Pads Rolls Cushions Socks.

Pads suit drips, small spills and wiping down. Rolls cover walkways, work areas and machinery and can be cut to length. Socks contain and direct a spill or ring a leaking container. Cushions absorb larger volumes in one place, such as under a persistent leak.

A typical response uses socks to contain the perimeter first, then pads to recover from the middle.

Oil-only (white) for hydrocarbons and anywhere a spill could reach water. Chemical (yellow) for aggressive liquids. General purpose or maintenance (grey) for mixed workshop fluids including water and coolant.

The colour convention is widely followed and is worth relying on, since it prevents the wrong grade being grabbed under pressure.

Absorbents are commonly described as light, medium or heavy weight, referring to the material thickness. Heavier grades hold more per pad and are more durable underfoot; lighter grades are cheaper and suit small drips.

For walkways and areas with foot traffic, a heavier bonded roll lasts considerably longer than a light one.

Bonded absorbents have a reinforced backing that stops them shredding underfoot and prevents wicking through to the floor. Dimpling helps the material take up liquid faster.

For maintenance matting in trafficked areas, bonded is worth it. For one-time spill response, standard pads are fine.

Sealed, dry and out of sunlight. Absorbents that have gone damp in storage lose much of their capacity before they are ever used, and UV degrades the polypropylene.

Keeping them in a cabinet rather than a stack on a shelf also stops them being taken for general cleaning.

As hazardous waste where they have taken up oil or chemicals, in sealed and labelled containers collected by a licensed carrier under a consignment note.

Keep waste from different substances separate — mixed hazardous waste costs more to dispose of and incompatible residues can react.