In short: which rag for which job
| Rag type | Absorbency | Lint | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-shirt knit (jersey) | Good | Low | Parts, hands, tools, general wiping |
| Terry | Highest | Some | Oil, spills, large surfaces |
| Bed linen | Medium | Almost none | Glass, polishing, paint preparation |
| Coloured cotton | Medium | Low | General wiping where colour does not matter |
| Mixed fabrics | Lower than cotton | Low | Rough cleaning |
All our rags are cut, dry and free of buttons and zips. We sort them by fabric type and colour, so a bag never holds a random mix.
Knit — the all-rounder
Knit is T-shirt and sportswear fabric. It is soft, absorbs well and sheds very little lint. A piece folds easily and can be used on several sides.
This is the most popular grade. Garages, metalworking shops and machine maintenance teams use it every day. Piece size is about 40×50 cm.
Terry — when you need to soak up a lot
Terry is towel fabric with loops. The loops hold liquid, so terry absorbs more than any other grade. It works well for oil, coolant, water and spilled paint.
The downside is lint, so terry is not for painting or final wiping. Small pieces (about 50×70 cm) are easy to handle. Large pieces (about 90×100 cm) suit floors, drip trays and big areas.
Bed linen — almost lint-free
Bed linen is a thin, smooth woven fabric. Ours is 100 % cotton only, with no synthetics. It absorbs less than terry but leaves almost no lint or streaks.
Use it on glass and polished surfaces, for degreasing with solvent and for paint preparation. Light bed linen suits print shops and work with light-coloured materials.
Coloured cotton and mixed fabrics
Coloured cotton is shirting fabric. It is an inexpensive rag for general wiping where colour does not matter.
Mixed fabrics are fleece, stretch and knits with synthetics. Synthetics absorb water less well and can melt on hot surfaces. On the plus side, these rags are usually cheaper and fine for rough cleaning.
With solvents, coloured fabric can release dye. For light surfaces, use white or light rags.
White, light or dark
- White — where cleanliness matters: painting, printing, light materials. You can see at once what you have wiped off.
- Light — a lower-cost option for finishing work.
- Dark — for oil, grease and soot. Usually cheaper than white, and stains do not matter.
Piece size and packing
Standard packing is a 10 kg PE bag with a handle. You can put it straight on the shop floor.
Need a different piece size, packing or fabric mix? We will prepare a batch for your task. For steady consumption we agree a delivery schedule.
Not sure whether rags or paper towels cost less? See rags vs paper vs nonwoven wipes. For storing used rags safely, read handling oily rags.
Questions and answers
01Which rags absorb oil best?
Terry. Its loops hold more liquid than smooth knit or bed linen. For small wiping jobs, knit also works.
02Which rags are lint-free?
No rag is completely lint-free. Bed linen and knit shed the least. For paint preparation, choose light bed linen.
03How are wiping rags sold?
By weight. The standard pack is a 10 kg bag. Other packing can be agreed for your order.
04Can I order rags of a specific colour and size?
Yes. Tell us the fabric type, colour, piece size and quantity. We will prepare a batch for your task.