On a janitorial supply list, the wiper section usually comes down to five tiers: paper wiper rolls for water and light spills, general-purpose nonwoven rolls and packs, heavy-duty meltblown cloths for grease and solvents, low-lint wipes for finishing and clean areas, and oil-only absorbent pads for leaks. A janitorial supply distributor that carries one or two SKUs per tier, with a roll and a single-sheet format in each, covers most reorders from cleaning contractors, restaurants, machine shops and repair shops.
This guide uses the LICK range as the example: the specs and carton contents for each tier, which customers reorder which tiers, how the formats fit the warehouse and delivery routes, how to set reorder points, and which items can carry your own brand.
What Belongs in the Wiper Section of a Janitorial Supply List?
The five tiers below cover the jobs most customers bring to a distributor.
| Tier | Typical jobs | LICK example | Size and carton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper wiper rolls | Water, light oil, dust, small spills, detail wiping | L7280 paper wiper roll (1-ply); L7282 (2-ply) | 25.5 cm × 794 m, 2 rolls; 23 cm × 637 m, 2 rolls |
| General-purpose nonwoven | Counters, tables and equipment surfaces, wet or dry | L7212 multi-purpose wipes roll; L7209 roll; L9151 quarterfold | 580 sheets × 2 rolls; 680 × 2; 180 sheets × 10 packs |
| Heavy-duty meltblown | Grease, oil, ink, solvents and alcohol on machines and parts | L7207 roll; L8138 quarterfold power cleaning cloths | 640 × 2 rolls; 30 × 24 packs |
| Low-lint | Finishing, glass, instruments, clean production areas | LGK5; LGK3; L9133 for small instrument jobs | 300 × 10 packs; 100 × 30; 280 × 60 |
| Oil-only absorbents | Leaks and drips on floors | LD4843 pads; LD360 roll | 100 pads per carton; 100 cm × 42 m roll |
Keep a roll for fixed, high-volume stations and a quarterfold or pop-up pack for scattered workstations in each tier. That holds the range to roughly eight to ten SKUs; there is no need to stock several near-identical specs in the same tier. For how plants move off cloth rags tier by tier, see replacing shop rags tier by tier, and for what the low-lint label means, our guide to low-lint wipes.
Which Wipers Do Different Customers Reorder?
Each type of customer leans on a different mix of tiers and formats:
| Customer | Tiers they reorder | Format they prefer |
|---|---|---|
| Janitorial contractors and building services | Paper rolls, general-purpose packs | Quarterfold packs that ride on a cleaning cart |
| Restaurants and food plants | General-purpose wipes with SGS food-contact testing (L7209, L7212, L7211) | Rolls at prep stations |
| Machine shops, auto repair and fleet depots | Heavy-duty meltblown, paper rolls, oil-only pads | Rolls on floor stands, quarterfolds at benches |
| Printing, electronics and plants with clean areas | Low-lint (LGK3, LGK5) plus meltblown | Packs |
| Warehouses and sites with forklifts or machinery | Oil-only pads and rolls | Cartons kept at the spill point |
For the food side, see our guide to food service wiping cloths; for oil absorbents, buying oil absorbent pads in bulk. The customers of janitorial and industrial or MRO distributors overlap more and more, so carrying all five tiers lets one order cover both. For the auto repair side, see our guide to automotive wipers.
How Do Rolls, Packs and Cartons Fit Your Warehouse and Delivery Routes?
The three formats behave differently on the shelf and on the truck:
- Perforated rolls (L7207, L7209, L7212, two rolls per carton) hold the most sheets per carton and ship as whole cartons, which suits fixed-station customers who buy by the carton.
- Quarterfold and pop-up packs (L8138, 24 packs per carton; L9151 and LGK5, 10 packs per carton) can be split into single packs and ride along on a cleaning cart.
- Long paper rolls (L7280, L7282) sell with a floor stand. The LE-0002 floor stand dispenser holds a full roll up to 33 cm in diameter, 33 cm wide and 6 kg; for choosing between 1-ply or 2-ply paper towel rolls and the stand setup, see our guide.
In the warehouse, group SKUs by tier and label them by job (grease, general, low-lint), which is easier to pick from than shelving by brand. Rotate first in, first out, and store oil absorbents away from solvents.
How Do You Set Reorder Points and Replenishment Cycles?
A reorder point keeps each SKU in stock without overloading the shelf:
- Record cartons shipped per SKU each week for 8 to 12 weeks and take the average.
- Multiply the weekly average by the weeks between placing an order and receiving it, plus the weeks between stock reviews.
- Add safety stock for the SKUs customers cannot run out of, such as the heavy-duty and oil-only tiers.
- Reorder when stock on hand plus stock on order falls to that number.
As an example with assumed numbers: an SKU ships an average of 6 cartons a week, with four weeks from order to receipt and a weekly stock review. That is 6 × (4 + 1) = 30 cartons, plus 6 cartons of safety stock, so reorder at 36 cartons. Lead time depends on the item, quantity and destination, and is confirmed in the quote.
On the customer side, the same station method works in reverse: sheets per station per shift × stations × shifts × days ÷ sheets per carton gives a customer’s monthly cartons, which can become a standing order or a scheduled delivery.
Can a Distributor Carry These Wipers Under Its Own Brand?
Yes, for the LICK wipers and paper rolls. Sheet size, fold, roll length and dispenser or box packaging can be adjusted, with feasibility confirmed item by item, and printed packaging usually sets the minimum order. The LGK cleanroom wipes, LD oil absorbents and LE-0002 stand are supplied as standard LICK items. For the full private label terms, see our guide to industrial wiper private label; for the spec sheet fields and pack formats, see private label wipes.
LICK products are made under an ISO 9001-certified quality system. The wipers and paper rolls are SGS-tested for formaldehyde, heavy metals, E. coli and migrating fluorescent agents, several also for food contact and packaging material, and the L9133 for RoHS; the report for a specific SKU is available on request. A mixed order of wipers, oil absorbents and cleanroom wipes can start with a single inquiry. Rules for food-area products and for oil-soaked waste vary by location, so check the requirements where your customers operate.
FAQ
What is the difference between a janitorial supply distributor and an MRO distributor?
Janitorial (jan-san) distributors lean toward building cleaning, paper and chemicals; MRO distributors lean toward plant maintenance supplies. Both sell wipers, with a different mix: more paper rolls and general-purpose wipes on the janitorial side, more meltblown and oil absorbents on the MRO side.
How many wiper SKUs should a distributor start with?
A practical start is one or two per tier, with a roll and a single-sheet format in each, about eight to ten in total. Add more once existing customers’ reorders show where demand is.
Are shop towels and paper towels the same SKU?
No. Paper rolls such as the L7280 and L7282 handle water and light oil; nonwoven shop towels such as the L7212 and L7207 handle heavy grease and solvents. Most distributors carry both.
Do these wipers come with test reports?
Yes. They are SGS-tested for the items listed above, and the report for a specific SKU is available on request.
Can one order mix wipers and oil absorbents?
Yes. Industrial wipers, oil absorbents and cleanroom wipes can be quoted together, so a mixed order can start with a single inquiry.
Building the wiper section for a distribution business? Tell us your customer mix, the tiers you want to carry, and your expected monthly cartons. We will reply with samples for each tier, the SGS reports for the SKUs you shortlist, carton details and private-label options.