I've got a ton of old oil rags/towels that have about soaked up all the oil and grease they can, I tried to clean them using regular laundry detergent, didn't help much at all. Can anyone recommend a good solution?
Laundry detergent to clean oil rags
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Originally Posted By: tdpark
maybe soak in Dawn liquid soap in really hot water- then rinse and then put in laundry machine on hot water
I didn't try soaking them, but I did put a good 1/4 cup of dawn in the washer on the second wash. They're still full of grease and oil
I put borax in it, Dawn, Bleach.. no dice
maybe soak in Dawn liquid soap in really hot water- then rinse and then put in laundry machine on hot water
I didn't try soaking them, but I did put a good 1/4 cup of dawn in the washer on the second wash. They're still full of grease and oil
I put borax in it, Dawn, Bleach.. no dice
Firestarters. That's what I use old oily rags and paper towels for
I would worry about the grease and oil sticking to the sides of the washer drum and staining your regular laundry. I usually use old undershirts/t shirts for oil rags. Throwing them out when they get bad.
I also throw them out when done. There is no fixing the rags when you are done that won't cost more than it's worth. Old clothing is what I am using.
Originally Posted By: eljefino
This sounds like a job for the corner laundromat.
I assume you've used the hottest cycle the machine offers.
yes, hottest cycle, Dawn dish liquid, borax, regular detergent, Bleach... it cleaned a good bit of it out but they're still pretty full of oil/grease
This sounds like a job for the corner laundromat.
I assume you've used the hottest cycle the machine offers.
yes, hottest cycle, Dawn dish liquid, borax, regular detergent, Bleach... it cleaned a good bit of it out but they're still pretty full of oil/grease
When I worked a tire store there was a metal bin for oily rags and the industrial laundromat that did our uniforms also did the rags, though hopefully in their own cycle.
A hospital laundry with their fancy stuff might be able to melt the grease out, for example. How does Joe Hobbyist access this though?
A hospital laundry with their fancy stuff might be able to melt the grease out, for example. How does Joe Hobbyist access this though?
I actually work in a hosptial and know some of the Housekeepers
Originally Posted By: eljefino
When I worked a tire store there was a metal bin for oily rags and the industrial laundromat that did our uniforms also did the rags, though hopefully in their own cycle.
A hospital laundry with their fancy stuff might be able to melt the grease out, for example. How does Joe Hobbyist access this though?
Originally Posted By: eljefino
When I worked a tire store there was a metal bin for oily rags and the industrial laundromat that did our uniforms also did the rags, though hopefully in their own cycle.
A hospital laundry with their fancy stuff might be able to melt the grease out, for example. How does Joe Hobbyist access this though?
Get some Borax at Wal-Mart in the laundry section.
Read above ^
Originally Posted By: skyactiv
Get some Borax at Wal-Mart in the laundry section.
Originally Posted By: skyactiv
Get some Borax at Wal-Mart in the laundry section.
I have used a long soak in "SuperClean" (used to be a Castrol product) for oily cloth work gloves. Wally has it in gallon jugs in the automotive section. Rubber gloves are wise, it'll take the oil right out of your hands.
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Originally Posted By: hatt
Unless you're buying your rags at Williams-Sonoma I'd throw them away instead of cleaning them.
Agreed; you've likely spent more than they're worth in detergent.
Soaking for a few days in a solution that's heavy on Dawn may do it though.
Unless you're buying your rags at Williams-Sonoma I'd throw them away instead of cleaning them.
Agreed; you've likely spent more than they're worth in detergent.
Soaking for a few days in a solution that's heavy on Dawn may do it though.
Toss 'em. According to the disclaimer on the lid of my machine, oil/gas/grease will never wash completely out. I know that's legal boilerplate, but your experience seems to be confirming that outcome.
Besides, if the latest batch of t-shirts I bought from Jockey are any indication, you won't have to wait long to restock the rag pile with fresh material.
Besides, if the latest batch of t-shirts I bought from Jockey are any indication, you won't have to wait long to restock the rag pile with fresh material.
Use Trisodium Phosphate. Don't go nuts with it. It is some powerful shtuff. You can thank me later.
Oh yeah, use the laundromat. Don't use your machine at home.
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