Author Topic: pre-soaking dirty work cloths?  (Read 2037 times)

HipGnosis

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pre-soaking dirty work cloths?
« on: June 08, 2018, 11:31:05 AM »
I work on my car and motorcycles, and do yard work.  I have slightly worn or damaged cloths for this. 
But they get quite dirty over time - I don't wash them with my 'regular' laundry, so not often.
I know I should pre-soak them before washing, but I don't want to buy a product that I will only use a bit of so infrequently.
What do I get and use?   Where do I get it (dollar store?) and how do I use it?

Sibley

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Re: pre-soaking dirty work cloths?
« Reply #1 on: June 08, 2018, 12:33:06 PM »
Water + laundry detergent. Bleach if stains bother you and fabrics will permit it. White vinegar will help with odor. Keep it simple.

MayDay

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Re: pre-soaking dirty work cloths?
« Reply #2 on: June 08, 2018, 12:40:06 PM »
For grease, blue Dawn dish soap and hot water in a bucket.

For a lot of stuff,oxyclean in hot water in a bucket.

Rosy

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Re: pre-soaking dirty work cloths?
« Reply #3 on: June 08, 2018, 06:09:17 PM »
Doesn't your washer have a pre-soak cycle?
Oxyclean works great and you can use it instead of laundry powder in the pre-soak cycle.
If you have it - Set on the sanitize cycle when you wash the clothes afterwards - otherwise just wash in heavy duty - set to extra dirty and if there is an option set it to grease and oil stains.

Dawn does work great on grease - but don't put it in your washer - just in a bucket with hot water or you'll be drowning in suds.

Not sure if the Dollar Store has oxyclean - they might, thanks for the tip, that would save some money. I got an ice cream sized bucket of oxyclean at Aldi and it lasts a long while.


GuitarStv

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Re: pre-soaking dirty work cloths?
« Reply #4 on: June 08, 2018, 07:33:00 PM »
I swear by pre-soaking stinky stuff in Oxyclean.  It's the only thing I was ever able to find that would get the smell out of heavy cotton Judo and Jiu-Jitsu gis.

GetItRight

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Re: pre-soaking dirty work cloths?
« Reply #5 on: June 10, 2018, 01:17:30 PM »
I work on my car and motorcycles, and do yard work.  I have slightly worn or damaged cloths for this.

Same. I use Dawn, either soak in a bucket before washign or add a small amount of Dawn to the wash. Use hot water, only wash when my work clothes are too oily, dirty, or greasy to wear. Dawn and hot water work very well.

Holyoak

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Re: pre-soaking dirty work cloths?
« Reply #6 on: June 13, 2018, 02:44:35 PM »
I have used a Dawn-ammonia/detergent-ammonia soak to very good effect...  Really cuts grease, as in filthy nasty auto mechanic work clothes.  Used to be a Tide user, now it's all Persil with great results.