Improper storage of grease rags is a recipe for disaster. Grease rags and rags that are full of solvents pose a combustion risk. Proper storage and disposal of grease rags and other types of rags is essential to the safety of your business and your home.

OSHA Has an Entire Section Dedicated to This Topic

Improper disposal and storage of rags used to clean petroleum products and other solvents is so important that OSHA dedicates an entire section of one of the safety manuals to proper disposal and storage. Rags that have been used to clean up oil and other solvents are combustion hazards. This is because as the oil in the rag oxidizes, it heats up. If the rag is not properly stored, the heat from oxidization can cause the rag to burst into spontaneous flames. How do you ensure that your rags are not going to become a risk? You follow some simple guidelines.

Safe Storage Container

You can recycle rags for use later with industrial washing services and by properly storing the rags until laundry day. It is important that you reuse the rags as many times as you can, not only to save on costs but to be kinder to the environment. According to the EPA, in 2017, there were about 16.9 million tons of textile disposed of. Of that waste, only about 15% was recycled. That means about 11.2 million tons ended up in landfills.

Do your part and invest in a special container that is designed to keep rags safe while they are waiting to go to the washing service. These metal containers have lids and venting systems on the underside to keep rags from spontaneously combusting.

Proper Disposal

The easiest and safest way to dispose of rags that have lived out their useful life is to soak the rags in a metal container filled with water. The container should have a secure lid. You can remove the rags from the water after 24 hours and place them in a bag for disposal. Consult with local authorities for the proper disposal according to local regulations.

Train Your Staff

Make sure all your employees are well versed in what to do with the rags when they are finished working with them is important. Set up a training program for employees to create a standard operating procedure for managing disposal and care of rags used for oil and solvents. Get everyone on board to reduce the risks associated with grease rags.

As you can see, there's a lot to learn about grease rag storage and care. If you want to make sure you're dealing with your rags the best way possible, consider a textile cleaning service. To learn more about this topic or discuss our service options, call us today!