washing shop rags

[scott37300]

I have a bunch of grey and red shop rags I use and some get thrown away and some just get thrown in the corner. Pretty sure woman would have my a**! I usually use them till they are pretty black and dirty. Does anyone take them to the laundry mat and use their machines? Or has anyone washed them at home without trashing the washer? Or do most just throw away and buy new?

 

[Displaced Hokie]

Curious myself...

 

[MichaelP]

http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/showthread.php?t=42750&highlight=shop+rags+cleaning

http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/showthread.php?t=5638&highlight=shop+rags+cleaning

P.S. Using landromat for something you wouldn't use your own machine would be a very poor choice.

 

[Kevin54]

I wash mine in the washer. Twice. Once to clean them, then one more time to make sure they cycle thru to clean the washer. Normally after that something like cleaner drying towels for the cars go in the washer just in case. My rags get dirty, but if they get overly greasy I will toss those. I also don't like the red shop rags as they seem to bleed every time they are washed. I mostly have white shop rags

 

[slip knot]

I used to pre-wash them in a bucket with laundry detergent and hot water. then they would go into the washer followed by the dogs bed then my work uniforms. They will bleed red long after they fade out, dont know what kinda dye they use but it lasts forever.

My company started changing out rags with our new uniform contract so I've taken to trading mine in at work.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Try THIS THREAD for info on washing shop rags.

my post is #28

Charles

 

[drmarkr]

DO NOT wash shop rags in your wife's washer. DO NOT.

Get a large plastic garbage bag, grab a baggie of powder detergent (or bottle of liquid) and head to the laundry mat. Late in the evening, if possible.

Find a corner machine a long ways away from any women in the place and discretely place said rags in the machine, add about twice as much soap as you're supposed to, and wash those beotches in the hottest water they have. Twice, if you're so inclined.

Then....get the plastic garbage bag and nonchalantly place the rags back in the thing and slip quietly out the back door, before someone smells the machine. Dry the things on a drying rack, or some facsimile of, at your house.

Yes, they'll have to run a couple of cycles in the thing to get it clean, but they know full well how to do this. Some laundry mats actually have "rag" machines that are dedicated to just this use!

Whatever you do, don't go in there in broad daylight and start throwing those filthy rags in a machine next to some laundry feminazi. It won't be pretty if you do.

 

[e-tek]

http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/showthread.php?t=42750&highlight=shop+rags+cleaning

http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/showthread.php?t=5638&highlight=shop+rags+cleaning

P.S. Using landromat for something you wouldn't use your own machine would be a very poor choice.

Poor choice? Do you own a laundromat? I'd bet a LOT of people who take stuff to the laundromat are washing it there because they don't want to wash in their own machine! I do my coveralls there.

 

[Ray-CA]

I soak mine in a 50/50 mix of water and Simple Green (or another de-greaser) for at least 24-hrs then rinse them and lay them out in the driveway to dry. After they dry, then I take them to the laundromat for a wash-n-dry.

Ray

 

[R-132 Fan]

I live close to an part of Texas that has oil fields and I have seen some laundramats that have machines marked for use only washing oily work clothes.
Interesting this comes up today. On another website I frequent a man who runs a dry cleaning operating has posted about his experiance with spontanious combustion this weekend. He had water washed twice a load of greasy restraunt rags and left them in a basket. A few hours later they went up in flames.
The website is www.oldihc.org and the tread is titled "things that distract you". I will be more carefull with oily rags in the future. I wouldn't throw them in piles, maybe buy a good storage can like they always seem to recommend for them.

 

[nate379]

I wash mine in my washer. I don't have a wife, so not worried there. My clothes I wash in the thing is often more dirty then the rags too... so...

It's not like I'm washing the rags and then my leopard print silk thongs, cashmere sweaters, velvet pants, etc


(and before you ask... no I don't own that stuff... just trying to be funny)

 

[e-tek]

How 'about this Big *** roll of Asswipe (from the other thread..)!!

 

[nate379]

How would rags suddenly just light up? I know at work we have to put the rags in a red can with self closing lid, but I just figured it was some OSHA b/s more than anything.

 

[waltmcq]

I wash them at home. Doing them twice and then I wash some old blankets I have in the shop for covering stuff.

 

[jwillis]

Laundry mat should be OK. I can't see any difference between a bunch of oily rags and a laundry basket full of kid's poopy diapers. Or a laundry basket full of bedbugs. Can you?

 

[Pukeballs]

How would rags suddenly just light up? I know at work we have to put the rags in a red can with self closing lid, but I just figured it was some OSHA b/s more than anything.

I've heard linseed oil on rags can self ignite. Makes you wonder what kind of oil their frying your chicken in.

 

[Ender-DI]

Go to several laundromats. I found one that had a washing machine dedicated to oily/greasy items.

 

[nate379]

I don't think many people use cloth diapers anymore. I had them growing up in the early 80s and even then that was "behind the times"

Laundry mat should be OK. I can't see any difference between a bunch of oily rags and a laundry basket full of kid's poopy diapers. Or a laundry basket full of bedbugs. Can you?

 

[fomocoforrester]

How would rags suddenly just light up? I know at work we have to put the rags in a red can with self closing lid, but I just figured it was some OSHA b/s more than anything.

I thought it was common knowledge that piles of old oily rags can self ignite. Apparently it dosn't happen that often though, as it requires a certain combination of moisture and hydrocarbons to be together.

Linseed oil is one of the most likely oils to cause this to happen.

 

[evil_twin]

Luckily my shop has a junk washing machine. I normally wash them 2 or 3 times in there and then throw them in the junk dryer. Works awesome!

 

[bazzateer]

Someone on here a few months back told of how a linseed oil soaked rag went up and totalled his boat IIRC.

 

[MichaelP]

Poor choice? Do you own a laundromat?

I don't own a McDonald's, but I wouldn't sh%t on the table there either.

 

[MG David]

Now I know why I have children. They get through clothes so quick I have never thought of cleaning old rags. Swarf would be my concern, both in terms of damage to the washer and still being stuck in the cloth afterwards.

Some of my rags get a second use. First they might be used for panel wipe or polish and then second for wiping up spilt oil.

 

[kc-steve]

I wash mine in the washer. Twice. Once to clean them, then one more time to make sure they cycle thru to clean the washer. Normally after that something like cleaner drying towels for the cars go in the washer just in case. My rags get dirty, but if they get overly greasy I will toss those. I also don't like the red shop rags as they seem to bleed every time they are washed. I mostly have white shop rags

10-4 to that. I don't let them get too greasy and dirty before I wash them. If too dirty I toss them.

Mine are red rags, so I also try to remember not to add anything else to the wash, like white underwear. I don't swing that way.

And Dawn dishing liquid helps with the grease removal too.

Steve

 

[scott37300]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I used to have an older washer, sold it for 20 bucks a couple years ago. Would be nice now. I will call around to the laundry mats and ask if they have a dirty rags machine since I think this would be the easiest thing to do and not worry about my own machine. If I can't find any I will try the dish soap in a pail. I buy those HF rags also but sometimes it just seems like a waste just to throw them away, guess I"m cheap!

 

[Falcon67]

The place down the street from where I work sells giant bags of lint free and clean surgical rags for like $10 a bag. These are rags that can sit in paint thinner and not bleed color. I don't wash anything. Trash and toss.

 

[bilko1]

I used to pre-wash them in a bucket with laundry detergent and hot water. then they would go into the washer followed by the dogs bed then my work uniforms. They will bleed red long after they fade out, dont know what kinda dye they use but it lasts forever.

My company started changing out rags with our new uniform contract so I've taken to trading mine in at work.

Thats what I do also, It's the easy way out.

 

[Licensed to kill]

I don't own a McDonald's, but I wouldn't sh%t on the table there either.

McDonald's??....would anyone notice if you did??

My wife washes my rags all the time. Usually throws them in with a load of coveralls. She often has to run them through twice since I usually wait until they are good and grimy before getting them done. . Done it for years without any apparent issues with the washer. I don't know about petroleum based oils but linseed oil soaked rags will certainly spontaneously combust if left in a heap.

 

[Professur]

Talk to the local used furniture and appliance guys and have them hunt you up an old tub washer with wringer. You can leave it full of water and TSP and just toss the rags in as you use them. When you start to run low on rags, hit the switch and run it for an hour (no timer). When it's done, fish them out one at a time, run them through the wringer and toss them on something to finish drying. The machine doesn't automatically drain like modern ones so you can reuse the mix until it's too dirty to get the job done. You may want to have a bucket of fresh water to rinse with, but I don't think it makes that big a difference.

 

[bill9860]

depends on how bad they are. The greasy, oily really grimy get tossed. Otherwise washed with no effects on washers

 

[sberry]

I buy paper towels by the case, so easy. I used some red rags when one of my buds had a contract but for the cost and hassle it isn't worth the effort.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

I just run mine in the washer and dryer at home. I always run an empty cycle behind mine in hot water to make sure the **** gets washed out of the machine. Just make sure you set it back to the setting the wife had when you leave. They get pissed when you leave on the hot wash and hot rinse and they don't notice it. Had to get the wife a few new things the ONE time I did that.

It's amazing how much something can shrink in hot water.....

 

[Professur]

It's amazing how much something can shrink in hot water.....

That's why guys screw up laundry so much. We're used to shrinkage in COLD water.

 

[jethro29]

i never wash them in the home washer,i usually just chuck them. besides the damage to your washing machine your pumping all that **** into your septic system if you have one and that would be my biggest concern.

 

[jonny o]

When I do anything car/shop related in the washer I turn down the water level so the next "clean" load cleans the tub higher then the possible dirty part.

 

[drmoonshine]

I would buy new ones `because you really don't want to ruin the machine.

 

[apong23]

I just toss mine out, and grab another old t-shirt.

 

[gmhill33]

http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/showthread.php?t=42750&highlight=shop+rags+cleaning

http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/showthread.php?t=5638&highlight=shop+rags+cleaning

P.S. Using landromat for something you wouldn't use your own machine would be a very poor choice.

I agree with you on this one.

 

[fr0mastaj]

Am i the only one that uses the blue Scott shop towels? I just use and throw away...

Although i do have a few cotton shop towels for heavy messes... i also just throw them away after they get real dirty. too afraid to put it in my own washer.
________
HONDA CBR1000F SPECIFICATIONS

 

[NJHandyGuy]

I bring them to the laundry mat the owner knows me and when you get it good and they know what your doing they usually don't care. Half the people that wash there own there own machines why do you think they go there.