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[Orange-of-Cthulhu]

Cleaning jobs require a rag. A dwarf will search for XXXclothesXXX, if none found he wil search for XXclothesXX if none found he will take a fresh piece of cloth. When the job is started the XXpiece of clothXX looses it's identity and becomes a rag.

The rag is consumed after cleaning 3 squares and vanishes into nothing.

Rags can also be burned in a wood burner to create ashes.

The mechanism makes old clothes go away organically, and actually is a fairly realistic simulation of the fate of old clothes.

[SixOfSpades]

It's been previously suggested that old clothes could be used as patches: A sheep wool XsockX plus a spider silk XXsockXX creates a sheep wool xsockx with patches of spider silk, and staves off your Clothier's skill rust for a while. There's no reason why rags shouldn't be a part of this: That spider-silk XXsockXX just becomes a spider-silk rag, which could be used to repair any garment, not just another sock. Rags would have their own wear counters, and Cleaning would become a task done much more often, with craftsdwarves (or any idlers, really,) wiping down their workshops every now & then. (Especially Butcher's Shops--can you imagine?)

Rags could also be used as replacement wound-dressings, after they've been Cleaned with soap. They (or regular cloth, but obviously rags would be cheaper and likely plentiful) should also be a required component in making splints, as the limb must be bound to the wood with something.

Rags would also be used in the manufacture of torches (once the Lighting arc takes effect), and the stuffing for pillows & gambesons, if those ever get implemented, and even making some low-grade paper (depending on what the rags are made of, of course).

Old clothes (and therefore rags) could also be upcycled into stuffed children's toys.

New thought: XclothesX could be given away to fortress visitors, especially those who petition for citizenship but are denied--at least you aren't turning them away with nothing.

[FantasticDorf]

Silly as it may sound, there are certain religious practices forbidding the tearing of clothes for rags, such as in Judaism. I don't think it has any bearing on the game but its just a background consideration before adding it as a core mechanic players can't edit in some way.

Its also quite easy to get full cloth so you wouldn't need the extra pieces of reclaimed cloth, but more content to let people recycle seems to be in demand, such being able to use cloth and wood objects for alternative fuel sources (quite like a couple of mods that allow it) would be good.

[A_Curious_Cat]

wood objects for alternative fuel sources (quite like a couple of mods that allow it) would be good.

Does this mean that the crap that the elves “donate” to your fortress actually has a use?  You don’t have to atom-smash it or dump it down a magma chute?

[Orange-of-Cthulhu]

Rags could also be used as replacement wound-dressings, after they've been Cleaned with soap. They (or regular cloth, but obviously rags would be cheaper and likely plentiful) should also be a required component in making splints, as the limb must be bound to the wood with something.

I think cleaning wounds with a pear of old underwear should increase risk of infection a lot, even if washed in soup. Maybe they could disinfect it with booze?

But it could be something that was done if no clothes were available, or maybe also something orderlies and doctors with low skill did?

I agree with the splints.

[SixOfSpades]

I think cleaning wounds with a pear of old underwear should increase risk of infection a lot, even if washed in soup soap.

That's why I specified they would be replacement bandages. The initial bandage, applied directly onto a freshly-cleaned or freshly-sutured wound, would still be made of virgin (and/or boiled) cloth. But after the wound has begun healing, and the window for infection to set in has largely passed, it's good to change the dressing every couple of days to help it scab over, and to make sure the healing tissue does not incorporate the bandage. Rags would be an acceptable use for this, as long as they were reasonably clean.

[Dibbler]

Make rag rugs! I dont know if it is a scandinavian thing, but there is the thing called rag rugs here. You basically loom a thick fabric, using rags as "thread", and sew it together. Cosy rugs for cold nights. could be a cool floor deco