To clean water-based stain rags, place the rags in hot water with detergent and bleach and allow them to soak for about an hour in a metal or heavy-duty plastic container.
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. Once the rag is completely dried out, it's safe to throw away.
You should put rags in a fire-proof container (a metal bucket, ceramic pot, etc.) somewhere outside. After the initial drying period (again, this is actually chemically curing, not drying) they're safe. Keeping the drying rags ventilated and not in a big pile is generally enough to prevent ignition.
In summary, soaking clothes helps to loosen and dissolve dirt and stains, activates cleaning agents, and prepares the fabric for a more effective wash, leading to cleaner results.
You need to lay the rags out flat to fully dry/cure individually before tossing them, or drown them in bags of water where the reaction won't get oxygen to use for combustion.
To clean water-based stain rags, place the rags in hot water with detergent and bleach and allow them to soak for about an hour in a metal or heavy-duty plastic container. Then, thoroughly rinse and dry them flat in a well-ventilated area. You may need to repeat the washing process to get them fully clean.
Lay your rags outside to dry, then once dried toss in garbage.
Soak clothes for 1-6 hours, depending on the severity of the stain. Some stains may require more time to soak. For best results, soak for 6 hours.
Remove the last of any unabsorbed stain with a dry cloth, wiping in the direction of the wood grain. Swirl marks left by a stain-saturated cloth will become even more obvious under a coat of clear finish. When staining vertical surfaces, such as unfinished paneling or doors, try Minwax® Gel Stain.
Any cloths or rags left in a pile, bin, or bag have the propensity to self-heat and pose a fire risk. The fire investigator should consider it plausible that rags left wetted with drying oil- anywhere from 1 hour to even 2 or 3 days– could be a potential ignition source.
When anyone asks us what is the best rag for staining, polishing or dusting we always say White Flannel by a long shot. They are not overly absorbent to over soak through. They are made from thin cotton hospital blankets and are very soft, very smooth and consistent in size.
Use a metal container with a tight-fitting lid. Place soiled and used rags inside and then fill the rest the way with water, seal the top and do not open it.
You can also leave the wet stain on the wood for longer before you wipe away the excess - sometimes as long as 15 minutes. This may help you achieve a deeper color. Note: check the label directions for the particular stain you're using to see the maximum time you can wait before wiping off the excess stain.
Put the dirty rags into the washing machine and wash using high heat and laundry detergent. You should always follow the manufacturer's directions on the detergent bottle for the best results.
Many food or beverage stains, such as chocolate, jam, baby food, beer, and dairy are more easily removed with cold water soaks and washes. Cold water is also recommended for urine and blood stains. Other stains, especially oily or greasy ones, do better in warm or hot water.
If you have oil-based stains (which dries slower), brushing or spraying large areas could work, but lacquer and water-based stains simply dry too fast. This could result in imprints of the bristles on your wood surface. You won't have that problem when you apply and finish staining with lint-free cloth wipers.
With a staining brush, work both with the grain and against it. Don't worry about being neat; all that matters is getting a nice, even, liberal coat over the wood. Wipe the stain off immediately if you'd like a lighter tone. But for a deeper tone, leave the stain on the wood for 5 to 10 minutes before wiping it off.
For all other stubborn stains, we recommend soaking the garment in a solution of water and a product containing powdered oxygen bleach. And there are many to choose from. Tide Ultra Oxi Powder Laundry Detergent, one of our laundry detergent picks with oxygen bleach, worked best for us.
If you must soak clothes overnight, soak them in cold water and use fabric cleaners, detergents, or stain removers that are safe to use over an extended period. For removing stubborn stains and or clothes that are especially dirty, we'd recommend finding guides that explain how to get rid of said stains.
Most oil-based stains must dry for at least 12 hours before they are exposed to any moisture/rain; however, Ready Seal, if properly applied to prepped and dried wood, can get wet within a couple of hours, and it won't wash away. Oil-based stains will generally take 24-72 hours to fully cure.
Benefits of a waterbased stain include: Non-flammability, which makes the clean-up process easier. Because water is the solvent, used rags can be piled together, stored together, and disposed of in a regular garbage can without the risk of sparking a fire. Used rags will not spontaneously combust.