A pleatable nonwoven material is provided, including thicker form-giving fibers and thinner fibers determining the filter effect, wherein the thinner fibers are incorporated largely homogeneously in the thicker fibers running in the direction along the surface of the nonwoven material and a distribution density gradient of the thinner fibers is established perpendicular to the surface of the nonwoven material such that the highest concentration of thinner fibers is in the region of the center or on one of the two outsides, wherein the thicker and thinner fibers are bonded together by solidification from the melted condition and are made from the same material.

A textile applicator for application of a sanitizing and/or disinfecting solution to a surface. The applicator incorporates a plurality of direct spun polyester microfiber yarns to define a textile surface which does not bind or inactivate quaternary ammonium compounds, chlorine-based or peracetic and/or other peroxygen based sanitizing and/or disinfecting agents. Thus, the sanitizing and/or disinfecting agent is readily released to the surface being treated without any requirement of pre-loading surface binding sites or applying a charge-modifying surface treatment.

A textile applicator for application of a sanitizing and/or disinfecting solution to a surface. The applicator incorporates a plurality of direct spun polyester microfiber yarns to define a textile surface which does not bind or inactivate quaternary ammonium compounds, chlorine-based or peracetic and/or other peroxygen based sanitizing and/or disinfecting agents. Thus, the sanitizing and/or disinfecting agent is readily released to the surface being treated without any requirement of pre-loading surface binding sites or applying a charge-modifying surface treatment.

Nonwoven fabrics are provided that include a mechanically entangled blend of fibers comprising (a) post-consumer recycled polymer staple fibers (PCR-staple fibers) and (b) one or more additional fibers, in which the one or more additional fibers are different than the PCR-staple fibers. The PCR-staple fibers are mechanically entangled with the one or more additional fibers to define the nonwoven fabric.

Nonwoven fabrics are provided that include a mechanically entangled blend of fibers comprising (a) post-consumer recycled polymer staple fibers (PCR-staple fibers) and (b) one or more additional fibers, in which the one or more additional fibers are different than the PCR-staple fibers. The PCR-staple fibers are mechanically entangled with the one or more additional fibers to define the nonwoven fabric.