[GW22]

It's piling them up that creates the heat, so I lay them over the edge of a metal trash can, or the deep sink, to dry out.

The house of a former business associate of mine was burned down after a pile of rags from staining the deck was left in a pile in the garage.

-Gary

 

[Hawk46]

Jack, I don't think you need to worry much about spontaneous combustion if you have a reasonable amount of air circulation going on. Close to a flame source is another matter.

When I start getting too many rags piling up I wash them or, if they're getting too ratty, just toss them in the dumpster (apologies to the tree huggers). Better safe than sorry.

Dave

 

[Recoil Sissy]

jack:

The answer to your question depends on what solvents or other materials are on your cleaning rags. Rags left in a pile with the 'wrong' solvent on them is a definite hazard.

If the rags are hung up or spread out, fumes and any potential heat will dissipate. That's good as it applies to the heat but depending on the type of fumes, probably bad for you.

Airtight metal rag storage containers are made for this very purpose. Commonly used in automotive garages and other places where cleaning rags are used with flammable solvents, these containers eliminate oxygen and confine the fumes. They functionally eliminate any chance of fire or fire damage.

sissy

 

[archangel]

make sure sunlight from a window cannot act like a magnifier and ignite the rags.

 

[foghorn220]

I remember 1 day at the gun club many years ago a guy told the local rescue squad that came out to a field fire that started with a pile of target boxes that it must had been spontaneous combustion.

I don't know if the rescue squad bought the story or not but you would have to know J.P. to appreciate the story.

Foggy

 

[Brian in Oregon]

Also, do you have a gas water heater in or near the garage?

 

[Jim Zee]

I store mine in a pickle jar ( no oxygen no fire )

 

[oldgahchamp]

Spontaneous combustion can also occur from friction of an insurance policy rubbing against the mortgage payment. Larry

 

[FLIP]

im not going to eat any of those pickles

 

[soup]

I was staining the deck on my house . When I finished for the day I threw the rag ( one rag ) that I was using to wipe off excess - over the side until I could go down and put them in the trash can . I waited about 20 minutes & when Iwent to pick them up they were already smoking . The next day I did it again to see if I may have had something else on the raag & the same thing happened .

Made a believer out of me !! Be careful with used rags .

BILL