Rags

Rags are pieces of fabric that have been separated from larger textiles or produced as cuttings from woven or knitted fabrics. They are typically too worn or damaged for use as clothing but retain enough integrity to serve tasks that do not require new fabric. Common uses include cleaning, polishing, dusting, wiping oils and liquids, and acting as applicators in painting and auto repair. Rags are also used in crafts and as padding or stuffing.

Rags originate from discarded clothing, household textiles, and industrial byproducts. They are sorted by fiber content, color, and cleanliness. In industry they may be cleaned and sometimes treated before use as wiping cloths. They can be repurposed into rag rugs, quilts, or shredded for paper pulping or insulation.

Historically, the rag trade played a role in textile recycling and waste management. Rag merchants and rag-and-bone men collected discarded textiles for resale or processing; rag mills produced wiping cloths and lower-grade fibers. In contemporary economies, recycling and reuse reduce textile waste and extend the life of materials.

In modern practice, rags intended for cleaning are typically stored and disposed of through appropriate waste streams or sent to textile recyclers, depending on fiber content and contamination. The term also appears in idioms and place names, reflecting the long-standing association between worn textiles and everyday work.