Recycled Cleaning Rags Versus New Cleaning Cloths

There is a consistency apparent in cleaning rags that creates confidence in users who rely heavily on their ability to get the job done efficiently, and do so without having to retrace one’s efforts. The era of new cleaning cloths is upon us. But the reason wiping rags are rightly considered to be tools stems from the fact that they always do exactly what is required of them. Nothing is cautioned, nor is there special treatments needed to be advised about.

QIM Cleaning Rags provides completely laundered cleaning rags in bulk packages that appeal to small businesses in search of a quick, efficient way to clean up. Speedy cleaning lets small businesses focus more of their time dealing with customers and adding success to the bottom line. That’s something that new cleaning cloths too often don’t facilitate. Buy a package of microfiber cloths and find yourself committed to using those wipes for small messes and not much else. They also require proper cleaning between uses.

Wiping cloths come in literally hundreds of various kinds and styles. Ask QIM Cleaning Rags what would best fit your needs, and we will go out of our way to advise if wiping cloths or industrial rags are the best choice. We supply five types of recycled rags in compressed 20 kg bags. That gives customers a near constant supply of wiping rags that can be replaced within a day’s time.

The Environment and Cleaning Rags

Industrial rags are made from old clothing or are textile mill remnants that generally can be discarded after use. The beauty of these rags is that they provide heavy duty cleaning help without needing careful handling. Soak them in a solvent in order to clean a piece of machinery and don’t worry about anything inherent in the rags that might adversely react with the cleaner being used. Once finished cleaning, drop them in the trash. That isn’t the case with some of the newer wiping cloths made of material that requires attention to what can or cannot be used with them. Some of these products have difficulty absorbing the solvent you need to use. They also aren’t supposed to be thrown away after cleaning, which can be a pain because they can’t safely be put in a laundry with other materials.

A great deal of attention has been given to the ecological benefits connected with new cleaning cloth materials. Compare what the actual production of these wipes requires with the natural materials used for making industrial rags. For some observers, the printed cautions that come with new cleaning materials remind one of the accelerated popularity of bottled water. People are learning that much of that water isn’t any better than tap water it just costs a lot more; so, much the same as for the new cleaning cloths.

What are Cleaning Rags Good for?

Cleaning heavy duty machinery and equipment. Industrial cleaning rags are great when removing oil and metal shavings. Effective regular maintenance of these important and often expensive pieces of equipment is made easier with recycled rags. Regular removal of excess oil will increase the efficiency of the machinery and maintain its use for many years. Without the use of industrial rags, maintaining this machinery may be more costly than it should be. The high absorbency of rags made from recycled clothing make them perfect for this job as oil is stubborn and hard to wipe effectively.

When applying thinners, solvents and lubricants. Cleaning rags are great when applying thinners, solvents and lubricants to surfaces such as decking. Especially in preparation for painting, where removing unwanted dirt particles entirely will make a significant difference to the outcome of the finished product. Using a cleaning rag that is lint and colour free is critical at this step of the process. Cleaning rags are perfect for this job because of the reliable material used in rags such as t-shirt rags.

Cleaning large liquid spills. In emergency situations rags play an important role in cleaning and reducing any further danger. The high absorbency of recycled cleaning rags ensures any large spills are easily dealt with easily. A highly absorbent rag such as towelling rags are the best rag to use in these situations, either new or recycled, their absorbency is second to none. They can also be laundered by industrial washing machines for use after they have been used.Heavy dirt and/or oil removal from hands, arms and faces.

After working hard all day, all you want to do is clean yourself up in preparation for going home. By using a general workshop rag like coloured t-shirt rags with a high quality hand cleaner you can do this effectively. It is cheap way to wipe all the grease and grime that you picked up from a day in the workshop.

Cleaning stainless steel, glass or other shiny surfaces. Glass cleaning requires a perfectly clean rag, as does the cleaning of stainless steel or polishing shiny surfaces. A rag such as a flannel rag makes an effective polishing cloth for stainless steel, where glass cleaning requires white t-shirt rags to a great job. Cleaning these surfaces effectivley is hard enough without compromising on the equipment used. The right rag makes all the difference.

Cleaning Rag Facts

Recycling cleaning rags is said to be the world’s oldest type of recycling. It is estimated that the average person throws away 20 kilograms of clothing per year. The recycled cleaning rag industry diverts approximately 5 billion kilograms of waste every year that would normally fill landfill. Those two facts are amazing, and I hope they help you make a decision to use cleaning rags over other cleaning cloth options. The product itself also stands firm as a solid product. Rags are not looking for the sympathy vote when mentioning these facts. It’s just another reason to use the best cleaning cloth available.

Why Should You Recycle Used Clothing?

Clothing currently makes up close to 5% of the waste. Recycled clothing, also known as textile recycling that is damaged is recycled into rags. Anything that is not suitable is processed and turned back into fibers that are then used to make paper, yarn, insulation, carpet padding, sound proofing, etc. Recycling vs. making has many “green” benefits, including:

Carbon Footprint Reduction
Clean Air Preservation
Reduced Energy Consumption
Water Conservation
Woodland Conservation

Recycling textiles protects the environment from exposure to tons of harsh chemicals, waste products and waste water used in the manufacturing vs. recycling process of clothing. More great reasons to use cleaning rags.

So are you convinced?

Now you need to find some rags!

How to Select a Cleaning Rags Supplier

Cleaning Rags are a great way to keep costs down while still using a great product that works. There is definitely more to it than price though. The three main factors when choosing a supplier is the quality of the rags, the consistency of the product and their delivery and service.

Quality. Not all rags are created equal. There are a few factors here to use when deciding which rag supplier to use. Yes a bag of recycled rags will consist of clothing, sheeting and towelling, but the selection is important. The right rag in the right bag. No logos where there shouldn’t be or the wrong material. Also clothes definitely have a used by date, this is even true for recycled rags. A supplier needs to have trained staff to recognise what is rag worthy and what is not. A bag of rag may look similar on the outside, but the difference quickly shows on the inside when it comes time to use them. A rag can be cut from material that is not suited for the job, either because of its condition or age. A rag supplier that knows quality has a system in place to avoid this type of second rate material ending up in their rag bags.

Consistency. Cutting is the important factor here. If you are getting bags of rag with poorly selected offcuts then you need to change supplier. Their selection process is missing the most important part of the process. Supplying usable size rags, not just the odd collar, but each and every rag that comes out of the bag must be able to be used for its intended purpose. Each rag pulled out of your bag should be of similar proprieties. Material and size. There should be no small offcuts of collars, which are just a waster of your time and money. Each rag should be able to be used for it’s intended use. Watch out for cheap bags sold by larger retailers here. Their volume means there consistency can suffer because of the bulk amounts they are supplying.

Delivery and service. The next day is often too late. Especially when it comes to containing spills. You need a supplier that is willing to drop off a bag in a very short period of time. This can save you money if there are crucial jobs to be completed. Also when selecting rag, advice from someone that knows the capabilities of the product because them in their own business is a good starting point. If they do not use all the rags they supply how can you trust that they know what they are talking about? To help you find the right rag for your job and then delivering it quickly is important if there is to finish your job off quickly. Here only experience will be able to tell if the rag you are using is the best for the job, and whether the supplier is willing to rush a bag over in an emergency.