Ebola scared the world in 2014 as it spread internationally in a relatively short amount of time. Hospitals weren’t fully prepared to handle an Ebola outbreak, which led to nurses and other healthcare staff members becoming infected themselves. Hospitals have since revamped their protocols for treating Ebola patients to prevent future outbreaks of the virus.

Together, the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) and hospitals across the country have worked diligently to create solutions for handling the Ebola virus disease. Everything from protective equipment, to cleaning methods, to the cleaning materials used have been analyzed for effectiveness.

One of the results is that hospitals are increasing their use of microfiber products. Over 90 percent of hospitals already use microfiber products for their superior cleaning qualities compared to traditional cleaning materials. However, a stronger emphasis has been placed on single use microfiber cloth products due to the Ebola outbreaks within hospitals in 2014.

When dealing with infectious diseases such as Ebola, every precaution must be taken to prevent its spread. Hospitals are now using microfiber cloths to clean surfaces in patient rooms, and disposing of them carefully after each use, rather than reusing them. This prevents the threat of cross-contamination during the laundering process.

Microfiber cloths are preferred over traditional cloths because they clean more effectively by absorbing liquids and solids from surfaces. The goal is collect all potential contaminants and to dispose of them immediately. They also require less water to be used during the cleaning process – another factor that prevents cross-contamination.

For patients being treated for the Ebola virus, medical facilities opt to dispose of hospital bed linens after a single use as well. Any method that prevents the spread of contaminants is being considered. If there’s one thing we’ve all learned from the initial Ebola scare, it’s that hospitals can never be too prepared for treating infectious diseases, no matter how rare they seem at the time.

With the recent Ebola outbreak, microfiber products are valued more than ever before. Along with rigorous protocols for the use of protective equipment, microfiber cloths are putting a strong fight against the spread of Ebola.