TX701 is the swab you reach for when the problem is not “can I touch it,” but “can I touch it the same way, every time.” Its extra-large, flat paddle head behaves like a miniature paddle wiper—useful when a standard swab under-covers the surface and drives operators to scrub, over-wet, or “chase” streaks. The double-layer Alpha® polyester knit head supports controlled pickup and controlled release for thin films, light residues, and particulate on broader flats, fixture lands, and wide wipe zones.

A practical cleanliness reality: results depend on surface condition, pressure, solvent load, and stroke discipline. Use “low-linting” language and technique controls—nothing is truly lint-free across every surface, edge condition, and operator method.

• Precision cleaning of grooves, tracks, slots, channels, and recesses that still benefit from a broader, flatter contact patch.
• Wipe-down of broader flats (tooling faces, platen surfaces, fixture lands, gasket lands) where smaller swabs increase stroke count and technique variation.
• Controlled application and removal of lubricants, adhesives, and process solutions—especially where over-wet pooling creates dry-down rings or residue lines.
• Solvent wipe-down (IPA is common; qualify compatibility to coatings, inks, plastics, and elastomers in your own program).
• Maintenance/inspection cleaning where low background contribution and repeatable stroke geometry matter.

• More area per pass, less operator improvisation: the ~1-inch wide paddle head reduces “micro-scrubbing” and helps standardize overlap and stroke count.
• Thermal bond construction: eliminates adhesive at the head/handle interface—a frequent residue variable in solvent-wet work.
• Double-layer knit head: supports controlled solution pickup and mechanical pickup on smear-prone films without turning the head into a dripping reservoir.
• Packaging controls: silicone-free and amide-free bag supports programs sensitive to slip additives and silicone transfer.
• Audit-friendly baseline: published typical ions and NVR enable realistic background expectations for investigations and method development.
• Line-side identity cues: trademarked light-green handle and “TEXWIPE” embossing help segregation and traceability when matched to approved sourcing and lot controls.

Head: Alpha® polyester knit (double layer). The knit structure provides durability and solvent versatility, while the double layer improves absorbency and contact stability. Bond: complete thermal bond (no adhesive). Handle: 100% virgin polypropylene, light green, long easy-grip format.

Practical implication: the paddle face is meant to stay flat. The quickest way to create variability is to angle the head and concentrate pressure along one edge. Burrs and sharp features are a process risk for any knit—reduce pressure near edges, adjust stroke direction, and address snag points instead of “powering through.”

TX701 is a 5-inch overall swab with a broad paddle head (25.30 mm wide). Use the head width to standardize overlap (for example, a consistent partial overlap per stroke) and use the head thickness to manage wetness—thicker heads can carry more fluid, which is helpful when controlled, and risky when over-wet.

Attribute	TX701 (SKU: TX701 BAG)
Type / sterility	Dry swab (non-sterile)
Swab family	Alpha®
Head material	Knitted Alpha® polyester (double layer)
Head width	25.30 mm (0.996")
Head thickness	5.25 mm (0.207")
Head length	35.5 mm (1.398")
Handle material	100% virgin polypropylene
Handle width / thickness	10 mm (0.393") / 3.80 mm (0.149")
Handle length	91.5 mm (3.602")
Total swab length	127.0 mm (5.000")
Head bond	Thermal (complete thermal bond; no adhesive)
Handle color	Light green

The tables below show typical published analyses—use them as a baseline for risk assessment, troubleshooting, and method development. In film-sensitive work (optics, coated parts) or analytical work (ion chromatography, residue checks), qualify the swab with your solvent, your surfaces, your stroke count, and your inspection method so the swab does not become the dominant background signal.

Ion	TX701
Calcium	0.07
Chloride	0.12
Fluoride	0.08
Magnesium	0.03
Nitrate	0.06
Phosphate	0.06
Potassium	0.06
Sodium	0.16
Sulfate	0.11

Extractant	TX701
DIW extractant	0.01
IPA extractant	0.03

• Packaging (TX701): 100 swabs/bag (4 inner bags of 25); 5 bags/case; 500 swabs/case.
• Packaging chemistry controls: silicone-free and amide-free bag; lot coded for traceability and quality control.
• Sterility: non-sterile. If a sterile introduction protocol is required, specify a sterile Alpha® configuration aligned to your SOP and verify geometry and method impact (do not assume one-for-one equivalence).
• Shelf life (series statement): non-sterile 5 years from date of manufacture; sterile 3 years from date of manufacture.
• Traceability cues: lot coded packaging plus practical handle identifiers (trademarked light-green handle color and “TEXWIPE” embossing) support line segregation when paired with approved sourcing controls.
• Country of origin (manufacturer statement): Non-sterile – Made in the Philippines; Sterile – Made in the Philippines, irradiated in the U.S.

Treat TX701 like a miniature paddle wiper: the goal is controlled contact and controlled solvent delivery, not scrubbing. Define stroke count, overlap, and discard triggers so the process does not drift into rework with a loaded face.

• Set the stroke geometry first: align the long axis of the paddle with stroke direction; keep the face flat to distribute pressure.
• One-direction passes with overlap: use parallel, overlapping strokes. Avoid circles unless your written procedure requires it.
• Damp is the target: damp lifts; over-wet spreads. If needed, touch once to a controlled blot surface to remove excess so you lay down an even wet track, not a bead.
• Single-pass discipline + face rotation: rotate the paddle face early and often. Do not rework the same zone with a loaded face.
• No re-dipping: never return a used swab to the solvent reservoir. Decant into a small working vessel and refresh frequently.
• Edge management: reduce pressure near burrs or sharp corners; adjust stroke direction to avoid dragging the knit across edges.
• Define discard cues: increasing drag, visible soil loading, or fiber snagging are discard triggers—do not “push through” to finish a pass.
• Standards awareness: align classification, documentation, and verification expectations to your program (ISO, FDA, ASTM, IEST references in Source basis).

• Over-wet pooling and dry-down rings: too much solvent on a large paddle head creates end-of-stroke lines and “tide marks.” Correct with damp technique and shorter finish strokes.
• Re-deposit from rework: repeated passes with a loaded face smear residues across a wider area. Correct with single-pass discipline and aggressive face rotation.
• Edge snagging on burrs: knit heads can snag on sharp features, increasing local fiber/particle release risk. Correct with edge pressure reduction and hardware deburr controls.
• Cross-contamination via re-dipping: returning a used swab to solvent contaminates the reservoir and defeats cleanliness controls. Correct with decant-and-discard practice.
• Technique drift between operators: paddle heads magnify angle and pressure differences. Correct with documented overlap, stroke count, and discard triggers.

When comparing alternatives, focus on three things that affect your real-world background: (1) bond method (adhesive vs thermal), (2) published extractables/NVR, and (3) packaging chemistry and lot traceability controls.

• Contec CONSTIX® SP-8 sealed polyester swab: large paddle geometry with knitted polyester head and thermal bonding; commonly positioned for solvent compatibility.
• Berkshire Lab-Tips® LTP125 (large knitted polyester swab): flat head with internal paddle support for broad coverage in general cleaning/sampling.
• Competitor selection note: if your work is film-sensitive or residue-sensitive, require documentation (typical ions, NVR, packaging description, and traceability details) before substituting.

TX701 fits best where operators need repeatable wide contact without graduating to a full wiper process: optics benches, fixture wipe zones, process tooling faces, and wide slots where a smaller swab increases stroke count and variability. It is also positioned by the manufacturer as NSF Certified as a cleaning swab (P1) for use in and around food processing areas, with the standard restriction of no direct food/potable water contact and use per manufacturer directions.

SOSCleanroom–ITW Texwipe program fit: In critical environments, the product is only half the control—the other half is continuity and documentation discipline. SOSCleanroom supports Texwipe programs with consistent availability expectations, lot traceability continuity, and the practical ordering rhythm teams need to keep methods stable (especially when a “paddle head” technique is written into a work instruction and re-qualification is expensive).