Man drying a car with a microfiber cloth

Microfiber: How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

| By Jolynn Paige

As far as our customers' favorite cleaning tools go, Photodon microfiber cloths are right up there with vacuums.

We hear from our customers all the time about how they use the microfiber cloths they purchase from us.  While we sometimes get a chuckle out of their creativity (we never laugh at them, always WITH them), we feel good that we're helping so many people with the not-so-fun tasks of everyday cleaning.

Continue reading

9HO Screen Protector on a cell phone

9HO Screen Protectors: 9H Hardness Defined and Tested

| By Jolynn Paige

Photodon's Touche brand super scratch resistant screen protective film

Photodon's highly scratch-resistant oleophobic 9HO screen protectpr material is a rockstar in Photodon’s lineup. Not only is it one of the most scratch resistant materials available on the market, it is extremely clear. It’s easy to clean, affordable and —  unlike tempered glass — it's shatterproof.

But what exactly does 9H mean in terms of scratch resistance?

9H Explained:

There are many ways testing labs will evaluate the hardness of a given material. One common way is to test a surface with minerals of varying degrees of hardness to determine if it will scratch a surface. Another way is A box of pencils used by artists showing hardness factor levels.to use pencils that are on a hardness scale that ranges from 2H to 9H. The higher the number, the harder the lead.

The most commonly used pencils are 2H on the hardness scale — not very hard. You may notice that if you use much pressure on a #2 pencil tip, the tip will break easily. Many artists will use 9H pencils — the hardest pencil grade available — so their pencils don't break as they draw.

Photodon's 9H Hardness Test:

One way Photodon’s screen protectors were tested was by using pencil hardness methods as set forth by the highly reputable American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International Standards. Photodon’s 9HO material surface was evaluated for its ability to withstand scratches using these graded pencils.

Continue reading

Microfiber Cloths for Industry

| By Mandy Peterson

There are many applications for Photodon Microfiber Cloths in the industrial world.  Cloths for screens, displays, smooth and rough surfaces, or fine and detailed applications. We're confident that you will find the weave to match your needs. We offer several different cloth options for you to choose from. We also offer microfiber promotional options if you'd like to promote your industry in a unique way.

Continue reading

10 Reasons Why You Should Be Using Microfiber to Clean

| By Mandy Peterson

Microfiber cloths:

  • are non-abrasive: Looped microfiber is ideal for gently "buffing" dirt off from delicate surfaces such as glass or screens.
  • are lint-free (in most cases).
  • give a streak-free clean. The average "normal" cleaning rag pushes dust and dirt around, causing smearing.
  • do not scratch surfaces.
  • grab dust/grime particles.
  • soak away liquid (even oil) with fantastic wicking action.
  • become electrostatically charged, which also helps attract/remove dust, hair, and little "fuzzies."
  • dry quickly because of their special loop weave. In fact, this material dries in one-third the time of ordinary cleaning cloths.
  • are absorbent. Microfiber holds up to seven times its weight in liquid. With a couple of firm wrings, this impressive material is ready to mop up until the mess is gone.
  • are washable and reusable (washable up to 500 times).

Flat weave versus looped weave:

Microfiber is a blend of two synthetic material types: polyesters and polyamides, and there are two different ways that microfiber is woven together. One is the "flat" weave and the other is a "looped" weave.

Flat weave: This weave repels water and is used in the textile industry for making water-resistant clothing and accessories such as watchbands. This type of microfiber – and any other type of fabric which is similarly woven –  is not ideal for use as a cleaning cloth since it will only push particles around and not absorb them.

A super-magnified view of flat-woven microfiber.

Looped weave: To be useful for cleaning, microfiber must be separated during processing. This method consists of splitting the polyester (the scrubbing fiber) from the polyamide (the absorbing and quick-drying fiber). Once the microfiber is split, the fibers are woven into a fabric. The percentage of material normally consists of 70% to 80% polyester and 20% to 30% polyamide, depending on the style of fabric construction.

The polyester and polyamide are then combined during weaving to create hundreds of thousands of microscopic "loops." This web-like formation of "loops" grabs dust, grime, dirt, and oil and traps it within the weave, making this material one of the safest cleaning tools to use.  

A super-magnified view of looped weave microfiber.

What makes loop-weaved microfiber so superior for cleaning?

Microfiber cloths are green and eco-friendly because they can be re-washed with a mild detergent in the washing machine and can even be placed into the dryer. Fabric softener should never be used with microfiber cloths because it weakens the static charge of the filaments and reduces the effectiveness.

Also available on the Photodon website:

Sample Cloth Packs for trying a few microfiber cloths without a large commitment.

Silky Microsoft Cleaning Kit

Promotional Microfiber Cloths

Photodon offers many different weaves of microfiber cloths. From cloths to clean lenses and smaller screens to cloths for cleaning larger screens like computer monitors and TVs, there is a microfiber cloth for every purpose. There are also general-purpose cloths that work great on other surfaces.

You can contact us at 847-377-1185, M-F 9:00a.m – 5:00pm EST, or email us at [email protected] for more information.

Traverse City, MI, Small Biz Makes Face Shields To Help Save Lives

| By Jolynn Paige

When owner Don Basch listened to Michigan's Governor Gretchen Whitmer address citizens on March 23, 2020, he, along with everyone else in the state, heard the news that all non-essential businesses were ordered to close their doors until at least April 13th.  That night, Don went home, got on the internet, and researched what he could do to help protect the medical and emergency responder professionals in his Traverse City community. 

Don Basch, owner of Photodon, pictured wearing a personal protection mask he made.
Don Basch, owner.

“I found a local group that shared Google doc showing PPE items that hospitals are needing to help keep doctors and nurses protected.  One of the items was face shields with a suggested design.”  Don went to the Photodon shop and got to work making a shield using some materials he had in stock. After tinkering with the shield pattern, he constructed the first shield.  He also ordered some additional supplies needed to make the shields.   

Photodon shop worker assembling personal protective gear to help medical workers during the coronavirus epidemic.
Angela W. assembling personal protective face shields to help medical and other emergency personnel during the coronavirus pandemic.

“We now have supplies on hand to make about 1,500 shields,” Don said.  Photodon plans to provide as many shields as they can and currently have face shields ready to deliver.  “We just want to do what we can to help with what we are capable of doing,” Don said.   

Interested organizations should contact Photodon by emailing [email protected] or calling us at 847-377-1185, M-F 9:00a.m – 5:00pm EST.  

Photodon's screen protectors can be cleaned with disinfectants and bleach.

Clean Photodon Screen Protectors with Bleach and Sanitizers

| By Jolynn Paige

What Hospitals Need to Know About Our Products  

Now that the coronavirus has arrived, electronic devices are being cleaned regularly, especially ones used in medical facilities.  To ensure these devices are cleaned properly, hospital-grade type disinfectants are being used directly on expensive digital screens which, if not protected, can cause damage to the screen.  Our screen protectors hold up to harsh chemicals and can save your device screen’s life.  Below you’ll see what we did to prove this.  

  
The Test – HSC and MXH Screen Protectors and Anti-Bacterial Cleaning Solutions: 

Our Photodon lab technicians created a bleach test to see how our HSC and MXH screen protector materials would hold up to being regularly cleaned with hospital-grade Clorox Bleach Germicidal Wipes. 

We used a standard office monitor and wiped down the screens two times daily with the bleach wipes for a period of 30 days.  The results were clear:  the screen protectors' clarity and protection were not compromised, which means the screen itself was not either! 


Features and Specifications of Photodon’s HSC and MXH Screen Protectors: 

Our screen protectors can be part of your company’s cost-reduction program by avoiding the need to replace expensive screens, whether it be for medical equipment screens that can be damaged by regular and necessary cleaning requirements especially at this time, to manufacturing-type devices, laptops, monitors, TVs, or any other device screen. 

Our HSC and MXH Materials: 

  • Are resistant to yellowing, even when cleaned with harsh chemicals 
  • Are touchscreen-compatible 
  • Are an affordable solution 
  • Are great protection for your screen and offer different finishes.  HSC is a clear, glass-like option, where MXH offers an anti-glare, matte finish 
  • Protect your devices from scratches and blunt force impact 
  • Withstand daily wipe-downs with hospital-grade disinfectants, including bleach wipes 
  • Can be custom-cut for any device (up to 40.5” tall) 
  • Are easily removable with no residue left on the screen 
  • Come with installation kits and detailed instructions for an easier installation 

Photodon’s Advice: 

Replace the screen protector – not the screen. 

While we have not tested our other materials, we believe that our other screen protector material types would respond the same way if tested with the bleach wipes. Should chemicals degrade the PET material over time, it can be inexpensively replaced, while the same cannot be said of replacing the actual device screen. 

The Bottom Line: 

Touchscreen use is increasing in medical-type environments from patients using equipment to check in and check out, to doctors, nurses, lab technicians, and other staff.  It pleases us to know that we can provide a high-quality, affordable option for protecting these heavily used and expensive devices. We specialize in custom solutions, and we offer 11 screen protector materials and 3 privacy filter materials. We have quick turn-around times and will work with you to get you what you need when you need it! 

You can contact us at 847-377-1185, M-F 9:00a.m – 5:00pm EST, or email us at [email protected].

More Information

Photodon's Growth Leads to a Big Move

| By Jolynn Paige

What better way for a business to start out a new decade than to move into a big, beautiful building?  After 20 years of expanding and 8 years of renting, Photodon's owners, Don and Jeanette Basch, decided it was time to invest in their own building. "We've known for quite a while that the business was growing out of our rented space. We just needed to find the right fit," said Don. Continue reading

Photodon’s MXB Blue Light Screen Protectors Make a Difference!

| By Jenny Sockol

Introduction

Andy was on a mission to find a screen protector that would keep his new 55-inch television protected from scratches AND his eyes protected from eye strain.  After researching the Photodon website, he enthusiastically placed his order with an MXB blue light cut screen protector, but it wasn’t just for his large gaming television monitor.  He also bought MXB blue light cut screen protectors for a 2nd TV and for his iPhone!

Reason (and we install – fairly local)

Why? Andy’s biggest concern, even ahead of keeping his devices in pristine condition, was conserving his eye health.  He was trying to diminish his chances of developing macular degeneration like his grandma had and like his mom has now.  Photodon’s blue light cut screen protectors can help to reduce the threat of this potentially life-altering condition.

Andy chose Photodon for its MXB screen protectors because his research led him to us.  Our informational site, accompanied by blogs, research, and videos, helped convince him and his parents to use our MXB screen protectors to protect their devices and their eye health.

And because Andy lives relatively close to the Photodon shop, he was able to have us install his new MXB screen protector onto his 55-inch television for him in our cleanroom.

Results

How is it working for Andy now?  “The protectors are amazing!  My eyes do not get tired as quickly as they did, and I am sleeping better than I was before them.”

Conclusion

If you would like to learn more about Photodon’s blue light cut screen protectors, take a peek at this page.

You can also help regulate your sleep patterns, prevent over-eating, reduce eye stress, and lessen your risk for macular degeneration just like Andy is doing now.  Let the sales team at Photodon know how we can assist you!  You can contact us at 847-377-1185, M-F 9:00a.m – 5:00pm EST, or email us at [email protected].