Automotive Wipers for Parts Plants and Repair Shops: Which Shop Wipe Fits Each Station

Automotive wipers, in a parts plant or repair shop, are the disposable shop wipes used on parts, engines, machines and work surfaces, not windshield wiper blades. Each station gets its own wipe: L7207 rolls or L8138 quarterfolds for degreasing parts and engine assembly, the raised-dot L7212 roll for machining lines and machine upkeep, LGK5 for inspection and precision parts, and the L7280 paper roll for light oil and small parts in the repair bay.

This guide is for auto, motorcycle and bicycle parts plants, repair shops and fleet depots, and the MRO distributors who supply them. It covers a station-by-station table, degreasing with solvent, what precision areas use, how to set up a repair bay, and how to turn station use into cartons.

Each station deals with different dirt and different surfaces, so a plant can match wipes station by station rather than using one everywhere.

Tack cloths used just before painting are a different product and are not covered here. Stations outside the automotive line, such as food or print shops, are covered in our guide to industrial wipers by industry.

The L7207 and L8138 are the same material, a polyester meltblown nonwoven at 73 GSM and 0.8 mm thick. They differ in how they dispense.

The product pages describe both as acid- and base-resistant and suited to solvents and alcohol, and list machines, parts, and engine assembly and repair among their uses. The L7207 page notes that it absorbs machine oil. A typical degreasing wipe runs like this:

1. Let the part drain over the tray or parts washer before wiping, so the wipe picks up a film rather than standing oil.
2. Wet a fresh L7207 sheet, or an L8138 from the pack, with the plant’s degreaser or solvent, applying it to the wipe rather than straight onto the part.
3. Wipe the part from the cleanest area toward the dirtiest, folding the sheet to a clean face as it loads up.
4. Finish with a dry sheet to lift the loosened oil and leftover solvent.
5. Put used wipes in the closed container the site uses for oil- and solvent-soaked waste.

Parts washers, ultrasonic tanks and high-pressure cleaning are a separate process step. In auto parts cleaning, wipes handle the work before and after the washer, plus large parts, machines and work surfaces that never go in one.

Each of these areas needs something different from its wipe.

Machining lines. The L7212 multi-purpose wipes roll is 20 × 30 cm, 580 sheets per roll, with a raised-dot texture. Its product page lists engine departments, machine upkeep, and wiping workpieces and processed parts, and describes it as absorbing water and oil, low lint, durable and compatible with solvents. The L7209, a wood pulp and polyester spunlace, is listed for precision machinery plants.

Assembly stations. The L8138 quarterfold comes out one sheet at a time with no tearing, so it is easy to count and keep at each station.

Inspection and precision components. LGK5 low-lint wipes are a plant fiber and polyester spunlace, 23 × 23 cm, 300 per pack. The product page lists car and bicycle component manufacturing areas and describes them as low lint, absorbent, soft and won’t leave scratches; low lint is among their SGS test items. Where a larger, tougher sheet that works with solvents is needed, the LGK7 (30 × 30 cm, wood pulp and polyester, dry or wet use) is an option.

Some automakers set technical cleanliness requirements for parts; meeting them is verified through the customer’s and the plant’s own testing.

A repair bay runs on three items:

Mount the paper roll on the LE-0002 floor stand, which holds a full roll up to 33 cm in diameter, 33 cm wide and 6 kg. For the setup steps, see setting up a floor-stand wiping station. For moving a shop off cloth mechanic rags, see replacing shop rags with industrial wipes, and for leaks under vehicles, cleaning up an oil spill at work.

Work out monthly use from each station:

As an example with assumed numbers: six degreasing stations each using 25 L7207 sheets per shift, on two shifts a day and 22 days a month, use 6,600 sheets, or 6 cartons. For comparing wipes beyond the price per sheet, see the cost per use of industrial cleaning wipes.

LICK products are made under an ISO 9001-certified quality system, and the wipes listed here carry SGS results for formaldehyde, heavy metals, E. coli and migrating fluorescent agents. How solvent-soaked wipes are stored and disposed of depends on local rules and each chemical’s SDS, so check the requirements where you operate.

Are automotive wipers the same as windshield wipers?

No. In parts plants and repair shops, automotive wipers or shop wipes are the disposable wipes used on parts, machines and surfaces; windshield wipers are a vehicle part. This guide covers only the first.

What is the difference between mechanic rags and shop towels?

Mechanic rags are usually washable cloth or recycled textile. Shop towels can mean washable cloth towels or disposable paper and nonwoven rolls. Disposable wipes replace both at the stations above.

Can these wipes be used with brake cleaner or degreaser?

The L7207 and L8138 product pages list them as acid- and base-resistant and suited to solvents and alcohol. Test any new wipe with the exact chemical first and check for fuzzing or tearing. Keep wipes away from flame, as the precautions note, and let engines and exhaust parts cool before wiping.

Are these wipes lint-free?

We describe them as low lint, and the LGK5 and LGK7 list low lint among their SGS test items. No wipe is entirely free of lint.

Can a distributor get these wipers under its own brand?

Private label applies to the LICK wipers and paper rolls (L7207, L8138, L7212, L7209 and L7280), with options such as size, fold, roll length and packaging; printed packaging sets the minimum order. The LGK5, LGK7, LD pads and LE-0002 stand are supplied as standard products. Distributors building a full range can see our janitorial supply list for wipers.