META DESCRIPTION
Discover the main types of cotton rags available in Pakistan, including white, colour, hosiery, and fleece rags — their uses, benefits, and industrial demand.
Introduction
Cotton rags stand as one of the most widely used cleaning materials in Pakistan’s industrial and commercial sectors. Garment and hosiery factories generate textile waste, which they produce as fabric scraps. After collecting the fabric scraps, workers clean, sort, and compress them into bales before supplying them to different industries.
Moreover, people prefer cotton rags because they achieve higher absorbency, last longer, and cost less compared to disposable alternatives. To understand their uses, we describe the various types of cotton rags available in Pakistan below.
1. White Cotton Rags
White cotton rags are made from pure white T-shirt or hosiery fabric. They are lint-free, soft, and highly absorbent. Therefore, people use them to create a clean and stain-free surface.
Common Uses:
- automotive detailing and polishing
- glass and mirror cleaning
- printing and paint industries
- laboratories and clean rooms
In addition, people prefer white cotton rags because they eliminate the risk of dye transfer, ensuring spotless cleaning performance.
2. Coloured Cotton Rags
Manufacturers make coloured cotton rags from mixed-colour fabric pieces obtained from garment production waste. After sorting, workers trim and pack the rags together. They use these rags more widely in heavy cleaning tasks because they are more economical than white grades.
Common Uses:
- machinery maintenance
- oil and grease wiping
- construction sites
- general-purpose cleaning
Furthermore, people choose coloured rags when appearance is less critical, but they still need absorbency and strength.
3. Hosiery Cotton Rags
Hosiery rags are produced from stretchable knit fabrics such as T-shirt or cotton jersey material. Due to their softness and smooth texture, they are excellent for delicate surface cleaning.
Common Uses:
- automobile workshops
- paint shops
- furniture finishing
- metal polishing
Additionally, hosiery rags provide excellent absorbency and are ideal when a smooth and lint-free surface is needed.
4. Fleece Cotton Rags
Fleece rags are obtained from sweatshirt or fleece jacket cutting waste. Their brushed texture allows excellent water and oil absorption, while their softness makes them ideal for polishing operations.
Common Uses:
- metal and chrome polishing
- car detailing
- electronics and equipment maintenance
As a result, industries prefer fleece rags when they need a gentle yet effective cleaning material.
5. Mixed Cotton Rags
In some cases, workers prepare mixed cotton rags by combining different fabric types such as denim, woven, and knitted materials. They sort these rags based on durability rather than appearance, providing a cost-effective option for bulk cleaning tasks.
Common Uses:
- mechanical workshops
- textile mills
- heavy-duty maintenance units
Thus, people select mixed rags when they prioritize a balance between cleaning performance and price.
Conclusion
To summarize, several grades of cotton rags are available in Pakistan — each designed to meet specific industrial cleaning requirements. Customers choose white and hosiery rags for lint-free cleaning, while they prefer coloured, fleece, and mixed rags for general wiping and oil absorption.
Consequently, the right selection of rag type ensures cost savings, efficiency, and sustainability within industrial operations.
