Whenever using oil-based finishes, it’s essential to properly dispose of the application tools to prevent spontaneous combustion. It is possible – it even happened to Tom Silva!
While oily rags do not pose the risk of spontaneous combustion as long as they are left uncovered by other objects and allowed to dry flat, Tom likes to soak them in water and then allow them to dry flat. In this video and the steps below, he shares how to safely accomplish this task.
Steps to Dispose Oily Rags
- 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.
- The key is to keep anything from smothering the rag as it dries since it releases heat as it dries. This can raise the temperature of the rag, or the thing on top of it, to a high enough temperature that it can combust.
- 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!