Shop rags really aren’t that exciting. But when you consider that one company makes shop cloths from recycled materials that won’t end up in a landfill, that is pretty cool. Through its Contractivity! Program, Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin not only diverted 80,455 pounds of materials from landfills in 2016, it also employs over 50 individuals with barriers to employment to make their wiping cloths — GoodWipers.
These products are sold chiefly to businesses in industries like automotive, plumbing, paper manufacturing, welding, construction and custodial. Woodcraft, the sole retailer for GoodWipers, has partnered with the company since May 2016, selling their white wipers in 2-pound bags in its retail stores across the country and online at woodcraft.com.
Automotive uses
In the garage
The durable rags, recycled from white cotton or high-cotton blend T-shirts, are perfect for use in the auto shop, home garage, or personal workshop to easily remove dirt and grime from messy jobs. The low-lint fabric cloths are great for all-purpose wiping, cleaning, polishing, sopping up liquids, oils and grease, and applying stains and finishes.
Woodcraft Product Manager Kent Harpool uses them, saying, “I have always used T-shirts for various finishing tasks around the shop. The problem is I don’t wear them out fast enough.” So Woodcraft provides the perfect solution. Not only that, he feels the partnership between companies is a win-win. “Part of the charm of this relationship is the good work Goodwill does.”
Revenue from the sale of GoodWipers returns to Goodwill NCW’s 29 programs and services and continues to provide valuable work experience to participants who might be unable to obtain employment elsewhere.
“The work and revenue Woodcraft provides for the Goodwill team are invaluable. We help our crew learn job skills as well as social interaction skills,” said Paul Brunette, Contractivity and GoodWipers leader. “Our partnerships within the community and businesses like Woodcraft help to fund our program and bring meaningful work and lives to those we serve.”
PHOTO: Two of the Contractivity team members are shown here at the cutting machines recycling the textiles to be sold.
Woodcraft will soon be releasing another product from GoodWipers – bags of recycled Terry Cloth Rags. Kent said, “Worn out towels always get relegated to other tasks, but in the workshop they’re great for applying oil finishes, staining and rubbing out any finish. Plus there just isn’t a more absorbent material to wipe your hands on.”
Visit your local Woodcraft store today, and pick up a few bags for your garage or workshop. Also available online here. Get a handy and useful product while helping out a good cause!
Terry cloth is absorbent and versatile in the shop
Coming soon - recycled terry cloth rags
Woodcraft will soon be releasing another product from GoodWipers – bags of recycled Terry Cloth Rags. Kent said, “Worn out towels always get relegated to other tasks, but in the workshop they’re great for applying oil finishes, staining and rubbing out any finish. Plus there just isn’t a more absorbent material to wipe your hands on.”
Visit your local Woodcraft store today, and pick up a few bags of shop cloths for your garage or workshop. Also available online here. Get a handy and useful product while helping out a good cause!
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