feature wipes and wiping solutions
Laundered cloths and rags vs disposable wipes When it comes to wiping a surface – whether it’s a counter or machine part – there is a perception that using a rag or laundered cloth multiple times is less wasteful than using a disposable wipe. Rags and laundered cloths made of certain material (including recycled clothing) can often complicate instead of improve the manufacturing processes, according to the Kimberly-Clark Professional report “Industrial Wipers: How they impact Product Quality, Productivity, Worker Health & the Environment.”
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ecause rags and cloths sometimes leave behind lint, dirt and debris, using them can compromise a manufacturing process and those contaminants can potentially get into the product being manufactured, resulting in rework. “If anything, rags and laundered cloths increase defects,” said Ankur Gupta, category manager, WypAll® Wipes, at Kimberly-Clark Professional. For instance, rags that have been used to wipe down industrial equipment contain debris like metal shavings and pins. A 2011 study conducted by Gradient, an environmental and risk science consulting firm, and co-sponsored by Kimberly-Clark Professional found that a worker using up to 12 laundered cloths a day may be exposed to high levels of antimony, beryllium, cadmium, cobalt, copper, lead and molybdenum.
“For goodness’ sake, asking people ‘Why do you use a rag?’ is like asking ‘Why would you use a used piece of underwear?’ when you are performing your work,” Gupta said. Reasons why rags and laundered cloths are not as dependable as industrial wipes:
Rags • Are inconsistent in size, shape and material • May contain pins, buttons and metal shavings which can lead to scratches and other imperfections on surfaces • Occupy more storage space in industrial warehouses than disposable wipes
issues to the worker like elevated blood lead levels and hypertension • Not engineered for specific applications • Contribute to landfill waste
Disposable wipes are more efficient than you think Disposable wipes like WypAll® Wipes are absorbent, making it quick to clean a piece of equipment and can reduce machine stoppages. “When consumers use the right tools, they will ultimately see that they can impact quality, delivery and costs in a much bigger way than they could have imagined,” Gupta said. “Now that’s efficiency.” For more information visit:
Laundered cloths
www.kcprofessional.com
• Can retain lead, a toxic heavy metal, which can cause serious health
Visit us at Cleantex Africa from 12–14 October 2022
Management application to be launched FABRiCHEM, along with UniPaper and JOTA, offer a holistic approach to the cleaning industry as these companies are able to supply clients with uniquely formulated cleaning chemicals, cleaning sundries and cleaning equipment. In addition, their participation this year will be bolstered by the official launch of an industry-leading management application. These companies look forward to welcoming visitors and delegates to their stand at Cleantex Africa.
Stand number: E04 18
African Cleaning Review July/August 2022
