How To Wash Greasy Bike Rags???

[Velocivixen]

I use old rags for cleaning my chain on my bike and I'm wondering if/how I should wash them. I could just throw them away and buy those rags that are several in a pack, used in automotive shops and throw them away when soiled. That seems wasteful though. I know you can buy degreaser at hardware stores, but I don't know if it's safe to use in a home washing machine. Of course I would wash the rags alone with nothing else, but I want to make sure the oily residue gets off the rags and not stick in my washer to contaminate my next load.

Looked online and some treat with full strength simple green first, then wash normally with regular laundry detergent.

I'd appreciate any insights. I cleaned the chain for the first time on my new (5 month old) bike tonight and have a pile of dirty rags! Whoohoo.

[Chicken Little]

Soak in Simple Green, and rinse well, then wash in hot water. Dry outside- keep your dryer for the regular clothes.

I gotta say, I am prone to using the laundry mat after hours. I still worry about my own washer and the grease, no matter how well you rinse the Simple Green out.

[OakLeaf]

Some laundromats have a washer dedicated for greasy clothes. It might be worth checking out.

But honestly, I hate the idea of washing all that stuff down the drain. I think it's actually more environmentally responsible to send paper towels to the landfill where at least there's supposed to be an impermeable liner to keep it from getting into the water.

I use rags to wash my frame, they do get greasy, and I confess to using Chicken Little's method on them. But for the drivetrain itself, with that amount of chain lube on it, I use disposable towels.

[Bike Chick]

I use one of these for cleaning my chain and never have to touch the chain with a rag. I add Simple Green and it cleans the chain right up. It's one of the best inventions ever. I use rags to wash the rest of my bike, but they never get so nasty that washing them is a problem since I keep them away from the chain.

[HillSlugger]

I use old t-shirts, etc and then throw them away when I'm done. I don't want to grime up my washer and I figure I'm already doing some recycling this way.

[margrette]

I'm with hillslugger on this one. The BF and I both live in white t-shirts and when they've run their course as t-shirts they live again as bike rags until they start putting grease back on the bike and then into the garbage they go.