Microfiber
What it is
Microfiber is made from synthetic fibres, usually polyester and polyamide, that are many times finer than a human hair. In a good cloth or mop pad, those fibres are split into even finer strands. That creates a huge amount of surface area and a slight static charge, which lets the cloth grab and hold dust, dirt and grease that a cotton rag would just push around.
Why it matters
Good microfiber does a lot of the work that people usually expect from stronger sprays. A damp cloth alone removes most everyday grime from counters, glass and stainless steel. Buying cloths in three colours, one each for the kitchen, the bathroom and everything else, is the easiest way to avoid cross-contamination.
Quality varies a lot. Thicker, denser cloths clean better and last for hundreds of washes. Thin, cheap ones often stop gripping after a few dozen.
How to use it
Use it dry for dusting, and slightly damp for most wiping. Fold the cloth into quarters so you have eight clean sides, and turn to a fresh side as each one gets dirty. Wash without fabric softener. Here's how to wash microfiber.