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Germaphobe wants to de-germ 2nd hand tools - help?

Toolhorder

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I take it you don't work on anyone elses vehicles etc? This seems a little too "Howard Hughes"

I wear gloves when working on other people's cars...Especially when changing out cabin filters. I see like finger nail pieces and hair on those things, gross.
 
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GoBlue

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Under a car...swearing
Lysol them. I guess my E Coli one was too much for you guys.
There's nothing wrong with bleaching or sterilizing your tools.

There's a new E Coli bacterium in Europe, 16 dead in Germany, 1000+ sick 30% with possible long term kidney damage.

It's a serious thing.

May be wise to develop a little fear, never hurts to be clean.

The people die from bacterium eating their intestines and kidneys.

I'm bleaching now.

what a puss
 

Bolster

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I've often thought I should have this wrench sterilized...

http://www.cmp-usa.com/interest/****-lab.jpg
 

Honda guy

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Supposedly, dog saliva kills germs. That's why they lick their wounds and don't develop an infection. So, armed with that tidbit of information, you should definitely soak all your tools in bacon grease and let your dog go to work on them. Presto, tools are sanitized and your dog will love you for it!

You're welcome.
 

Plombob

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I once dated a girl who was a germophobe. I was shocked to discover her kitchen was the filthiest I've ever seen. Never figured that out.
 

Danglerb

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Never mix bleach and ammonia, use one, then maybe use the other, but if you let them combine it releases a very nasty gas or something.

A dry tool, thats been dry for days, regardless of the vehicle related muck and oil, does not seem like a likely place to find any germs.

OTOH anything sharp that been used should be treated with some caution. I used to hang around the scrap trade looking for old computer stuff, and nothing would freak the scrap guys like a box of dental or medical "sharps". Most just flat would not touch them.
 

Grogan14

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I once dated a girl who was a germophobe. I was shocked to discover her kitchen was the filthiest I've ever seen. Never figured that out.

My girl's ex-husband is one. He keeps himself ridiculously clean, but in all other ways is an absolute slob. The inside of his Jeep is disgusting, with half-eaten food everywhere. She says that he almost killed them several times when trying to clean the stickiness off his hands by using the windshield fluid while driving!
 
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Charles (in GA)

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I wear gloves when working on other people's cars...Especially when changing out cabin filters. I see like finger nail pieces and hair on those things, gross.

Wait till you have to change the filters in a cabin air recirculation system on an AIRLINER, or clean the floor level kick panel grilles, or scrap out the seat tracks after all the seats have been pulled out, or deal with all the dust and dust bunnies in the Equipment and Electrical compartments.........

Charles
 

Moose-LandTran

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Wait till you have to change the filters in a cabin air recirculation system on an AIRLINER, or clean the floor level kick panel grilles, or scrap out the seat tracks after all the seats have been pulled out, or deal with all the dust and dust bunnies in the Equipment and Electrical compartments.........

Charles

Gas masks and HazMat suits come to mind.
 

Yojinbo

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Is that a spray or a contraption you would put the tools in?

Contraption. I have germ issues too and I have an ultrasonic cleaner that heats above the point of most bacterial survivability and cleans too.

I find there are little that cannot be cured with a combination of:
1. Parts washer
2. Electrolysis to remove rust
3. Ultrasonic cleaning

Usually in that order.

There are a ton of thread on here that reference the ultrasonic cleaner options. Here is one to get you started: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=94748&highlight=Ultrasonic
 

Plombob

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My girl's ex-husband is one. He keeps himself ridiculously clean, but in all other ways is an absolute slob. The inside of his Jeep is disgusting, with half-eaten food everywhere. She says that he almost killed them several times when trying to clean the stickiness off his hands by using the windshield fluid while driving!

WTF!!! :wtf:

(And I don't mean: "Win The Future")
 

Blacknwhitepit

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Eastern Tennessee
I am a Germanphobe as well

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Oh sorry... You said Germaphobe....:bounce:

-BWP
 

billymade

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New Mexico
Ahhh, I am not the only one who read "German" in this thread... also called "Germs".... :) Since my family is German... well, yah know.... :)
 

Frank The Plumber

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Chicago.
So seriously guys. There is stuff out there that can really mess you up. Being clean is not wrong. If you buy my used plumbing tools, you may want to bleach them.
I pressure wash and bleach my stuff so my service truck won't smell like swass.
Remember, if the tools is nasty so will you be nasty.
So if you drive around in the hot sun all day with a swassy smelling truck, guess what you smell like?
Don't be ashamed to fear. We only have a temporary truce against all the germs. Our anti biotics are losing the war.
 

mp23

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So seriously guys. There is stuff out there that can really mess you up. Being clean is not wrong. If you buy my used plumbing tools, you may want to bleach them.
I pressure wash and bleach my stuff so my service truck won't smell like swass.
Remember, if the tools is nasty so will you be nasty.
So if you drive around in the hot sun all day with a swassy smelling truck, guess what you smell like?
Don't be ashamed to fear. We only have a temporary truce against all the germs. Our anti biotics are losing the war.

Frank,

in some ways you are right, if I worked around human waste all day I would clean everything as well. However, you are not going to get e-coli from greasy or rusty tools. People are to germaphobic these days and we are shooting ourselves in the foot with all this antibacterial stuff that is making the bacteria more resistant. Washing your hands is the best bet to stay healthy.
 

AZ_Catskinner

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Morenci, AZ
Berryman Chemdip - best thing in the world to use on tools. It'll even clean off that nasty gray funk that some of the old chrome gets.
 

machine_punk

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May 14, 2011
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Napa Valley, California
I work in a hospital (to pay the bills) AND buy old, used tools off ebay (for fun). I mostly buy things like air tools, then refurbish them for my personal use.

Ultrasonic cleaners are "cleaners," they don't kill germs, they just get all the little particles of grunge off objects.

If you are just worried about 'killing germs,' regular old bleach is king. Buy yourself a gallon of it, dilute it down to about 10% and drop wrenches, etc. in it for 30 minutes. There really isn't much which can survive that. We use bleach impregnated clothes for 'spot decontamination' all day long in the E.R. (be careful of your clothing...bleach WILL change the coloring of your clothing)

Of course, you can do 'environmental' decon too...just leave the tools out in the sun for a few days...or leave them anywhere dry for a couple of weeks. The microbes which like to attack you don't live very long outside the human body. (there are a couple of notable exceptions, but I'd be surprised to find them on your average shop tool).

If you are talking about 'grunge,' I like a can of WD40 with a bunch of paper towel. It dissolves just about everything, and leaves a rust-protectant layer on your tools. I like for my tools to have just 'my' dirt on them...so I usually clean them up when I buy them.
 
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