Guess what’s ON your
‘clean’ rental rag?
- lead
- Cadmium
- Iron
- Antimony
- Oil
- Grease
- Zinc
- Toluene
- Xylene
Compare | Rental Rags | Disposable Shop Towels |
How clean are they when you receive them |
Metal shavings, oils and hazardous chemicals can be present on ‘clean’ laundered rental rags presenting both possible hazards to health and the possibility of machinery getting snagged | Clean out of the box every time, can be used multiple times before discarding, easy to dispose of |
Are there any hidden charges? |
As many as 6 additional charges: damage fee, energy charge, delivery charge, replacement fee, environmental/fuel surcharge fee | No hidden cost with disposable shop towels |
How absorbent are they? |
The absorbency, strength, and size of the laundered shop towel can diminish the more it is laundered | Shop towels can absorb up to 400% more than one standard 13¨x13¨ laundered shop towel. |
What are the standard sizes? |
The standard 13”x13” size of the shop towel can diminish to 12¨x12¨ the more it is laundered. | Shop towels are available in a wide variety of sizes and dispensing options depending upon your needs. |
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Determining the real costs of rental rags
So you’re paying a set usage fee per towel? It doesn’t usually end there. You can also have environmental charges, replacement charges and more.
The additional fees can increase your overall cost of the shop towel by as much as 25% or more.

Hidden Charges Add Up...
- Damage fee
- Energy charge
- Delivery charge
- Replacement fee
- Environmental/fuel surcharge fee
What You Should Know About Exposure To Heavy Metals

Acute Exposure: Nausea, vomiting, encephalopathy (headache, seizures, ataxia, obtundation) Chronic Exposure: Encephalopathy, anemia, abdominal pain, nephropathy, foot-drop/ wrist-drop1
Chronic Exposure: Proteinuria, lung cancer, osteomalacia1
Acute Exposure: Vomiting, GI hemorrhage, cardiac depression, metabolic acidosis Chronic Exposure: Hepatic cirrhosis1
Acute Exposure: headache, fatigue, irritability, lassitude, nausea, anorexia, flatulence, irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, and motor incoordination and impairment of equilibrium. Flushing, redness of the face, a sensation of increased body heat, increased salivation, tremors, dizziness, confusion, and cardiac irritability have also been reported. Chronic Exposure: conjunctivitis; dryness of the nose, throat, and skin; dermatitis; and kidney and liver damage.2
Acute Exposure: MFF (oxide fumes); vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain (ingestion) Chronic Exposure: Copper deficiency: anemia, neurologic degeneration, osteoporosis1