How to clean tool box grime

[Borrego]

Please excuse this newbie if the topic has been covered recently, but I was wondering what might be the best item (solvent, not a tool) to remove grease and grime from the outside of tool box drawers?
It is not uncommon to come across older boxes with 20-30 years of miscellaneous accumulated dirt on them.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
My most recent acquisition - $7.

 

[Vulturej]

I would try a cleaner like Simple Green (concentrated) first, some solvent based cleaners will remove the paint.

 

[south pier garage]

naptha

use gloves & stay ventilated. also wet the rags and allow to dry outside on a NON combustible surface.

 

[fatfillup]

I sell industrial grade detergents but have had good luck with a power sports cleaner from the local motorcycle dealer that will not harm paint. Cut in half with water, it cleans well but does not streak paint, is waterbased and safe.

 

[Vulturej]

Naptha solvent will remove paint.

Safety data for naphtha

General
Synonyms: petroleum naphtha, coal tar naphtha, naphtha v.m. and p, rubber solvent, benzine petroleum
Molecular formula:
CAS No: 8030-30-6
EINECS: 232-443-2
Physical data
Appearance: reddish-brown mobile liquid with aromatic odour
Melting point:
Boiling point: 110 - 190 C (wide range reflects the varying composition of different grades of naphtha)
Vapour density:
Vapour pressure:
Specific gravity: 0.76 (typical)
Flash point:
Explosion limits:
Autoignition temperature:

Stability
Stable. Highly flammable. Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents.

Toxicology
Harmful if swallowed or inhaled. May contain benzene, which is a carcinogen. Skin contact may lead to drying or dermatitis. Chronic exposure may cause CNS damage. Skin, respiratory and eye irritant. Typical PEL 100 ppm.
Risk phrases
(The meaning of any risk phrases which appear in this section is given here.)
R20 R22 R36 R37 R38.


Transport information
Personal protection
Safety glasses, adequate ventilation. Remove sources of ignition from the working area.

 

[Merkava_4]

I would try a cleaner like Simple Green (concentrated) first, some solvent based cleaners will remove the paint.

Dear sir,
This is the very first time I'm gonna disagree with you.

It's my opinion that Simple Green and other similar cleaners like that are far too much of a risk for inducing corrosion - I wouldn't let that stuff within 50 yards of my tools or tool box.

I recommend WD-40 for cleaning grease off of tool boxes.

 

[Vulturej]

Dear sir,
This is the very first time I'm gonna disagree with you.

It's my opinion that Simple Green and other similar cleaners like that are far too much of a risk for inducing corrosion - I wouldn't let that stuff within 50 yards of my tools or tool box.

I recommend WD-40 for cleaning grease off of tool boxes.

I agree WD-40 works good for cleaning grease and sticker adhesives, but I do not use it because dust and anything else flying around the garage will stick to my newly cleaned toolbox.

 

[ImportTuner]

Odorless mineral spirit works great in cutting/removing grease ..

 

[-B-]

Safety clean orange wipes

 

[Bolster]

Odorless mineral spirit works great in cutting/removing grease ..

Seems the obvious choice to me...wouldn't leave the box floating in it, but a quick wipe shouldn't give too much trouble.

I wonder how a kitchen cleaner for grease would work? Something like 409?

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Please excuse this newbie if the topic has been covered recently, but I was wondering what might be the best item (solvent, not a tool) to remove grease and grime from the outside of tool box drawers?

Personally, I'd sand that box down and give it a repaint.

 

[Merkava_4]

I agree WD-40 works good for cleaning grease and sticker adhesives, but I do not use it because dust and anything else flying around the garage will stick to my newly cleaned toolbox.

I keep my box waxed up so much that a damp towel is all I ever use most of the time.

 

[peterbilr98]

the sray on wax works good

 

[Frank Elson]

I use an old paint brush and petrol (gas).
Not pc, I know, but it cleans everything off and evaporates afterwards.

 

[jerk_chicken]

Bicycle cleaner and degreaser works really well.

 

[Bolster]

I use an old paint brush and petrol (gas).
Not pc, I know, but it cleans everything off and evaporates afterwards.

Why isn't that PC? I must be so non-PC I don't even know why it wouldn't be.

 

[Rickster]

I have used automotive Bug & Tar Remover in the past and it works quite well. It will leave a hazy finish when dry, so I follow up with the WD40. The B&T Remover also does wonders on plastic tool grips.

 

[fatfillup]

Dear sir,
This is the very first time I'm gonna disagree with you.

It's my opinion that Simple Green and other similar cleaners like that are far too much of a risk for inducing corrosion - I wouldn't let that stuff within 50 yards of my tools or tool box.

I recommend WD-40 for cleaning grease off of tool boxes.

Merk, I don't see the corrosion risk. Is it a chemical risk or the fact that its a water based cleaner? Lets face it, we all wash our cars with soap and water and don't have corrision problems. Just curious what your thinking was. I've cleaned a lot of painted metal objects with 409 or simple green products and haven't had issues.

 

[Kevin54]

I would try a cleaner like Simple Green (concentrated) first, some solvent based cleaners will remove the paint.

I would have to disagree with the concentrated Simple Green. Simple Green is good, but it will take paint off. Not meaning totally strip it, but with cheaper paints it will start to remove it by the residue left on the rag. We use Simple Green at work to remove oil and such. Some other departments have went to Purple Power (maybe Royal Purple) as it is not as harsh. I reduce our Simple Green down to like 50:1 as it is concentrated. But I do like Simple Green for a lot of cleaning and it can't be beat
I tend to agree with Merk on the WD-40 for removing crud. I would clean it up with something afterwards though to remove the WD-40 residue.
( And while it is on my mind and not to hi-jack.......WD-40 is also the cats behind for cleaning out India Stones. Quite a few use oil on their stones, which is fine. But to clean them, use a liberal amount of WD, work it in, and wipe them off.)

 

[twostall]

Dear sir,
This is the very first time I'm gonna disagree with you.

It's my opinion that Simple Green and other similar cleaners like that are far too much of a risk for inducing corrosion - I wouldn't let that stuff within 50 yards of my tools or tool box.

I recommend WD-40 for cleaning grease off of tool boxes.

I got in the habit of wiping down a 40 yr old airplane with 409. This machine had an almost flawless finish - untill I pulled it out of the hanger after winter storage - and saw the beginnings of corrosion encircling numerous rivets in the wings. Granted, it was aluminum, but if it eats aluminum I'm not going to put it on anything metal that I value.

 

[sk farmer]

i think one needs to be careful with anything they use. even wd40 wich some use is a solvent that over time can damage some surfaces. any damaged surface could be vulnerable to solvents.

 

[Frank Elson]

Bolster, whenever I say I use petrol for cleaning oil and grease off anything people dive on me and say it's dangerous, illegal, bad for the earth etc etc.
So I guess that's not PC.
I just cleaned off a BSA Grand Flash engine that had fifty years of oil and grease on it. I'm stripping it and rebuilding. When the owner came round and remarked on how clean it is now and I told him I'd washed it down with petrol he stepped back three paces...
I also have an airtight container half filled with petrol that I drop my paint brushes in after use. When I go back to them the paint is all dissolved.

 

[twostall]

Why isn't that PC? I must be so non-PC I don't even know why it wouldn't be.

It's in those first 17 pages in the shop manual that you are not reading as a good (PC) mechanic does. The pages with all the other safety instructions like "always wear safety glasses! Don't lay the hot soldering iron on the cord that plugs it in! Never work on cars after drinking beer! Do not use a match to check the gasoline level in that fuel tank interior! Never clean parts with gasoline! Always use something environmentally correct, something water-based that doesn't really work! That way the grease won't come off... we can't have loose dirt and grease just lying around polluting the environment! etc.
You are obviously not even scanning the safety instructions; that's how non-pc you are.

 

[T56 Impala]

Personally, I'd sand that box down and give it a repaint.

I was thinking along the same lines. Only I would toss it in the blast cabinet and start from scratch.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Bolster, whenever I say I use petrol for cleaning oil and grease off anything people dive on me and say it's dangerous, illegal, bad for the earth etc etc.
So I guess that's not PC.
I just cleaned off a BSA Grand Flash engine that had fifty years of oil and grease on it. I'm stripping it and rebuilding. When the owner came round and remarked on how clean it is now and I told him I'd washed it down with petrol he stepped back three paces...
I also have an airtight container half filled with petrol that I drop my paint brushes in after use. When I go back to them the paint is all dissolved.

Where i used to work, i'd clean the floor under the ramp with petrol. Every time i serviced a car i'd keep the fuel filter (full of petrol) and once the bay was free pour it all out and use a big squeegee to wipe it all over. Cleaned up any spilt oil and stuff, left it perfecly clean and evaporated straight after.

 

[bb1970]

I keep my box waxed up so much that a damp towel is all I ever use most of the time.

Reminds of a girl I knew.

 

[south pier garage]

naptha might work well

 

[HandyManny]

I would try a cleaner like Simple Green (concentrated) first, some solvent based cleaners will remove the paint.

I agree. Simple Green is great for removing any type of grime that has grease and oil in it. It's a degreaser is what it is. Works great on just about anything and it's the safest product to use as it doens't react or catch fire like naptha does. Reasonably priced too. Just hose it all off with cean water when done. Works great for removing oil stains in the garage too.

 

[balrog]

You can try diluted All Purpose Cleaner (APC) for car detailing. I would not use Simple Green at full strength.

If you are worried about rust , sprinkle some baby powder or leave some chalk in the box.

 

[old salvage]

Thats a nice little box. i love 70's Craftsman stuff. I've never had a problem using wd 40 as a cleaner. Spray it on wait a few minutes and wipe it all off with a shop rag. Anything that doesn't come off is part of the boxes 'character'.

 

[Chris Adams]

Seems the obvious choice to me...wouldn't leave the box floating in it, but a quick wipe shouldn't give too much trouble.

I wonder how a kitchen cleaner for grease would work? Something like 409?

I use it on old boxes. 409 is not fantastic, but it do cut the grease.
Safe, don't stink too bad, and never saw it cause rust.

I have had to resort to dish detergent. It cuts grease better than most alleged industrial cleaners. Cleaning solvent works but is always stinky and is a fire hazard if you have someone using equipment or smoking near it.


Of course after I clean off the boxes I wax them. Keeps the grime off for the future. A nice coat of NXT seems to last about forever on a box in the garage. I have even clayed them, if they were around overspray. It really helps.

 

[ZRX61]

reminds of a girl i knew.

lmfao...

 

[rsanter]

I have a box like that. it has been used as my pick-a -part box so it was rather grungy

I used engine degreaser and a pressure washer to clean it up

bob

 

[n2hcky]

I use it on old boxes. 409 is not fantastic, but it do cut the grease.
Safe, don't stink too bad, and never saw it cause rust.

I have had to resort to dish detergent. It cuts grease better than most alleged industrial cleaners. Cleaning solvent works but is always stinky and is a fire hazard if you have someone using equipment or smoking near it.


Of course after I clean off the boxes I wax them. Keeps the grime off for the future. A nice coat of NXT seems to last about forever on a box in the garage. I have even clayed them, if they were around overspray. It really helps.

409 works fine on steel.
The main thing with 409 is NOT on aluminum.
I think it may say so on the label or at least it used to.
Try it sometime........spray it on a bare pc of AL and you will see it react after a little bit.

 

[Chris Adams]

409 works fine on steel.
The main thing with 409 is NOT on aluminum.
I think it may say so on the label or at least it used to.
Try it sometime........spray it on a bare pc of AL and you will see it react after a little bit.

Interesting. Did not know that, but I never have had an aluminum box. Doesn't seem to have a problem on the aluminum handles on the sides of some Craftsman boxes. I have only just wiped it on and off. How grimy does an aluminum handle get? The worst grime I find is in the bottom corners of drawers.