I recently went to a Norwex party and was wondering if you had an opinion about Norwex microfiber cloths?
Laurel, Coquitlam, B.C.

There is an upside and a downside to microfibre cloth products.

The upside: They only need water to clean streaks, smudges, dirt and grime on glass, mirrors and stainless steel surfaces. They are also easily washed and reused, so a good quality cloth can last several years.

The downside: They are made from petrochemicals.

The polyester and polyamide fabric strands are 100 times finer than human hair. That’s what makes them so good at lifting dirt, grease and dust without cleaning chemicals.

The problem is, they are made from a nonrenewable resource and do not biodegrade, and I don’t believe they are recyclable either.

Points for reducing the use of toxic chemical cleaners and eliminating the need for paper towels and strikes against for being made of petroleum-based products and for never going back to the Earth.

Ultimately, it’s up to you.

One cloth may be a great addition to your cleaning arsenal but don’t forget you can also wash and reuse rags (from old t-shirts, sheets, etc.) or newspaper which can then be composted.

Lindsay Coulter gives you the straight goods on living green. Send your questions to queenofgreen@metronews.ca. For more great tips, visit The David Suzuki Foundation at davidsuzuki.org. "