Reusable industrial wipers: The right choice for your workshop
If you run an industrial workspace like a car repair shop, you know that spills, grease buildup, metal swarf, and dirty equipment are part of the job. Many businesses rely on disposable wipers, blue roll, or old rags to keep things clean, then toss them after a few uses.
Seems convenient, right? But when you start counting the waste, costs, and time spent managing it all, disposables don’t look so easy anymore.
In this article, Kaspars Grava, Service Owner of Mats and Industrial Wipers at Lindström, shares how reusable industrial wipers outperform disposables in convenience, cleanliness, sustainability, and cost.
Key takeaways
- Reusable industrial wipers absorb better, last longer, and cost less per use.
- Lindström’s circular solution takes care of procurement, waste management, and admin work.
- ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards ensure hygiene and environmental responsibility
- Digital tools (eLindström) make the service simple to manage and scale
- Real businesses report cleaner workspaces, happier workers, and smoother operations
The hidden costs of disposable industrial wipers
Rags and paper drain company resources in ways you might not immediately see. Kaspars explains, “Disposable products require buying, managing, and storing, which takes time away from somebody’s main role. You can’t just throw hazardous materials into the trash. You have to hire a waste management company to take care of it.”
Extra admin tasks like reporting and coordinating pickups only add to the load. And since disposable wipers are thin and messy, you end up spending more on floor maintenance to keep your workspace presentable.
| Disposable wipers vs. Lindström’s reusable industrial wipers | |
| Single-use, then trash | Reusable for up to 2 years |
| No environmental standards | ISO 9001 (quality) & ISO 14001 (environment) certified |
| Poor absorption—only works for small jobs | High absorbency for large and small clean-ups |
| Leaves lint and fibres on work surfaces | Lint-free, leaves no textile trace |
| Thin material increases finger injury risk | Heavy-duty quality, safer to use |
| Used 1.5-2× more than reusable wipers | ~2 pieces per worker per day is enough |
| Requires warehouse and workplace storage space | No extra storage—one location at workplace |
| Needs waste bins, bags, holders, ordering resources, delivery management, multiple pickup points | Point to dispenser location—service runs itself |
| Industrial dirt disposed with paper/rags | Dirt separated, wipers reused, waste recycled |
| Multiple people needed: waste management, suppliers, cleaners, storage managers | One contact person |
| Regular trips to dispenser and trash bin | Always on your table or in your pocket |
| Mandatory reporting for waste disposal | No reporting—we handle it |
| External recycling companies and coordinators required | One contact, complete service |
The benefits of Lindström’s reusable solution
Higher-quality tools
Reusable wipers are built for tough jobs, with higher absorption and durability than paper or rags.
Paper absorbs water fast, but can’t hold much. Our wipers do a much better job, create less mess, and keep everything organised.
Kaspars Grava
They’re lint-free and safe for sensitive machinery. And when workers have the right tools, morale also improves. “That matters a lot in industries where retention is hard,” explains Kaspars. “Decision makers should give their workers the best tools to do their job well.”
Less stock management hassle and lower costs
The real cost of disposables isn’t just the blue roll—it’s the time spent managing it all.
Ask yourself: How much time goes into ordering, restocking, and picking up disposable wipers?
Many companies think disposables are easy, but our service makes things even easier. You keep your premises clean without the mess.
Kaspars Grava
Since disposable wipers have a short lifecycle, they need constant replacement. Our reusable solution eliminates those steps, giving you fixed costs, a predictable supply, and better product performance.
Customer spotlight: LänsiAuto Helsinki – Car dealer and repair shop
We use Lindström because it is easy, fast and reliable. We think it is good for our business. Ecological values are also important for us. Washable and reusable wipers are a good choice because they produce less waste.
Janne Kalliokoski, Head of Car Repair Shop at LänsiAuto Helsinki
Challenges:
Maintaining cleanliness in the service area, finding durable wipers for oil and grease, and reducing waste costs.
Solution:
Lindström’s industrial wiper service
Results:
Durable and multi-purpose wipers for mechanics Fast, reliable, and fully digital service. Time and cost savings through reduced waste
Cleaner and safer workshop
Take a look around your workshop. Notice the loose paper, textiles, and spills—and then picture it all gone. Imagine how much cleaner and more organised your space could be.
Kaspars Grava
That’s what reusables deliver. They eliminate the mess and risks that come with disposable wipers, giving your team a tidier and safer workspace.
Spill control
Absorption mats catch oil and liquids at the source before they spread across the floor.
Fire safety
Metal dispensers are safer than paper dispensers or cardboard storage.
Worker protection
Heavy-duty cotton wipers protect hands from cuts when handling sharp metal parts or tools.
Quality assurance
Our washing process removes industrial contaminants, and metal detectors catch any foreign objects before wipers return to you.
Improved sustainability
By switching to reusables, your business cuts waste and energy use without extra effort.
“Our industrial wiper service takes care of everything—waste management, washing, and quality. Workers just grab clean wipes and drop the used ones in the same container. They don’t have to think about it. We make sure the products are always high-quality and responsibly handled” explains Kaspars.
This is how our service works
Our Industrial wiper service handles the full circular cycle: clean wipers delivered, used wipers collected and washed, contaminants removed safely, and water filtered and reused.
Our service is ISO 9001 certified for quality and ISO 14001 certified for environmental standards, so you know both performance and sustainability are built in. Plus, our laundries filter and reuse all water, keeping oils and contaminants out of the environment.
We’re also increasing recycled content in our wipers, while never compromising on quality or lifespan. “The aim isn’t to make more products—it’s to make them last longer. We’re working closely with our suppliers to get better recycled material options,” adds Kaspars.
The switch to reusable wipers is easier than you think
Disposables might seem like the easy choice at first. But between purchasing, storing, disposal fees, and admin work, they cost more than you think (and deliver less).
Our industrial wiper service gives you better absorption, longer life, and a cleaner workspace, all through a service that runs itself. The future is reusable, and we make the transition effortless.
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