Washing Rags from Waxing

[mayguy]

Guess I've never washed rags and pad when I waxed my cars in the past. Yesterday, Spent the whole day doing my Ranger, and my partner's Pruis. That lead to LOTS of rags, and I'd hate to throw them away!

Do you guys wash them, and how what you do? It's a mix in the pile. Waxing Mircofiber pad, Terry towel that was used to remove wax, tire cleaner, black trim cleaner, and window cleaner.

 

[mayguy]

Rear end!

 

[cleanteamofny]

I just could not keep my eye's off your Rear end!

Toggle's darling ......, did you see that "Rear End?"
Honey Child it was glistening and a glowing!

Just wash those rags with some lestoil and detergent and give them a good rinse.
Why throw those hand me down in the trash. It's just a sin to get rid of perfectly used rags.

 

[panthera]

Damn,

that's one fine rear-end. I bet you can slide a big load in there with one push, it's so slick.

I don't wash rags and cloths like that in the washer. I soak them overnight in white gas (safely), wring them out and let them dry. They come out clean as your truck looks. Damn, that is fine!

 

[mrb627]

Never Wash

I usually just toss them. Since I only wax my beast twice a year, I can just buy new rags every six months or so. Easier than trying to deal with waxy rags and then cleaning out your washing machine afterwards.

Malcolm

 

[goatfarmer]

I normally just wash them in whatever washer I'm checking out at the time. Normal detergent, never had a problem.

 

[appnut]

don't put them in the dryer!!

 

[bajaespuma]

NH3

Nothing dissolves wax better than good-old ammonia. Use very hot water, add 2 cups of non-sudsing ammonia, then stand back. Those ammonia fumes are potent.

When I clean clothes before storage I always wash them with ammonia, not bleach. It removes a lot of residual body soil that will make clothes yellow with age.

 

[toggleswitch]

Quote: Toggles darling ......, did you see that "Rear End?"
Is that a Greek joke or a gay joke? LOL.

If one is afraid of fouling-up the washer one could always pre-wash by hand in the sink or pail.

Remnants of oil in the rags could self-combust even after washing, hence the "NO DRYER" warning above.

One would do well to store rags that have had wax, grease or oil or any type of petroleum distillate on them in an airtight container, preferably metal.

I would know, as my mother accidently caused a fire in our house by polihhing the furniture and leaving the rag around.

Do yourself a favor and throw away the rags if it
easier/safer less worrisome in your case.

I'd say go to the laundromat and run the washer twice if one can't even manage to throw used dirty rags away! (Ducks and runs).

(That was judgemental on purpose Harry! LOL).

 

[alr2903]

Mayguy, You are one DETAILING dude. Your truck looks brand new. alr2903

 

[whirlcool]

You could always that them down to your local laundromat to wash them! <">!

 

[mistereric]

Since I'm the lunatic with multiple machines, I usually end up washing rag loads for a few of my automotively inclined friends. I pre-spot tar and such with Goo-Gone or rubbing alcohol. Most then get soaked overnight in hot water and STPP, and then the next day its into the Lady-K portable for a spin out, and then a hot water wash with ammonia. They are rinsed in warm, and then again in cold water to get rid of as much soap as possible. This all will get done out on the deck, to keep the fumes down. Then, its a line dry, and then an air fluff in the dryer to cut down on lint. I have a portable dryer, I might use that next time to get out even more lint, though it would still only be used outside in case of fire. Anything thats too oily gets discarded, though.

I was using up a bottle of Gain liquid for a while, which was doing a decent job, but stank like cheap cologne. Now I'm back to the basic Sears detergent.

 

[mistereric]

btw...

Jay, the Ranger looks schnazzy! I have a crummy old S-10 in my driveway waiting for you!

 

[cleanteamofny]

I don't know the difference Steve, but I'm going to go with Greek for 400!
LOL

There was a man walking in the village that had a phrase that sticks out in the back of my mind....
"If I had an azz like that, I would WHIP IT, Whip It, whip it!"
And I would too, for I was in spandex that night!
Oh my word!

 

[mayguy]

Oh god no, I know better not to put them in the dryer.. I hung them on the clothes line.

I did a soak in the sink with lots of tide.. THen I threw them in the washer.. Came out pretty clean, and was worried that the washer would smell like wax and other cleaners, and it didn't!

Eric, If you are willing to drive all the way to MN with the S-10, I'll do it! lol

 

[sudsmaster]

There's oil...

...and then there's oil...

The oily rags that can cause fires from spontaneous combustion are those that automatically cross link their molecules upon exposure to air.

Linseed oil is a prime example, as would other oils designed to produce a hard finish in wood.

Motor oil is not an example of an oil that will cause spontaneous combustion. It's designed NOT to cross link, otherwise engines would lock up with varnish inside them.

The mechanism of combustion is that a linseed oil soaked rag has vastly increased surface area as compared to the original container of oil. This greatly increases the rate of oxidation, which is an exothermal reaction. Burning a combustible material is a classic exothermal oxidation reaction. The temperature of the linseed oil soaked rag in air can be high enough to ignite the oil and/or the rag. Hence the fire danger from this type of oil soaked rag.

The products used to detail automotive finishes should not contain any cross-linking oil, and therefore should not be a danger insofar as spontaneous combustion is concerned. Additionally, what little oil there is in an automotive polish or wax is readily water soluble and should be virtually completely disposed of in the wash and rinse waters. Hence I don't think it's any problem machine drying properly laundered automotive detailing rags. I do it on regular basis.

Of course, even if the oil isn't of the cross-linking type, an oil soaked rag is likely to be more flammable than a dry rag, and therefore should be handled with care and kept in a metal container prior to disposal.

 

[tomturbomatic]

What would happen if you tried to wash a linseed-saturated cloth in hot water and detergent? If you tried it in a top-loading washer could the vapors ignite a flash fire from the electrical components? Would there be a washer-wrecking explosion? If you hung it (unwashed) on a clothes line at night would you be able to watch it start smoldering and bursting into flame? Is it a sudden flash or a slow, smokey fire? I am not a pyromaniac, but curious. I have seen stories on TV about linseed oil fires.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Jay -

I saw some of what I suggest above, but here's what I do (I have had Rangers too - they can take a lot of rags, especially an extended cab).

I used to use an aircraft inspired wax that was based partially on silicone. It also had very strong cleaners in it. Getting that stuff out of rags was tough, especially the applicator rag. But, what I would do is put them all in a bucket, fill it with steaming hot water, a good bit of detergent, AND at least a half cup of ammonia. That usually cut the slime from everything but the applicator rag the first time, then I would sometimes repeat that if I didn't want to toss the applicator rags (we always used my dad's old t-shirts and they were sometimes in short supply).

There was usually a white/gray residue on the bucket when done, so I was glad I didn't put this stuff in the washer for the first go-round. Then I would wash the rags in the load with the car wash towels. I usually had great results.

Gordon

 

[super32]

I always do a power wash to 170 degrees in the bosch. No smell or problems so far.

Sorry this is not the best pix of her but its all i have on this computer.

Now im getting spooked.