Washing oily/greasy rags at a laundromat?

[pfillery]

I have a wife who I love very much. I also have a nice relatively new washing machine. I have also grown very attached to my male paraphernalia (nudge nudge wink wink know what I mean, say no more!).

So I do not wish to dirty up my washing machine risking life and limb by washing my greasy rags in it - last time I did this in our old machine the scum layer took a lot of effort and about 10 empty wash cycles of water and various cleaning agents to clean out.

So in my efforts to be environmentally friendly and reuse (by washing them) my collection of oily rags, which are good quality towels by the way, that work throws away once they no longer look presentable but they make the best rags, is it morally wrong to wash such things in a commercial laundromat, the DIY kind? After all miners wash their mining clothes in such places so as not to dirty their washer. Is it prudent to leave a note suggesting avoiding the machine if you have delicates or is the protocol to leave very quickly afterwards???

[clubagreenie]

Hell no. Just don't expect wash and fold.

[d2dave]

Many years ago I used to have the rags that workshops rent from the mobs that also clean the overalls. I used to take them to the laundromat.

Dave.

[dobbo]

how is washing an oily rag in a washing machine anywhere trying to be environmentally friendly? Just through them away and steal some more from your employer. You could try cutting them up so you use less or boil them up in a big pot and clean them the old fashioned way

[pfillery]

how is washing an oily rag in a washing machine anywhere trying to be environmentally friendly? Just through them away and steal some more from your employer. You could try cutting them up so you use less or boil them up in a big pot and clean them the old fashioned way

I used to throw them away when they were dirty but figured that was a waste. At work we throw out about 300 towels a month because after they are professionally laundered 50 times the colours start to fade and they no longer look good, I save a bag here or there for rags when I need them, we give a stack to the cleaners to use for cleaning rags at work, other staff get them to use for dog and cat bedding or for camping. Isn't it better to reuse them than to have an oil contaminated rag go into landfill? At least when they are washed at a laundromat the grease goes into a grease trap and this gets cleaned and disposed of properly. No such luck at home - straight to the ocean!

[Tombie]

So in my efforts to be environmentally friendly and reuse (by washing them) my collection of oily rags, which are good quality towels by the way, that work throws away once they no longer look presentable but they make the best rags, is it morally wrong to wash such things in a commercial laundromat, the DIY kind? After all miners wash their mining clothes in such places so as not to dirty their washer. Is it prudent to leave a note suggesting avoiding the machine if you have delicates or is the protocol to leave very quickly afterwards???

You will find that the laundromats which cater for Miners have machines set aside for just these types of clothes...

And other machines that are not to be used for such contaminated items...

And Laundromats dont run grease traps, they plumb to the sewer just like everyone else...

[blitz]

At work we throw out about 300 towels a month because after they are professionally laundered 50 times the colours start to fade and they no longer look good, I save a bag here or there for rags when I need them,

If they throw out 300 per month I can see a good side business there, and I will be the first to put my hand up and say grab me a bag

[ATH]

I think it's a disgusting idea to use machines other members of the public use just because you don't want your machine to get dirty.
Why should they possibly get your grease and oil over their nice, maybe expensive clothes because of your dirty actions.
Buy an old machine and use it exclusively for them.
And miners probably have on site laundries and don't use machines available to the general public.
I know we did years ago when I worked in mines and other bush jobs.
AlanH.

[It'sNotWorthComplaining!]

wash your rags by leaving in a bucket of CT14 degreaser, then rinse and wash with laundry detergent by hand

[land864]

2nd machine is the go. My mate has a Mech workshop with a washing machine in it and washes his and the apprentices overalls each week.
Might tell him to drop a capful of CT14 in it now though:)

[bob10]

A large rubbish bin, a pogo stick [ steel handle with a conical steel end, holes drilled in it, easily made ] Add water, detergent, and ct14 if necessary, agitate with the pogo stick, jobs done, everone happy Bob

[Tank]

If you have a Concrete mixer throw them in that with some detergent, I rember the washers at Gove back in the 70's were Lightburn mixers with a spin dryer attatched to the front, work well, Regards frank.

[LOVEMYRANGIE]

Mate, I'll take 2 bags!! Seriously, I'll even PM you my Toll Ipec account number and take the whole next batch! I have 12 truck bays I need to keep clean in the workshop!

Andrew

Using Capitals, the difference between helping your Uncle Jack off a horse or helping your uncle jack off a horse...

[dobbo]

If you have a Concrete mixer throw them in that with some detergent, I rember the washers at Gove back in the 70's were Lightburn mixers with a spin dryer attatched to the front, work well, Regards frank.



who didn't work in Gove in the 70's? Everywhere I go I meet someone.

[bell1975]

Maybe your employer could donate them to Lifeline or one of the charities that sell rags by the bag?

BTW I'm with Bob and his idea - if you got the worst of the oil/grease out of them at home with one method or another the laundromat machines would take on less of that scum and be just as clean as some of the ones I had to use recently while our machine was being repaired.

[ramblingboy42]

who didn't work in Gove in the 70's? Everywhere I go I meet someone.

me.I

[bob10]

I've been to Gove, had a beer at the pub, bowls club, had a combat pistol shoot against Gove pistol club, back to the pub, been given a ride to the boat at the wharf, in the back of the local paddy wagon, worked there, no. 2. Bob

[Blknight.aus]

get on the freecycle website and get a machine from there, I got 2 in one go, a semi industrial one and a twin tub.. my "not covered in gotcha grease" rags go through

[justinc]

I have a $70 MANUAL timer non electronic OLD washing machine with an enamelled drum, and our old household tumbledrier which was an ex rental unit at work for my work clothes.

Same as the OP, if I even think about putting my work clothes in the house machine, (3 girls, I'm outnumbered:() I WILL die a horrible death.

I am also ordered to change and shower before I sit in or drive the wifes car, as it has cream leather etc etc:o


I Lurve my 1985 110:p


JC

[Tank]

who didn't work in Gove in the 70's? Everywhere I go I meet someone.
Yes the good old days, I was the first to operate the Crusher plant at the mine, worked for Mcfee constructions, they supplied all of the operaters for all the machinery from the crusher right through to the Ship loader as well as workers on the treatment plants, Regards Frank.

[hodgo]

I also use toweling, I buy it straight from the factory at Devonport Tasmania 1 x hugh box delivered anywhere in Aust for $25. It usually last me about 12 months if the wife does not get to it first she makes hand towels out of all the big bath towels that have a fault in them.
If any one wants the contact details let me know and I will post it.

Hodgo.

[wrinklearthur]

We had better rethink this rule!

Whites first, then coloured, towels next, work clothes last.
This works for the first wash with a new machine, but if there is any oil residue left, the whites cope it the very next time.

So it does make sense, to have another machine or a copper to wash the oily items.

Where is Gove? :wasntme: AFAIK I never worked there.
I have worked out of; Cooktown, Ningbing, Haast Bluff, Sadadeen Valley, Mareeba, Great Sandy Desert, Elderslie, Lavarack, Dimbulah, Tea Tree, Cowra, Normanton, Christmas Creek and many other places, far from the madding crowd.

My washing machine at that time, was a 50 litre screw top drum half full of water, a spoon full of Omo and then drive a couple of hundred miles.

Cheers Arthur