Which Industrial Wiping Cloths are better value for money? Wood pulp cloth vs cotton cloth in-depth comparison, procurement must see!

2025-07-22
Industrial wiping cloths are indispensable cleaning tools in industrial production, machinery maintenance, metal processing and petrochemical fields. Choosing the right wiping material not only affects cleaning efficiency, but also relates to cost control and safety regulations. Today, we will focus on the two mainstream materials: wood pulp cloth vs cotton cloth, for you to comprehensively compare its advantages and disadvantages, to help enterprises make the best purchasing decisions.

What is wood pulp cloth? Why is it widely used in the industrial field?

Wood pulp cloth, usually wood pulp and polypropylene fibre composite wiping material, also known as wood pulp composite non-woven fabric. It is favoured for its high oil absorbency, low linting and economical and environmentally friendly.

Advantages of wood pulp cloth: 

Strong absorbency: can quickly absorb oil, solvents and moisture.
Low linting: not easy to leave fibre residue, suitable for precision equipment cleaning.
Highly cost-effective: single-use cost is much lower than cotton.
Environmental degradation: some categories can be biodegradable, in line with environmental regulations.

Second, the traditional advantages and practical limitations of cotton cloth 

Cotton cloth, i.e., traditional recycled cotton gauze, old fabrics or newly made cotton rags, had long played a major role in the industrial scene, especially in the price-insensitive small workshops.

Advantages of cotton rags: 

Thick and hard-wearing: suitable for repeated wiping and vigorous cleaning.
Soft to the touch: comfortable to handle.
Washable and versatile: suitable for some re-use scenarios.

Disadvantages of cotton cloth: 

Linting: easy to leave fibre residue, not suitable for high cleaning needs.
General oil-absorbing effect: weak cleaning ability for oil and chemical solvents.
Hygiene hazards: recycled cotton may have bacterial residue or impurities.

Third, wood pulp cloth vs cotton cloth: a table to see the advantages and disadvantages of comparison 

Characteristics 
wood pulp cloth 
 cotton cloth 
Oil and water absorption
⭐⭐⭐⭐
 ⭐⭐ 
Degree of linting 
very low
high 
Cost control
low
hig
Cleanliness and precision
high 
low 
Sustainability
biodegradable (partially)
depending on the material 
Applicable scenarios
precision equipment, electronics workshop, machine shop
automotive repair workshop, Heavy industry, construction sites

Fourth, industrial procurement advice: how to choose?

If your company pursues efficient cleaning, waste reduction and cost saving, wood pulp cloth is the first choice. Especially in the requirement of ‘no dust, no fibre residue’ in the precision industrial environment, the performance of wood pulp cloth is significantly better than cotton.
However, if durability and reusability are more important to you, and you have a higher tolerance for linting, cotton is still an alternative.

Common Application Scenarios Keyword Layout: 

Wood pulp cloth is suitable for: automotive assembly lines, optical instrument cleaning, aerospace electronics factories.
Cotton cloth is suitable for: construction sites, mechanical repair shops, heavy oil occasions.

Conclusion 

In the ‘industrial wiping cloth comparison’, wood pulp cloth with its high adsorption, low linting, environmental protection and cost advantages to become the first choice of contemporary industry, especially for those who require high cleanliness, high efficiency of the production environment. Cotton cloths are traditional, but still have some life in rough environments.

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Industrial Wiping Cloths Wood pulp cloth