We produce more than 20 types of wiping materials here at Y-pers, with different price points, sizes, measurements and quality.

And while the perfect rag for one person might not be right for someone else, we’ve found that most people want something made from cotton, ideally 100 percent cotton.

Who wouldn’t want to work with rags where each piece is soft, absorbent and uniformly sized?

Unfortunately, it’s hard to find 100% cotton rags that are all equal in size. If someone tells you that’s what they’re selling, we urge you to sample multiple pieces.

Most rags are made from recycled textiles…your old clothes? Look at the tag on the back of your shirt? Does it say “100% cotton,” or is there some Lycra or spandex woven into the material?

Let’s take a look at some of the different types of rags and their cotton content.

1. Recycled textiles 

Like we said above, these rags are made from old clothing, such as t-shirts or sweatshirts. These rags are sorted and cut into individual pieces and tend to be the least expensive. This is great for your budget, as long as you don’t mind having several pieces in varying size.

And keep in mind some of these pieces might have logos on, although in most cases this won’t affect the use of the rag.

When working with recycled textiles, customers are left with a decision: To spend more to ensure they’re getting only 100% cotton rags or save money but get some pieces that are hybrids.

2. New textiles 

These rags offer the most consistency and highest cotton content. Because they come directly from a textile mill and haven’t been used by consumers, they arrive in even squares, with no logos or seams.

While these are 100% cotton rags, note that virgin textiles coming straight from the mill won’t be prewashed. Why does this matter?

Well, imagine the way water beads on the surface of a brand-new undershirt. That’s because of a surfactant in the cloth meant to repel liquid. It will take a few washes for the shirt to become absorbent.

3. New textiles that have been washed

These are, no question, the best rags on the market:

• Knowing each rag is made of 100 percent cotton gives us the certainty that we can pass on to our customers

• Because they are virgin textiles, they come in nice square pieces
• Because they are prewashed, they are the most absorbent
• And these rags tend to be colorfast, so they won’t bleed when mixed with cleaners or chemicals

No rag works for every customer. Are recycled rags right for you? Or 100% cotton rags? The only way to find out is to try. Contact Y-pers today to talk with one of our experts. We’re able to provide samples and our insights to help you find your perfect rag.