smart alternative to wasteful paper towels and surface cleaners, a good investment in your family's health and budget and a simple way to go green, and live more sustainably. Simple and efficient online fundraising with a potentially extraordinary impact. FREE shipping! Visit http://www.green4myschool.com/ for more information
Mike – Special Guest
10/16/2009 10:41 AMWe’re in the home stretch of being the “GROMMET OF THE DAY” but are pleased to live on in the Daily Grommet Collection with the other past Grommets on their site. Certainly I’ll keep monitoring our Grommet page and am happy to answer any-and-all future questions.
Thanks to the fine people behind the Daily Grommet. If it wasn’t for you many good, useful products would never get into the homes of grateful consumers. Thanks also to those who had questions and comments. And a big thanks for those who supported us with a purchase. You’ll soon find out that once you’ve tried E-cloths, you’ll never clean with anything else.
Jules – Grommet Team
10/16/2009 11:10 AMMike--I love your enthusiasm. We really do want to change the way great products get discovered--and supported--with Daily Grommet. Look how we found E-cloth...via a friend's Facebook post. I really believe that the good guys like you will rise to the top if we give them a powerful platform to tell their story, and tools for people to share their ideas. That's our vision at Daily Grommet. Thanks to everyone who is sharing the e-Cloth story, and for all your purchases too. You will not be disappointed.
Mike – Special Guest
10/16/2009 1:34 PMHi Jules--It's easy to be enthusiastic over a good idea like the Daily Grommet. I "enrolled" and will check out your Daily Grommets as an interested consumer. It's also easy to be enthusiastic over E-cloth because it is an authentic, quality product that delivers as promised. In fact, I never get tired of people telling us (actually gushing) about their surprise the 1st time they use E-cloths. Thanks again for allowing us to tell our story.
iamagnat
10/24/2009 4:05 PMI was just using my e-cloth to clean the walls today - not a favourite task. They are good.
Katherine – Grommet Team
10/24/2009 4:36 PM@iamagnat - anything that can make a dreary task better is a good thing! Thank you for stopping by.
Daniel
11/1/2009 7:42 AMAs soon as I got my e-cloth, my wife tried it out on the stainless steel refrigerator, and it worked so well she promptly appropriated it for the kitchen! I think I'm going to have to buy another. She's going to try it out for other applications, too, but she's very happy to finally have a solution to the problem of how to get the stainless steel looking great, and without having to keep buying bottles of some clearer.
Katherine – Grommet Team
11/1/2009 3:52 PM@Dan - thank you for stopping back and sharing your experience with your purchase. I've been meaning to jump in myself and say how amazed I was with my first cleaning. The combination cleaning cloth/finishing cloth really leaves a clean shine. I do think I'm going to want multiples too so that I always have one available when one is in the wash.
Amber Cleaner
11/3/2009 7:47 AMe cloths are great to do anything, been using for a while now and they are just amazing. I specially like using them on glass buff it up really well with no smear marks. Do have to use on harsh chemicals to get a great results, people spread the word!
JAY
12/30/2010 6:07 PMDo the same 2 cloths come with both the shower pack and the bathroom pack?
Katherine – Grommet Team
12/30/2010 7:48 PM@JAY: The glass and polishing cloth are the same in the two packs, but the second cloth in each pack is different. The additional bathroom cloth is spongy. The additional shower cloth is thick and has a grommet in the corner for hanging in the shower.
Cindy
9/12/2011 5:01 PMWould these cloths be safe to use on non-stick surfaces like frying pans or even plastic bowls? How about car windshields? I'm all for using less chemicals and more natural products! But I'm concerned about scratching delicate surfaces.
Katherine – Grommet Team
9/12/2011 5:14 PM@Cindy: The cloths are not abrasive and will work fine for all of the situations you mention. Thanks for stopping by.