Year-End Restock Checklist for Busy Facilities
As the year moves into colder, wetter months, day-to-day cleanup demands tend to rise. More foot traffic means more moisture inside. Equipment runs harder. Shops see more grit, grease, and debris. A smart restock in November prevents shortages when work is busiest. This guide gives you a clear process to review what you have, determine what you need, and place orders before the holiday rush slows shipping.
A good restock starts with understanding where messes happen most often. Then match the right rag to the task so your team stays efficient.
1. Walk Your High-Use Zones
Take ten minutes to walk your facility. Look at areas that get the most activity:
- Entryways and reception areas
- Shop floors and machine zones
- Breakrooms and kitchens
- Restrooms
- Loading docks and vehicle bays
At each location, ask two simple questions:
- What kind of mess happens here regularly?
- Are the right rags easily available at this exact spot?
If rags are stored too far away, the team will use the wrong type, waste time, or skip wiping tasks entirely. Stock where work occurs.
2. Restock the Core Winter Workhorses
Some rags get used faster once cold weather arrives. These are the categories to focus on now.
| Mess Type | Best Rag Choice | Reason |
| Rain, tracked-in floor moisture | Color Terry Towels | High absorbency for wet areas |
| General daily cleanup indoors | Recycled Terry Towels | Reliable all-purpose use |
| Heavy grit, grease, mud, equipment grime | Color Thermal Rags | Textured surface lifts debris effectively |
| Counters, prep surfaces, tables | New Bar Towels | Uniform size, launders well, easy to assign per station |
3. Standardize Storage and Access
The best supply is the one people can use quickly. Create simple, visible storage systems:
- Use stackable bins or open-top totes for grab-and-go access.
- Label bins clearly by rag type rather than by department.
- Keep backup supply in a central location that is easy to check at a glance.
Avoid cardboard boxes once they are opened. Clear containers make it easy to see remaining inventory.
4. Assign Inventory Check Responsibility
Good systems rely on consistent follow-through. Give one person per shift or per department responsibility for:
- Checking rag levels at the start of shift.
- Marking when quantities reach a reorder point.
- Sending reorder notifications to purchasing.
Keep the process short and predictable. One quick check each day prevents last-minute shortages.
5. Place Orders Before Shipping Windows Tighten
Demand for cleaning supplies increases at the end of the year across many industries. Freight carriers also move slower during holiday schedules. Placing your restock order in November protects against delays and secures your supply for the start of the year.
One consolidated order is usually more efficient than multiple small orders. It saves both shipping cost and administrative time.
What is Lint Free or Low Lint?
What is the big deal with lint free wiping rags?
What is the big deal with lint free wiping rags?
Well first off, most types of rags produce some type of lint that is left behind when being used. If you are cleaning glass, windows, mirrors, automobiles or electronics you will want as little lint as possible. There is nothing like cleaning a window and seeing lint all over it once you finish. That’s just not right! To get the best results with a wiping rag in these situations you want to use a low lint rag.
What exactly is Lint?
Lint is a small, fine fiber that detaches from the surface of cloth and yarn. With cotton a tighter weave means less lint but also means less softness. Typically the softer the item the more lint you will see. A lint free cloth is a special type of cleaning cloth that does not give up any fluff or lint when being used.
Cleaning Electronics with Lint Free Rags
It is very important when cleaning electronics to use a low lint cloth. Being free of lint means the cloth is less likely to build up a charge that can possibly harm electronic equipment. There is a concept called ESD where lint and fluff can gain an electric charge.
Cleaning Tip for Lint Free Rags
If you wish to keep your wiping rags to having low lint you need to wash them correctly. Don’t wash with other items that have lint such as bath towels because they will drop lint in the wash.
Examples of Lint Free or Low Lint:
A&A Wiping Cloth has a large supply of wiping cloth products that are low lint and lint free.
Click on any of the links below to purchase your rags immediately:
A clean, well-stocked facility runs smoother and safer. A simple restock plan keeps your team prepared for winter routines and higher cleanup volume. Walk your facility, restock your core categories, set clear storage systems, and assign responsibility for inventory checks. Doing this now reduces stress later and ensures operations run efficiently through the end of the year.