capnjonny 

I was just reading another post about cleaning grease stains and it brought to mind this question.

What is the best way to wash old dirty shop towels.

I buy packets of white terry shop towels at Home Depot and when dirty ones accumulate I put them in the washing machine. They get clean I guess but are always grey afterwords and still smell slightly of grease.

what can I do to get them REALLY clean again.

rumrunn6

I have hand washed shop towels with copious amounts of Dawn dish soap. then used a washing machine. for some items, over the years, not just shop towels, I have run them thru the machine twice

DaveSSS 

I only use Scott blue paper shop towels for greasy/oily work. I use some white cotton shop rags (not Terry cloth) for wiping surfaces with mineral spirits or acetone. After enough use, they may get washed and used for some other cleaning job that uses soap and water.

andrewclaus

The coop used to bring them to the laundromat but were asked to stop ruining the machines. I take that as a hint to not put them in my own laundry.

I've always discarded rags that are soaked in oil and grease. At home, I keep two rags handy--one oily, one dirty (like from road dirt and cleaning braking surfaces). I'll launder the dirty rags, and store and dispose of the oily ones as a fire hazard.

I like the hand wash in dish soap if you need to save them, though.

rosefarts

I throw them away. Depending on what I've done with them, I can keep them around for a while. Once soiled, I just toss em.

Isn't it like $5 for a package? Plus old t-shirts and stuff like that. It's not worth getting that crap in my washing machine.

dsbrantjr

Wise idea. Many washers and dryers have warnings against drying cloth which has had any oil on it, due to spontaneous combustion concerns, since washing cannot completely remove oils.
Oily rags need to be stored and disposed of safely: https://hgi-fire.com/blog/fire-safet...for-oily-rags/
Wheel builders using linseed oil should be aware of its particular dangers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yq6...ature=youtu.be

billridesbikes

Rags with grease or solvents should probably be thrown out or put in a hazardous material bin for collection if you have one. In addition to the washing concerns any petrochemical based oils and solvents are getting put back in the water supply. If you wouldn’t dump it down the drain then washing it doesn’t seem like a good idea either.

rumrunn6

I smoked in my 20s, lived in an apt & did auto maintenance in office parking lots sometimes keeping used shop towels in the hatchback area. one time while driving the butt I flicked out my window flew in the back but I did not know. I found out when I smelled smoke, pulled over & put out the smoldering rag, but it was gaining steam. live & learn

delbiker1 

I mostly use rags that I have cut from old clothes, towels , and other materials. I cut different sizes for different chores. Also have found certain materials work better for certain chores. They get tossed after adequate soiling.

2cam16

I just cut-up old shirts,towels,etc.etc. Then toss them once they've done their duty. I don't want to mess-up my washing machine.

'02 nrs

your clothes have a hint of oily smell do they?

AlmostTrick

I take mine back to work and dump them in the dirty rag drum and grab a clean bag. Industrial Towel guy stops in every month and swaps 'em out with fresh ones. It's a sweet set up if you have it.

Olefeller77 

If I find an estate sale or yard sale close by I check for flannel sheets. They often sell for 50 cents or a dollar and cut up into lots of nice rags.

HerrKaLeun

You must not be married.... some of that oil will soil the next load. Same reason you don't put your drivetrain in the dishwasher.

The washingmachine seals are not made for oils etc.

Probably cheaper to use disposable paper shop towels. Definitely easier.

capnjonny 

Hot damn ! I consider myself schooled. Dirty rags in the trash. Switch to paper shop towels.

canklecat

Tide Ultra for my sweat-funk clothes and any shop rags or scrap towels worth salvaging. By the time I've finished working on a bike, motorcycle, car, etc., whatever I'm wearing is about as funky as the rags, so they go together.

The trick to heavy duty laundry detergent is a long soak to give the enzymes time to work. If the washing machine doesn't have a 20 minute or so soak cycle before agitation, it might be better to presoak in a bucket or tub with Tide Ultra or comparable detergent.

JoeTBM 

I have a few bar tender friends and owners, they all save me the older bar towels they they no longer can use in wiping down the bar. They are for the oiliest jobs and get tossed after use. Plenty of old bath towels cut up work too.

wheelreason

Stealing from work is an option I guess. We hooked up with a guy who somehow got the old hotel towels when they changed them out. They cut them in half to prevent them from being recycled (more opportunity for dishonest employees). We got enough for 5 shops at a clip. The worn out terry worked out better than new ones. No washing, use and toss.

AlmostTrick

No, I'm using them, not keeping them. Just like my company gets to use my tools and supplies that I bring in. Oh, and of course I cleared it with my boss.

When I first started working here they were using paper towels. Not only do they go straight in the trash, but so does what ever is on them. I fixed that. The 12x12" pink cloth towels work better and are more friendly for the environment. Not only because they get reused, but their cleaning process is regulated by the EPA.

https://www.trsa.org/advocacy/regulation/shop-towels/

leob1

Harbor freight sells the red shop rags. Buy them when they are on sale, 50 for $10.00. Use em, toss em.

Phoenix800

The industrial shop towel suppliers clean them using lye (sodium hydroxide) which is often available at hardware stores or on eBay. Soak the shop towels in lye and water in a plastic tote for a few days before tossing them in the washing machine. Then clean the machine thoroughly before your wife gets home. You could also get a Craigslist washing machine and dedicate to washing shop towels.

pdlamb

I've got enough rags from worn-out clothes that I'm happy to throw them away when they're filthy.

I do wonder how the environmental impacts of whatever's needed to clean greasy rags compares to the environmental impact of paper towels. I suspect the paper towels may be more environmentally friendly. It may be similar to the story comparing plastic grocery bags to reusable cotton bags came up with the unexpected answer that you'd have to use cotton bags 4,000-7,000 times to have an environmental footprint of a plastic bag. (My grocery bags have worn out long before hitting that milestone!)

tkamd73 

Anything other then dust and dirt, I toss them, not worth the soap, water, and time, to clean them. Besides, the white terry cloth ones are ridiculously cheap at Costco.
Tim

jadocs

After thoroughly cleaning my drivetrain, I recently switched from lubing my chain to waxing my chain. I no longer deal with greasy shop rags.

rumrunn6

fwiw while talking to our town DPW I learned my town does not accept metal in out recycling bins. they only take what they can burn like paper cardboard & plastic. I was really disappointed to hear. I have no idea what happens to our trash. I guess a greasy paper towel would burn pretty well