Most of us have a cupboard full of sprays: one for the kitchen, one for the bathroom, one for glass and another for wood. The good news is that you can clean most of your home without chemicals, using just water and the right cloths. This guide explains how it works, how well it cleans, and how to do it room by room.
Why water alone can do the job
An ordinary cloth tends to push dirt around. Raypath cloths are made from very fine fibres, about 20 micrometres thick, with a grooved shape a little like a human hair. When the cloth is damp, dirt and grease are drawn into those grooves and held there, instead of being spread across the surface.
Cleaning with Raypath is a simple two step method:
- Wipe with a damp glove or wipe. It lifts grease and dirt off the surface and holds it in the water.
- Finish with a Sunbeam cloth. It picks up the water, and the dirt with it, and leaves the surface dry and streak-free.
That second step is what makes the difference, which is why we always recommend using a glove together with a Sunbeam cloth.
Does it really clean as well as a spray?
Raypath’s cleaning materials were compared with three well-known chemical cleaners in tests at the Collegium Medicum of the Jagiellonian University and the Department of Commodity Studies at the Cracow University of Economics. Surfaces were covered with artificial dirt made from dust, soot, coal dust, silicates and grease, and then cleaned with each product.
Using only water, the Raypath material removed 98% of the dirt from both composite worktops and ceramic surfaces. The three chemical cleaners, used with a cotton cloth, removed between 67% and 86%.
How to clean without chemicals, room by room
Kitchen
For worktops, cupboard doors, the hob and appliances, use a damp White Glove M, then dry with a Sunbeam cloth. Rinse the glove under the tap as you go, so it keeps lifting dirt rather than holding on to it. Always let the hob and oven cool completely before you clean them.
Bathroom
Tiles, sinks, taps, shower screens and mirrors all clean the same way: a damp White Glove first, then a Sunbeam cloth to finish. For limescale, add a little lemon juice to the water.
Windows and glass
For windows, the Express for the Windows 25cm combines a washable cleaning pad with a rubber blade, so you can wash and dry a pane in one go. The small Sunbeam Optic Wipe is made for glasses, phone screens and laptops rather than windows.
Dusting
The Pink Glove M is used dry. It picks up dust from furniture, shelves and electronics, and it is good for polishing too. No water and no polish needed.
Floors
The floor pads come in the same materials as the gloves and fit the Telescopic rod and head, which is sold separately. A damp White Floor Pad is for hard floors that are fine with water.
Wood and surfaces that dislike water
Some surfaces should not get very wet. The White Glove NOVA does the same cleaning job but absorbs much more water, so the surface is left drier. The beige Maintenance Glove M holds even less water, for surfaces that can only take a little.
How much water should you use?
Less than you might think. The glove or wipe should be damp and well wrung out, not dripping. Water temperature makes no difference to how well it cleans, so cold water from the tap is fine.
Looking after your cloths
- Before first use, wash new white gloves and wipes 3 to 4 times on a short cycle at up to 60°C, to open up the fibres.
- After cleaning, rinse them out. Don’t leave dirty cloths to dry.
- Wash by hand with soap, or in the machine at up to 60°C.
- Don’t use fabric softener or rinse aid, as they coat the fibres.
- Avoid the tumble dryer and radiators. Let them dry naturally.
Looked after like this, the fibres open up with use and the cloths keep working for many years.
Where to start
If you’re new to Raypath, the Mini Set is the easiest way to begin. It includes all four gloves (White, NOVA, Maintenance and Pink), a White Mini Wipe, two Sunbeam cloths and Water with Nanosilver, so you have the right material for every surface in the house.
Not sure which cloth to use where? Our FAQ page answers the most common questions, or email info@raypathuk.co.uk and we will help you choose.
Quick answers
Can you really clean a house with just water?
For everyday cleaning, yes. With the right microfibre material, water is enough to lift grease and dirt from most surfaces in the kitchen and bathroom, on glass and on floors. For heavier dirt, a little natural soap can be added.
Do I need hot water?
No. Water temperature does not affect how well the cloths clean.
Which cloth should I buy first?
A White Glove M and a Sunbeam cloth cover most jobs. The Mini Set covers every surface in the home.