Shop Rags - Cleaning

38 Special · May 1, 2009

Good day all. What is everyone doing for shop rags. I prefer the red cloth ones. But, they get the wifes washing machine too drity for her to wash them. I have about 400 dirty, I hate to throw them away, just because they are dirty. I had thought about a uniform service, anyone used one on a personal basis, maybe a drop off service. Only need to do this every 3-4 months or so.

I hate to just keep buying rags, and I can't be the only one in this boat.

stricht8 · May 1, 2009

Hand wash a few at a time in a basin. Before you know it they will all be clean.

38 Special said:
Good day all. What is everyone doing for shop rags. I prefer the red cloth ones. But, they get the wifes washing machine too drity for her to wash them. I have about 400 dirty, I hate to throw them away, just because they are dirty. I had thought about a uniform service, anyone used one on a personal basis, maybe a drop off service. Only need to do this every 3-4 months or so.

I hate to just keep buying rags, and I can't be the only one in this boat.

Tarheelgarage · May 1, 2009

sneak over to the local laundry early in the morning and git er done....

stricht8 · May 1, 2009

Good Point! Screw the hand wash idea!

Tarheelgarage said:
sneak over to the local laundry early in the morning and git er done....

bgott · May 1, 2009

I use regular paper towels for the really nasty stuff, like gun grease, and wash my rags out in mineral spirits. I wash them out and then let them dry on the fence, once the mineral spirits have dried out of the rags for a day or two I wash them in the washer. The mineral spirits then go into the parts washer. I have never had a problem with washing rags in the washer, I did a load of rags that had been soaked with ATF, I washed them 3 times and the rags still stunk but you couldn't smell it in the washer when they came out.

Mattlt · May 1, 2009

Check the local Craigslist for an old working washer. Should be able to find one for $25, maybe even free. Hook it up in the shop.

Also, soak the rags in a 5 gallon bucket with Dawn dish soap. Rinse and repeat a few times, then take them to the local laundromat.

There is another grease-eating soap that I've seen used for this very purpose, but the name of it is escaping me now. It's one of those readily-available cleaners from the grocery and Wal-marts of the world.

Mike83 · May 1, 2009

Those red ones ruined a load of rags and towels more than once for me. Now all my old shop rags are pink! I usually rinse them in dawn and hot water in the bathtub first then wash them. Now and again one of the red rags that wasn't already washed gets into a load of towels and bleeds all over.

Uncle Buck · May 1, 2009

Tarheelgarage said:
sneak over to the local laundry early in the morning and git er done....

stricht8 said:
Good Point! Screw the hand wash idea!

True, I have been doing that for years. Nice dead time is late at night for me. No, I am not lying! :bounce:

Kevin54 · May 1, 2009

Personally I hate the red rags. Always smell like solvent. ANd I have ruined other rags with just one as Mike has done. But anyways, getting past the personal preference......Get some simple green and a bucket and let them soak. Lay them out and rinse them real well. Or if you get a heavy rain sometime, lay them out either in the grass or on an asphalt drive, and the rain will really clean them as it beats the dirt out. Other than that, try to find an old ringer washer. Usually antique shops or second hand stores will still turn up a few. You can't beat the old Maytag wringers for cleaning. Then all you have to do is run them through the wringer and hang to dry. All of mine goes in the wife washer. And all of my shop rags are white. Well a little off white and a few pink ones.

-B- · May 1, 2009

tips and advice
when you first get the rags soak them in heavily salted warm water ( 5gal bucket works well) then put them through a rinse cycle in the washing machine alone. ( dispose of salted water) dray them as you want they will now be softer more absorbent and not bleed on to you or your work.

Pre soak dirty rags in dawn or cheap shampoo with a booster of simple green or citrus degreaseer as needed. When you have enough for a wash hit the laundromat use a commercial size machine.

Services are ok if you do not mind the petrol chemicals they use to clan the rags and do not mind shards of metal/ silicone/ glue in your rags, services do a swap so your rags will be gone if they even take them.

Uncle Buck · May 1, 2009

I tried swapping mine with a service once. Big mistake, they gave me ones back that were absolute ****, had blown out holes in them, silicone gasket sealer all over them, you name it! And I was trading in ones I bought new. Never again, I leave the machines clean when I use them though. The services set the **** ones aside waiting for the occasional **** that comes by wanting to trade with them instead of being on their weekly route. At least that was my experience.

madmax908 · May 1, 2009

Nice dead time is late at night for me

I'll second that.
Walk in with plenty of quarters and detergent ready to go.
I ask no questions and maintain a low profile and never have had a problem.

91FE · May 1, 2009

Mike83 said:
Those red ones ruined a load of rags and towels more than once for me. Now all my old shop rags are pink! ...

Ha...mine too.

tdkkart · May 1, 2009

I gave up on rags a a long time ago, just too big a PIA to deal with.
I use the blue shop towel type paper towels, write them on the graocery list and they magically appear in my shop.........

rwhite692 · May 1, 2009

tdkkart said:
I gave up on rags a a long time ago, just too big a PIA to deal with.
I use the blue shop towel type paper towels, write them on the graocery list and they magically appear in my shop.........

+1

Agree 100% my time is too valuable to spend on maintaining a set of shop rags.

Tarheelgarage · May 1, 2009

rwhite692 said:
+1

Agree 100% my time is too valuable to spend on maintaining a set of shop rags.

Yeah, I use those blue paper shop towels most of the time. They are kind of pricey, but worth it. They contain a percentage of cloth fibers when makes them strong enough to resist tearing and leaving pieces inside an engine or part when using.

This area used to be the textile center of the US until all the mills closed down and moved overseas. You could easy find scraps of cloth for sale which made good shop rags; but no more textile mills=no more source of cheap shop rags.

Boyd Who · May 1, 2009

Tarheelgarage said:
sneak over to the local laundry early in the morning and git er done....

I hate to be a curmudgeon, but if you had to use the laundromat to wash your clothes would you appreciate using a machine that's been used to wash somebody's greasy rags? Just a thought.

porschedude996TT · May 1, 2009

I remember seeing a sign in my local Laundry Mat that said something like "Absolutely No Oil Field Clothing". I guess the local wives of the Oil Field workers beat you to this. It would really piss me off if I put a load of whites in one of these machines and they came out gray with black spots.

I use throw away rags and heavy blue paper towels. The only towels that I wash are the car wash towels that are bath towel hand me downs.

You can get T-Shirt Rags 80 to a box for $29 or maybe a Laundry Service like the service stations and garages use.

Tarheelgarage · May 1, 2009

rwhite692 said:
+1

Agree 100% my time is too valuable to spend on maintaining a set of shop rags.

Yeah, but someone posted that they should just buy a cheap washing machine specifically for their use.... :wtf:

I barely got room in my shop for all my shop tools; they last thing I would want is some BS washing machine taking up my precious space.... :thumbup:

azspray · May 1, 2009

Hey y'all

I soak mine in a 5 gallon bucket with generic oxy clean from the dollar store. then toss them in the washer. If you are worried about grease left over in the washer run another washing cycle with some soap/bleach with nothing in it.
Works for me every time. If you don't like the oil smell on your rags throw some
fabric softener in! :thumbup:

rsanter · May 1, 2009

back when I was in an apartment complex (and I had my shop) I used to go to the laundry room on the other side of the complex

bob

applescotty · May 1, 2009

Something I've thought about trying sometime is to get a 5 gallon bucket, fill it with rags, water, detergent, and borax or washing soda. Put it in the back of my vehicle, secured so it won't move around. Then let it sit in there for a week or so, letting it gently jostle around as I drive around during the week. I would think that when you pulled the rags out, they're be relatively clean, probably at least clean enough to then run through the clothes washer and not make a mess.

Scott

Uncle Buck · May 1, 2009

rwhite692 said:
+1

Agree 100% my time is too valuable to spend on maintaining a set of shop rags.

I have hundreds of them, I wash them at the laundrymat once every couple of years. I do not see that as a bad trade off. I spend about $20 and a couple of hours and I am good for another couple of years.

I supplement my red rags by getting a roll of the high dollar blue towels every now and then. :thumbup:

Torque1st · May 1, 2009

If you must use the local laundromat pre-wash all of your rags in a bucket like above. Then run a wash cycle with soap on the machine you used either empty or to re-wash your last load before you leave as a small courtesy. Do not use multiple machines at the laundromat possibly contaminating all of them. This "re-wash" can also help if you must use the washing machine at home.

Do not use the dryers. there is no way to get melted plastic or gasket sealer out of them. Use a clothes line at home to dry your rags.

Remember, keep dirty rags in a sealed METAL container to avoid fires.

bluescat · May 1, 2009

Throw a handful of GO-JO (or similar) in with the rags. After washing the rags, wash your work clothes to clean the machine.

307WYLD · May 1, 2009

38 Special said:
Good day all. What is everyone doing for shop rags. I prefer the red cloth ones. But, they get the wifes washing machine too drity for her to wash them. I have about 400 dirty, I hate to throw them away, just because they are dirty. I had thought about a uniform service, anyone used one on a personal basis, maybe a drop off service. Only need to do this every 3-4 months or so.

I hate to just keep buying rags, and I can't be the only one in this boat.

Take them to your local laundromat. There is no need to be a douche-bag and ruin a perfectly good washing machine for those poor folks who are forced to use the laundromat because they don't have their own washer & dryer, as most laundromat's have what are referred to as GREASER washers and dryers. These are used to wash mechanics overalls, rigworkers coldweather gear, what have you. Most of the places around here will do your laundry for $1 per pound with morning drop off and evening pick up. To me it's a no-brainer for a once a month chore.

Keep · May 1, 2009

I haven't washed rags in years. Of course I haven't bought any either. All those old t-shirts and sweatshirts make good shop rags.

Charles (in GA) · May 1, 2009

We used to have a second machine at my parents house for cleaning the shop rags. Hung them on the clothes line to dry. Machine wore out, parents passed away, sold the house. Here I have a septic system, not too crazy about dumping the shop rag dirty water in the system.

Here is what I use now. 1940's portable electric agitator washing tub, a couple of buckets, the mop bucket and wringer and a couple of hours twice a year. I pre-soak the rags for a week or so in a bucket of Tide. Wash them in a fresh mix of Tide and water, rinse by hand in a bucket of clean water, then rinse in clean water with the agitator. I use the wringer every time, from one cycle to the next. Wring them out real good when done, then pull the clothes line across the shop, hook it on a ring on the wall tighten it with a turnbuckle from Home Depot, and hang the rags over it. I still use the clothes pins my mother used 40 years ago.

Its a little tedious, but not bad. I keep rags sorted, real clean, oil free ones for waxing and polishing the car, and other similar jobs. Another batch is for normal mechanic work. I try to grab a new rag every few minutes so they don't get too dirty. One other batch is ones with large holes in them, badly worn, shredded, oil that won't completely come out, etc. These are my grunge rags for nasty jobs. I continue to wash them, but don't hesitate to toss them when they are done.

Charles

JimmyM · May 1, 2009

how about something like this

http://www.cleanairgardening.com/portable-washing-machine.html

e-tek · May 1, 2009

tdkkart said:
I gave up on rags a a long time ago, just too big a PIA to deal with.
I use the blue shop towel type paper towels, write them on the graocery list and they magically appear in my shop.........

Me three!!
Sounds like a good woman is as hard to find as the perfect shop towel!!!! :lol_hitti

tdkkart · May 1, 2009

e-tek said:
Me three!!
Sounds like a good woman is as hard to find as the perfect shop towel!!!!

Well, I went down the road of washing them in her washer, went to an old wringer washer for awhile, finally gave up and just went to the blue towels.
Everybody's happy now........

bgott · May 1, 2009

Personally I hate the red rags.

If you hate the red but still like the composition and size, order body shop rags. The are undyed, kind of an off white. I've heard that all the laundry service rags come undyed, body shops use them until they are stained and then they get dyed. I don't know how accurate that is, I was told that by a guy that I worked for that had both a mechanic shop and a body shop. The white ones work well for general purpose rags around the batchelor pad.

flamewerks · May 2, 2009

The local laundromat has a couple of wash machines for "dirty workclothes only." That's where I would throw them in.

jake00 · May 2, 2009

I buy my rags here http://www.wipeco.com/wiping_rags.php (we buy 250 lbs at a time for work, so I have em toss another box on the order)

russlaferrera · May 2, 2009

Tarheelgarage said:
sneak over to the local laundry early in the morning and git er done....

most, well some laundramats have a special machine for greasy clothes and such

RbrtAWhyt · May 2, 2009

Boyd Who said:
I hate to be a curmudgeon, but if you had to use the laundromat to wash your clothes would you appreciate using a machine that's been used to wash somebody's greasy rags? Just a thought.

I couldn't possibly care less about that. I guess thats a risk that the guy behind me takes...

Mattlt said:
Check the local Craigslist for an old working washer. Should be able to find one for $25, maybe even free. Hook it up in the shop.

Thats what we are going to do when we add on to the shop. We've already got one lined up. My MIL is planning on replacing her units with front loaders so we have a free washer and dryer for the shop.

We also use Wypall L40 towels in the shop for a disposeable solution:

They work very well.

307WYLD · May 2, 2009

RbrtAWhyt said:
I couldn't possibly care less about that. I guess thats a risk that the guy behind me takes...

What a refreshing attitude from a law enforcement officer. Do unto others before they do unto you? I sure am glad the government issues side-arms to people with an attitude about something as petty as washing dirty rags in another persons business establishment with a total lack of thought for any person other than themselves. Way to be. Character is the sum total of a man's actions.

Boyd Who · May 2, 2009

307WYLD said:
What a refreshing attitude from a law enforcement officer. Do unto others before they do unto you? I sure am glad the government issues side-arms to people with an attitude about something as petty as washing dirty rags in another persons business establishment with a total lack of thought for any person other than themselves. Way to be. Character is the sum total of a man's actions.

+1
Gotta love people with no scruples.

RbrtAWhyt · May 2, 2009

307WYLD said:
What a refreshing attitude from a law enforcement officer. Do unto others before they do unto you? I sure am glad the government issues side-arms to people with an attitude about something as petty as washing dirty rags in another persons business establishment with a total lack of thought for any person other than themselves. Way to be. Character is the sum total of a man's actions.

Hey, we're human just like everyone else. I'm not the one getting bent out of shape about washing dirty rags in a public laundromat...

There have been half a dozen other people who said "go to the laundromat"...get over yourself.

sberry · May 2, 2009

I dont fool with them, paper towels by the case.

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