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How to Choose Shop Towels


Discover the cost-efficiency and durability of Vestis shop towels.

Like many industrial businesses, automotive shops and manufacturing facilities can produce dirt, grease, grime and all kinds of messy fluids daily. Keeping these contaminants at bay is a never-ending challenge that requires many different types of cleaners, scrubbers and towels.   

Sometimes, planning your towel needs can be difficult, and many shops might opt for disposable paper towels to save money in the short-term. While paper towels can be convenient, there are several disadvantages to paper towels, including:  

  • Lack of durability 
  • Cost to replenish more frequently  
  • Limited absorbency  
  • Bigger environmental impact

Quality cloth shop towels coupled with a towel cleaning service can cut down on operating costs, increase the longevity and durability of your cleaning resources and improve your facility’s overall eco-friendliness.  

What makes shop towels different from other types of general-use towels? The difference is durability, absorbency and eco-friendliness.

Workplace Supplies for Auto Shops

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The Durability of Shop Towels

When it comes to durability, shop towels outperform paper towels. Paper towels are single-use, disposable products made from lightweight, absorbent wood pulp fibers. They are ideal for small, quick clean-ups but aren’t intended to last any longer than a single use.  

Shop towels, on the other hand, are multi-use cloths designed to be washed multiple times before needing to be replaced. Shop towels, made from cloth fabrics, have a higher thread count than any type of paper towel which makes them much more durable and absorbent.  

These towels are extremely durable because they need to withstand extreme conditions and are designed to scrub abrasive substances and materials. This requires a towel that is able to withstand heavy usage without shredding into many pieces, which is exactly what happens to a paper towel in these same situations.   

Superior Absorbency

Reusable towels absorb oils, grease and other automotive or manufacturing fluids with ease. Their thicker cloth construction makes them better suited to soak up messes than paper towel products.   

With such great absorbency, cloth towels can improve your workplace safety by efficiently cleaning up spills.  

Reusability and Cost-Efficiency

When it comes to cost, reusable towels have a clear advantage over disposable towels. Larger spills or messes might take an entire roll of disposable paper towels to clean up. This same spill might only take one large shop towel to resolve.   

You can save time and money with a towel cleaning service and garment laundering services from proven professionals like Vestis.   

Eco-Friendly Solutions

Disposable towels pile up over time, creating more garbage that goes to landfills. Cloth towels last for multiple uses. Because of this, they don’t create as much trash. The extra absorbency of the cloth fabric also means you will be using less towels in general for clean-up, reducing the waste that your facility creates.  

Different Shop Towels for Different Applications

Shop towels is a catchall term for describing towels in an industrial, warehouse or shop environment. But there are actually many different types of towels useful in these workplaces. 

  • Reusable cloth towels – These cotton/poly blend towels can withstand several uses and washes before needing to be thrown out 
  • Reusable poly/cotton shop towels – Similar to a standard cleaning/scrubbing towel, but with a polyester blend to encourage quicker drying 
  • Microfiber towels – Microfiber towels are very popular for industrial environments because they are more durable and pick up more dirt and residue than cotton 
  • Glass towels – Glass towels clean mirrors, windows and other glass surfaces without leaving streaks   
  • Fender and seat covers – Specifically designed for automotive applications, these oversized towels protect fenders, seats and other auto parts during vehicle maintenance in the shop

Customizable Towel Rental Services

We’ll help you make sure you have the right balance of reusable and disposable towels. Working with Vestis, we’ll help you determine what quantity of each might be suitable for your business. Coupled with a towel rental and laundry service for other garments, Vestis can be a powerful partner to help you improve the cleanliness and safety of your workplace.

Tailored Services for Manufacturers

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Your Towel Rental and Cleaning Solution

Whether your business is automotive, manufacturing, or other industrial setting, Vestis offers flexible towel services that can scale with your needs. Choose from several different towel options, including disposable towels for the appropriate areas of your facility.   

Vestis can help you with inventory management by determining how many towels you use during the week so that you have the quantities you need without extras that you have to store. While you’re using your towels, Vestis professionally launders your soiled towels, uniforms, and other garments using a wash formula specifically designed to remove tough grease and grime from cleaning fabrics.      

A convenient rental program can help your facility, staff and customers be safer, cleaner and healthier. Here’s how it works:     

  • A Vestis representative works with you to help you determine your overall towel needs in all parts of your facility 
  • We drop off freshly laundered towels on your schedule delivery day  
  • We pick up dirty towels from your location  
  • Our towel cleaning services launders your towels with a special wash formula designed to remove tough stains  
  • We monitor inventory levels to make sure you have what you need when you need it  

Contact your local Vestis team to learn more!

An industrial towel service that works for your business

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