Is there a method to clean shop rags after say wiping on an oil varnish finish?
I have been using the white cotton t shirt rags that lowes sells. for wiping on a finish and buffing and for wiping off stain.
They are relatively economical, but I hate to just throw them away. is there a shop technique I am missing or an old timer, traditional, grandpa type, way to clean them without throwing them in my good washer?
Thanks for replies and your time.
Webby
Edited 6/8/2008 6:38 pm ET by webby
Edited 6/8/2008 6:39 pm ET by webby
Replies
As you probably know. Webby, rags used for solvents or linseed oil are the chief cause of shop fires. To be safe, you should immerse them in a bucket of water, then hang them up like sheets to dry. They will dry pretty stiff. If it's an oil based product on the rags, it would take a solvent to clean them. I don't think it's a good idea. There are too many dangers with the rags and solvents. Save a few for working on greasy motors or cleaning the BBQ if you want. A box of rags is cheap enough. I doubt you could get them clean enough to use on a project again. I wouldn't risk it.
You can use paper towels for wiping off stain and general clean up. Get the bulk of the stain off with the paper, then finish up with a rag. A local cabinet shop burned down a year or two ago, cause, a pile of rags in a waste barrel. Be careful.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
They'd probably get pretty clean if you soaked them in a lye (sodium hydroxide) solution. But that's about what it would take, and they'd eventually break down from the exposure to the lye.
Lye is, of course, nasty to handle, so precautions are required. It is environmentally benign when diluted.
-Steve
Ok everyone thanks for the advice I just wanted to make sure I wasn't throwing away rags unecessarily.Webby
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