really dirty rags from cleaning bikes: wash or ditch?

[maryellen]

what do you all do with those really dirty oily rags after you work on your bike? Especially after cleaning the chain, I'm left with some filthy rags. I've been washing them but after washing a load of them last night I noticed that the washing machine agitator seems to have picked up a few black marks that won't come out (darn plastic components!).

Am I nuts to wash them? The rags themselves seem perfectly clean (I use heavy duty detergent and some liquid lysol).

[Tuckervill]

I'd wash them and reuse them. And I'd try some Simple Green on the agitator.

Karen

[maryellen]

I have Simple Greeen and will try that. thx!

[annie]

I use my hubby's and son's old, worn out, and holey socks to clean my bike. There seems to be an endless supply of them so I just toss them when finished.

Annie

[Grog]

Old t-shirts, old socks, very very very old torn-out pajamas... Being a bike rag is their last duty, and they usually get thrown away after that. If I had easier access to a washing machine I might have a different take on that though... (but mines are shared with 100 other people...).

[Zen]

I wash mine too but will make sure to check the agitator after this:)

[mimitabby]

we wash them!

[RoadRaven]

Our rags (old towels, flannels and teeshirts) don't come back in to the house or go through the washing machine.

They get rinsed in fresh water (hose or bucket) and stay out in the shed.

We re-use the til they look like they are about to fall apart.

[Reesha]

Awesome! I was just wondering about that. I get the feeling that a lot of the nastiness that came off my chain will never come out. But that's all right, there's more t-shirt where that came from!