How to Safely Dispose of Oily Rags | Ask This Old House

Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva discusses the proper disposal techniques for oily rags to prevent spontaneous combustion.

Time: 1-2 hours

Skill Level: Beginner

Steps:
1. Whenever using oil-based finishes, it’s important to properly dispose of the application tools to prevent spontaneous combustion. It really does happen – it even happened to Tom Silva!
2. Once the rag is no longer in use, soak it in a bucket of water. Then, wring out the rag and allow it to dry flat, preferably outside.
3. The key is to keep anything from smothering the rag as it dries, since it releases heat as it dries which can raise the temperature of the rag or the thing on top of it to a high enough temperature that it can combust.
4. Once the rag is completely dried out, it’s safe to throw away. Tom suggests disposing of it in an outdoor trash can rather than in the house. Better to be safe than sorry!

Resources:
Tom explains that as long as rags are left uncovered by other objects and are allowed to dry flat, they do not pose the risk of spontaneous combustion. For extra caution, Tom likes to soak them in water and then allow them to dry flat. The buckets and empty paint can he showed in the segment can both be found at home centers.

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Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.

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How to Safely Dispose of Oily Rags | Ask This Old House

[bccabernet]

it's interesting to think.. that after watching so many "how to stain" videos, many never say how to safely dispose them. Or that they could possibly combust.. which would be logical. However, I don't think many think about that.. just as you said in your video: dump the dirty rags in a pile. Glad I happened upon your video.

[SMichaelDeHart]

Have responded to many garage fires started by oily rags. After 26+yrs in the Fire Service, I can attest to that very fact.

[gabe]

Almost burnt the house down today with hope’s 100% TUNG OIL!

Was doing an outdoor kitchen and had thrown the towel I used to wipe the excess off with into a black 5 gallon bucket and set about 5 feet away from the house. I was inside sleeping and my neighbor across the pond smelled something strange and looked over, the flames were licking at the 10 foot soffit and on the side of the house! He sprayed it down. LUCKILY, he saw that, otherwise it would’ve got into attic.

It was a very hot day here in Florida and in a black bucket so I am sure that helped it catch fire. The rag was “dry” though and I hadn’t used it in like 4 days!

[jamesmchugo]

When I was still in college, linseed oil soaked rags started a fire in the fine arts department caused major damage. Burned out 2 floors of the building and caused smoke damage on 2 other floors. Fire started in the painting studios, loads of flammable materials in there. Turned out a student didn’t like the smell, so they threw the rags in a plastic trash bag and closed it up. Had they just left the rags out in the open or used the fire proof containers there would not have been a problem. Sad thing, there a are signs all over with pictures, that show and state where and how to dispose and store the rags.

[caramel]

Thankyou! I was getting into oil painting, and the moment i heard about oil rags spontaneously combusting, i looked up various videos including yours.

[douglasmccarty]

They make good starter for a fire in our burn barrel

[anthesis]

I've seen oil rags containing an oil-based stain combust spontaneously when laid out in the afternoon sun. I live in Mesa, AZ and the month was April. The rags were not pile; rather, they were laid out in the sun to dry. Big mistake. Place the rags where extraneous heat cannot contribute to the oxidation - which is a chemical reaction.

[caseyhartman]

Some manufacturers don't mention spontaneous combustion on their product containers. I've seen some that state to follow local city or county instructions for proper disposal without recommending air drying rags first.

[johnroberts]

Hi TOH, thanks for showing us what too do with oily rags so they don't combust & catch fire & burn something down ! 😊👍

[PugALug]

"So you are a believer"
As if the combustion problem may not exist lol

[phototristan]

When I worked in a machine shop, the fire inspector recommended small metal trashcans with lids for any soiled rags. The lid is a must so no air in there.

[napoleonsmith]

thanks for confirming that we are doing properly. great job guys.

[justhunt]

Yes it happens !! Especially if there is a fan blowing on it or near it

[joebenson]

What do you do with the oily water you soaked the rags in?

[josephnorcalusa]

Helpful information, thank you for sharing !!

[tamekahill]

Thanks for sharing this I really didn't know that the rags could ignite. I use alot of these products on the regular.

[cosmicfxx]

But ... how to best and safely dispose of the tin full of rags once it's full?

[SirWulfrick]

I've gotten into the habit of going straight from last project stoke to8p picking up all rags, stir sticks, even nitrile gloves, putting them in a ziplock bag, fill it with enough water to soak it all, squeeze the remaining air out, seal it, toss it. Small amount of rags, lots of water, next to no air.

[adla]

What do you do with the leftover oil and water solution?

[JohannnesBrahms]

"One Meridian Plaza was a 38-story high-rise office building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The building was demolished in 1999, as a result of damage of a fire that began on February 23, 1991. The fire began on the 22nd floor and raged out of control for hours. An investigation of the fire, led by the Office of the Fire Marshall of the City of Philadelphia with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' (ATF) national investigative response team, determined the blaze started after linseed oil–soaked rags ignited." Wikipedia article