Oily rag disposal

[JDgreen227]

Every time I am done changing the oil in one of our numerous engines, I ALWAYS clean up any spilled oil or excess left in the drain pan after transferring the used oil to a container, and then immediately incinerate any oil soaked rags or paper towels in my burn pit. I know used motor oil isn't prone to spontaneous combustion, but for some reason I am really worried it MIGHT happen...and I don't know why...:laughing: I am just as much concerned about leaving rags soaked with gasoline or paint thinner lying abound...they get burnt immediately when I am done.

 

[RoyJackson]

I think that's a wise action...

 

[JDgreen227]

I think that's a wise action...

Even the 30-40 gallons of gas and diesel fuel I keep around here is pretty much stored in a metal cabinet well away from the house and main building. I have always been very careful with any possible causes of fire, perhaps because of my last name...Burns...:laughing:

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Might want to also look into getting an oily waste container so you don't need to burn them all the time. :thumbsup:

 

[RoyJackson]

Might want to also look into getting an oily waste container so you don't need to burn them all the time. :thumbsup:

That's a good idea, CTF...
Pretty sure McMaster-Carr carries them.

 

[grsthegreat]

I keep any empty 1 gal paint can and use them to store old rags that have been soaked in anything that might be flammable. You can reuse them if needed, or after the can is full, my landfill will take it in hazardous section for free.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

That's a good idea, CTF...
Pretty sure McMaster-Carr carries them.

Pretty much every industrial supplier carries them. LSS, Grainger, MSC, etc...

 

[5030]

I do it differently from all of you.

I generate a lot of oily rags, oily rags and rags with coolant on them plus grease.

The really soaked ones get roasted however, the ones that can be cleaned go in a covered 5 gallon plastic pail that's about 1/3 full of a water/Aiken Purple Power (available at TSC) solution. That way I pre-treat/soak the dirty rags in a solution so they are wet and it gets them ready for my Maytag wringer washer treatment in the driveway when I accumulate a full 5 gallon bucket.

Why burn or landfill the reuseable ones when the Maytag can churn away for as long as it takes to get them clean.

After the Naytag treatment, I clothesline them and let them dry in the sun, put them in a 15 gallon plastic barrell and use again.

Spontaneous combustion can only occur with rags or cotton waste that's oily but dry and in a warm place conducive to containing the heat of degradation. Water/solution soaked rags can't combust.

Been doing it for years.

 

[woodlandfarms]

I am absolutely not passing judgement but I wonder what does more damage. Oil in the air or oil in the water.

I would guess burning would be better but then you have lost a good rag that needs to be manufactured so maybe making more pollution.

Carl

 

[JDgreen227]

Might want to also look into getting an oily waste container so you don't need to burn them all the time. :thumbsup:

I have a recreational firepit that I use also for burning oil soaked materials, I should have mentioned that the majority of them are paper towels and not cloth rags. My wife would have a FIT if she saw me putting oily or greasy rags in the washer. In the past I have tried soaking oily rags in a strong soap solution and then power washing them, with middling success, so I basically just use cheapo paper towels most of the time.